The Music City Bowl: This Song is About the Future, Not the Past

Bowl video games are all the time a little bit of a crossroads occasion — on one hand, they function a celebration/reflection again on the season that was (and the person careers which can be wrapping up). However, they’re additionally a glance into the long run for the gamers who’re remaining and who will probably be assuming larger roles sooner or later. Typically that future-focused glimpse is obvious extra in bowl follow and sport prep than the sport itself, however that is not the case for Iowa this season. Between accidents, the switch portal, and NFL Draft opt-outs, a number of gamers who had been common starters for the 2022 Iowa Hawkeyes (or, in just a few instances, who would have been if accidents hadn’t derailed their seasons) will not be suiting up on Saturday when Iowa faces Kentucky on the 2022 Music Metropolis Bowl. As a substitute, we will be getting a have a look at gamers who’re (or had been) their backups — and, in some instances, who will probably be their replacements in 2024 and past. Let’s check out 4 of essentially the most notable gamers who could possibly be seeing elevated taking part in time within the Music Metropolis Bowl for the explanations famous above. 

QB JOE LABAS / CARSON MAY

For a second, this appeared like an actual passing of the torch second at QB, with Spencer Petras’ shoulder harm protecting him out of this sport and offering a chance for his eventual alternative to get snaps at QB earlier than the 2023 season. After which Iowa landed Cade McNamara within the switch portal. McNamara’s arrival would not finish a future the place Labas (or Could) is Iowa’s beginning QB — it is not unattainable that Labas or Could beats out McNamara for the QB1 job in offseason follow (although it will be stunning) and even when McNamara is QB1, Labas and Could each can have eligibility to make use of when McNamara’s time at Iowa is finished — nevertheless it does most definitely delay such a future, at greatest. 

So what is that this sport for Labas (or Could)? It is nonetheless an audition — a powerful efficiency towards a stout Kentucky protection would little question give Labas loads of confidence heading into spring follow. It will in all probability additionally give the teaching employees a bit extra confidence in him in a QB competitors with McNamara. It might be a glimpse of Iowa’s long-term future, presuming McNamara finally ends up being QB1 at Iowa in 2023 (and maybe 2024) and Labas opts to remain as his understudy throughout that point. And it could additionally simply be one thing totally different — Spencer Petras and Alex Padilla are the one gamers who’ve taken a snap at QB for Iowa for the reason that begin of the 2020 season. Good, dangerous, or ugly — what Labas (or Could) brings to the sector on Saturday is not going to be fairly the identical factor that we have seen for the final three seasons. 

WR DIANTE VINES / BRODY BRECHT

 Should you squint, you’ll be able to in all probability end up on Iowa’s WR depth chart. It is an all-hands-on-deck state of affairs for Iowa at broad receiver within the Music Metropolis Bowl… although it is also been that method just about all season, given the accidents which have plagued Iowa at that place. The departures of Keagan Johnson and Arland Bruce IV open up loads of alternatives for snaps and catches, each within the Music Metropolis Bowl and transferring forward into 2023. Nico Ragaini and Vines high the WR depth chart for the bowl sport, however Ragaini is a senior and never anticipated again in 2023. 

Vines and Brecht had comparable stat strains in 2022: 9 receptions for 87 yards for Brecht, 8 catches for 71 yards for Vines. Pending the arrival of some true freshmen and/or assist from the switch portal, Vines and Brecht seem positioned to be two of Iowa’s high choices at broad receiver in 2023; a powerful displaying on the Music Metropolis Bowl will surely be a pleasant method to enter the offseason and provides them (and us) a little bit of confidence for subsequent season. They need to have gotten all of the follow reps they might deal with this month, so hopefully they’re able to shine. 

TE LUKE LACHEY

Iowa beginning TE — and Massive Ten Tight Finish of the Yr — Sam LaPorta is anticipated to play within the Music Metropolis Bowl, assuming he is absolutely recovered from the leg harm that ended his sport towards Minnesota (and stored him out of the Nebraska sport the next week). However how a lot he performs remains to be TBD. Even when LaPorta begins and performs a heavy variety of snaps, although, I believe it is truthful to count on Luke Lachey to get loads of consideration within the gameplan as effectively. Lachey has gone from LaPorta’s understudy to a real budding star in his personal proper; he caught 25 passes for 362 yards and a team-high three touchdowns in 2022. His 14.5 ypc common additionally led all Iowa receivers with greater than two catches.

Lachey stepped up huge in LaPorta’s absence — his two greatest video games of the 12 months got here towards Minnesota (5 receptions, 77 yards) and Nebraska (7 receptions, 89 yards, 1 TD) — and he actually appears poised to take over as Iowa’s high tight finish subsequent season (though Michigan switch Erick All, Jr. must be a major presence within the tight finish sport as effectively subsequent 12 months). The Music Metropolis Bowl affords him one final stage in 2022 to show heads and get of us buzzing forward of 2023. Additionally? He is Iowa’s most skilled pass-catcher outdoors of Ragaini — chances are high good Labas will probably be in search of him early and infrequently within the bowl sport. 

S SEBASTIAN CASTRO / XAVIER NWANKPA

Accidents and early departures have hit Iowa more durable on the offensive aspect of the ball, however there’ll nonetheless be some alternatives for younger guys to impress on the defensive aspect of the ball, too. Kaevon Merriweather’s choice to decide out out of the Music Metropolis Bowl and prepare for the 2023 NFL Draft opens up a spot in Iowa’s defensive secondary. Per the depth chart, Sebastian Castro, who backed Merriweather up all season, is the first choice to switch him. However super-recruit (and now true freshman) Xavier Nwankpa can be in play right here, particularly since Castro can be Iowa’s high choice within the money place; when Iowa is in defensive appears that make the most of the money place, there’s a great opportunity that Nwankpa will probably be on the sector at security. 

Like a number of of those guys, the Music Metropolis Bowl could possibly be a serious springboard for the 2023 season. Castro and Nwankpa each determine to be key elements of Iowa’s secondary subsequent season — it is not exhausting to examine a secondary with Castro as Iowa’s starter at money and Nwankpa as Iowa’s starter at robust security. Castro’s already been serving in that function this season, after all, however the money place has helped soar begin former Iowa gamers like Amani Hooker and Dane Belton into NFL draft picks; Castro could possibly be subsequent in line if he can actually blossom in that function. Nwankpa was one of many most-hyped Iowa recruits ever and followers have been dying to see him on the sector for the reason that second his dedication was inked (if not sooner); whereas he noticed motion in 2022 on particular groups and in blowout obligation, this could possibly be the primary probability to see him with the remainder of Iowa’s first-team protection. If Nwankpa goes to be Iowa’s subsequent nice security, that journey may begin on Saturday. 

In fact, there’ll nonetheless be time for trying again and celebrating gamers whose lengthy and profitable Iowa careers will probably be wrapping up on the Music Metropolis Bowl — gamers like Jack Campbell, Sam LaPorta, and Riley Moss. All three are highly-decorated, multi-year starters who’ve contributed a lot to Iowa’s success over the previous 3-4 seasons. It is good that they will get one final look to swimsuit up in black and gold — this is hoping for wholesome video games and some extra huge performs to recollect them by. 

However essentially the most thrilling storyline for Iowa on this bowl sport is all about youth and getting a glimpse of the long run. Time to present the youngsters the keys and see what they’ll do.