WATERLOO - His mom, Trudy, suggested it. His dad, Anthony, pulled the keys out of his pocket. And Trey Stross would have gone for it were it possible.

For three weeks, Stross has been chomping at the bit to play. However, a hamstring injury has kept him on the Iowa sidelines since the Hawkeyes' season opener Sept. 1 against Northern Illinois.

But when fellow receiver Andy Brodell went down in the first half of Iowa's 17-13 loss to Wisconsin Saturday with a severe hamstring injury, Trudy and Anthony Stross, in town to visit their son, joked that the trio should drive from Iowa City to Madison so Trey could pad up and help out the Hawkeyes.

The drive is a little more than four hours, so it wasn't a realistic goal.

But when Iowa hosts Indiana for homecoming at Kinnick Stadium Saturday at 11 a.m., Stross will get his chance to help the Hawkeyes' beleagured receiving corps.

With Brodell out for the season, the Hawkeyes are down to four freshmen (three redshirts) and Stross as their primary receivers. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound former Ohio all-state player has been cleared to practice.

"We're optimistic that we'll get him back," said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz Tuesday. "He hasn't gone through the week yet, but he pushed it pretty hard last week with the trainers, and now it's a question of 'Can he go out there and play?'"

Stross believes he's ready.

"All last week we worked hard, running routes and getting all the cobwebs out," said Stross. "I was surprised how many cobwebs I didn't have. I was expecting to be a little more rusty."

Stross appeared in all 13 games last year for Iowa, catching 13 passes, but got most of his work on the special teams units. He had a career high six catches for 67 yards against Indiana.

He injured his hamstring during the preseason, but kept running on it. Then, during the NIU game, the coaches noticed that the speedy Stross had lost a lot of his explosiveness.

"We finally got it checked out, and there was a slight tear with some bleeding around the nerves," explained Stross. "It was something that wasn't too serious, but enough where they had to sit me out and not risk further injury."

With his one career start, Stross is the most experienced receiver other than redshirt freshman James Cleveland, who has started each of Iowa's 2007 games.

Stross is also the only receiver Ferentz will allow to speak to the media after he banned redshirt freshmen from speaking to the press on top of a standing policy that true freshman are unavailable to the media.

"Coach Erb (receivers coach Lester) pointed at James and I yesterday and said, 'How many games have you started?' James was like, 'Four.' I was like, 'One.' It doesn't sound like a pair of great resumes, but James and I have grown up a lot the last two years. We've just got to share that with the rest of the guys."

Stross was part of the highly regarded 2005 recruiting class and was one of seven Hawkeye recruits to play in the Army All-American game.

Iowa liked Stross' athletic ability, in addition to his receiving abilities. He had 100 career receptions for 2,257 yards and 31 touchdowns for Avon Lake High School (Ohio) during three years on the varsity.

He was also a state champion high jumper and was good enough to finish fourth at the Big Ten indoor meet last spring, clearing 6 feet, 9 1/4 inches. Stross has cleared 7 feet in practice.

"Track is kind of my hobby," said Stross. "I love competing. Instead of playing PlayStation, I'd rather be out there competing … jumping or experiencing something. I'd love it if they'd allow me to do the heptathlon (in the spring).

"But I came here to play football, and I'm a full-time football guy in the spring who tries to fit track in when I can."

Contact Jim Nelson at (319) 291-1521 or jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com

Hawkeye profile

Trey Stross

Position: Wide receiver

Height: 6-3

Weight: 195

Class: Sophomore

Hometown: Avon Lake, Ohio

Career highlights: Saw action in all 13 games last year, catching 13 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown … Was listed as co-first team wide receiver after spring drills, but has played in just one game - Northern Illinois - because of a hamstring injury. Was one of seven Iowa players to participate in the 2005 Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio in 2005.

Quote: "It sucks when you are sitting in the stands. Your legs start shaking up and down and you are giving little head fakes like if you were actually playing. And then when the team is down, it is hard because you feel like there is something you probably could've done if you were on the field. It is weird. It's like you are not close to the family any more."

- Trey Stross