By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Sophomore offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs faced the media spotlight on Friday for the first time as an Iowa football player and had to answer some tough questions about his recent arrest for driving under the influence.

“It’s frustrating and it’s embarrassing,” Wirfs said at Iowa’s annual media day event. “I feel like I let a lot of people down.

“But with that happening, you want to put it behind you and forget about it. Not necessarily forget about it, but just move past it.”

Wirfs said the toughest call he had to make after being arrested was to his mother in Mount Vernon.

“My mom says there is greener grass ahead, just keep moving forward,” said Wirfs, who is listed as Iowa’s starting right tackle.

The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Wirfs as a result of his arrest is one of four players who will be suspended for the Sept. 1 season opener against Northern Illinois at Kinnick Stadium.

The other suspended players are starting left tackle Alaric Jackson, starting defensive tackle Cedrick Lattimore and backup defensive tackle Brady Reiff.

Jackson and Lattimore were suspended for violating team policy, while Reiff was suspended after being arrested for public intoxication late last month.

All four of the suspended players still are practicing with the team, but it sounds as if they'll be busy doing other things on game day as part of their punishment.

"They're with the team, full nine yards," said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. "The week of the suspension, they'll be on the scout team and they won't be at the game. They'll be doing some other things."

Friday's interview marked the first time that Wirfs had been interviewed as a member of the Iowa football team. He never was interviewed last season because Ferentz prohibits his true freshmen from interacting with the media.

So the circumstances for his first interview as a Hawkeye left much to be desired, but Wirfs handled it well. 

Wirfs is coming off a 2017 season in which he became the first true freshman to start at offensive tackle in 19 seasons under Ferentz. Wirfs started seven games at right tackle before starting at left tackle in Iowa’s 27-20 victory over Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl.

“It was a million miles an hour, kind of that first game I was seeing colors fly by me,” Wirfs said. “But I had great teammates supporting me.”

Wirfs singled out former Iowa All-Big Ten offensive lineman Sean Welsh for helping him adjust to the college game.

“He helped me on almost every play,” Wirfs said. “That was really exciting.”