Iowa’s Top Players Participating in the Music City Bowl

Welcome to the modern-day, 2022 bowl season. Projecting two-deeps and outcomes is somewhat difficult based on fluctuating rosters in the postseason. The Music City Bowl is no exception. Kentucky is making the short trip to Nashville in order to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes. This rematch from last year’s Citrus Bowl is an interesting matchup between two similar teams that are familiar with each other. 

Three of Iowa’s best four players are playing on Saturday as of now. Like all things, this could change. Kentucky’s top two players opted out to prepare for the draft. Playing or not isn’t a judgmental condition. Players should have ownership of their careers and choose what’s best in their specific situation. There isn’t a wrong or right answer when it comes to postseason participation. But, there’s still a game to be played and the winner gets a trophy. Instead of focusing on who’s not going to be on the field for UK’s opponent, let’s take a look at who will participate in the bowl game. 

Tight End Sam LaPorta

The All-American TE is a picture of consistency. He registered 53 receptions last season that resulted in 670 yards and three scores. This season’s numbers are similar: 53 catches, 601 yards, and one touchdown. The Hawkeye has caught 148 passes for 1,730 yards and five TDs over four years. 

The Hawkeyes are without its top two quarterbacks. LaPorta is apparently the emergency QB vs. Kentucky. The veteran pass catcher will act as a safety blanket for an inexperienced quarterback vs. the Cats by finding open spots in UK’s zone pass defense. 

Mike Linebacker Jack Campbell 

The consensus All-American and Butkus Award Winner is the quarterback of the Iowa defense. The best linebacker in the nation racked up 115 tackles and two interceptions in 2022. Last season resulted in 140 stops. Campbell is a tackling machine that could cause problems for the Big Blue Wall. Often times playing downhill upon the snap, the senior linebacker quickly dissects opposing plays and makes tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage. 

It’s unsure which quarterback will start for Kentucky. It could be Destin Wade, Kaiya Sheron, or Deuce Hogan. Sheron played in place of Levis in UK’s home loss to South Carolina and has some experience. But, for the most part, whoever is under center for the Cats will play a chess game with an experienced, game-changing linebacker in Jack Campbell. This is definitely a matchup that I am interested to watch on Saturday. 

Cornerback Riley Moss 

The 6’1, 193-pound All-American returned for his senior season. Moss has recorded 45 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and intercepted one pass this season. He’s intercepted eleven passes in five seasons in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes play a great deal of zone coverage. Moss excels in this environment. 

Riley Moss was on the wrong end of the play a year ago when Wan’Dale Robinson beat the All-American one-on-one at the end of last season’s Citrus Bowl. The play set up a go-ahead touchdown by Chris Rodriguez Jr. He’ll be matched up with Kentucky’s youthful and exciting collection of pass catchers. With Will Levis out, the Cats will have a new signal caller on Saturday. Be leery of Moss using disguise in coverage in order to confuse the Cat’s quarterbacks. 

What Does All This Mean? 

Kentucky is going to play multiple youngsters against an Iowa team that has sported an offensive offense for the vast majority of the 2022 season. The Hawkeyes are averaging a mere 255 yards and 17 points per game. But, that defense is a Top-5 unit in college football. That group’s personnel will be mostly in place against Kentucky. All-American safety Keavon Merriweather opted out of the contest, but Campbell and Riley appear to be all-in.

The Kentucky offense will face a steep challenge in Nashville. The Wildcats have said all the right things and seem to be accepting of the challenge. Kentucky beat Iowa 20-17 last year and will be looking for its fifth consecutive bowl win.