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IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior defensive end Parker Hesse has been named to the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
Announced by the Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association and established in 1992, the award recognizes the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. Nominees have demonstrated a unique dedication to community service and desire to make a positive impact on the lives around, while also showing tremendous perseverance to overcome personal struggles.
Hesse (6-foot-3, 261-pounds) is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, while earning second-team CoSIDA Academic All-American status a year ago. The Waukon, Iowa, native was recently honored as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and selected to Iowa’s 2018 Leadership Group.
On the field, Hesse recorded 43 tackles with 24 solo stops and 19 assists, while recording 10.5 tackles for loss and four sacks last season. He also had one interception; three pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery that led to the game-winning touchdown against Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Hesse’s community service includes: UI Hospital Visits, Play 2B Fit, Salvation Army, UI’s Dance Marathon, VA Hospital Visits, Hawkeye Pride, Hawkeye Readers, Children’s Museum, Blood Drive, and Crisis Center Pancake Breakfast.
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is one of the premier off-the-field college football awards in the nation. Most of the candidates have found time to volunteer in meaningful ways and are involved in a charitable organization or service group.
Of the 169 nominees, 22 student-athletes will be named to the final roster, with 11 from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and 11 combined from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and the NAIA, with one honorary head coach.
A special voting panel, headlined by Tim Tebow, will select the final roster in September.
Hesse and the Hawkeyes open their season against Northern Illinois on Sept. 1. For ticket information visit hawkeyesports.com/fightforiowa.
