IOWA CITY, Iowa – Wednesday will mark the start of spring practice for the 20th consecutive year under Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz.

The 62-year old Ferentz, who is the longest tenured coach in college football, met with the media on Tuesday to preview spring practice and to update his roster.

Ferentz had several news items, including that defensive lineman Daviyon Nixon will be redshirted this coming season. Nixon signed with Iowa as a high school senior in 2017, but didn't qualify academically. He then attended Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs last fall and played football before transferring to Iowa for the spring semester.

Nixon will be allowed to practice with the team this fall, according to Ferentz.

Ferentz also talked about injuries, position changes and some of new faces that could emerge during spring practrice.

The players who won't practice this spring due to injures are defensive tackle Matt Nelson (shoulder). defensive end Romeo McKnight (knee), safety Brandon Snyder (knee), linebacker Kyle Taylor, fullback Austin Kelly and running back Toks Akrinibade.

Ferentz said he couldn't comment on Akrinibade's specific health issue. Akrinibade missed all of last season for an undiscolsed health issue after playing sparingly as a true freshman in 2016.

The players switching positions are Levi Duwa, moving from defensive line to center; Jake Newborg from defensive line to offensive line and Camron Harrell from defensive back to running back.

Here are multiple videos with Ferentz addressing different topics: