Depth charts: Projected starters for No. 19 Iowa vs. Miami (Ohio)
Danny LawhonThe weight of expectation is tangible for this year's Iowa football team.
A three-year starting quarterback. A bona fide stud on the defensive front. A freshly eligible hometown hero. A wide-open Big Ten West.
Can the 19th-ranked Hawkeyes find their way back to Indianapolis in Kirk Ferentz's 21st season? That conference chase begins next week. But first, there's the Week 1 rust to knock off.
And Miami of Ohio is traveling to Kinnick Stadium for a 6:40 p.m. FS1 game that will be hopefully free of pulse-quickening moments for Iowa fans.
Here are the projected starters heading into the opener.
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Nate Stanley (6-foot-4, 243 pounds, senior)
Running back: Mekhi Sargent (5-11, 223, junior)
Tight end: Nate Wieting (6-4, 250, sr.)
Fullback: Brady Ross (6-0, 246, sr.)
Wide receiver: Brandon Smith (6-2, 218, jr.)
Wide receiver: Ihmir Smith-Marsette (6-1, 183, jr.)
Left tackle: Alaric Jackson (6-6, 320, jr.)
Left guard: Landan Paulsen (6-5, 305, sr.)
Center: Tyler Linderbaum (6-3, 286, freshman)
Right guard: Levi Paulsen (6-5, 305, sr.) OR Cole Banwart (6-4, 300, jr.)
Right tackle: Tristan Wirfs (6-5, 322, jr.)
DEFENSE
Defensive end: Chauncey Golston (6-5, 270, jr.)
Defensive end: A.J. Epenesa (6-6, 280, jr.)
Defensive tackle: Cedrick Lattimore (6-3, 295, sr.)
Defensive tackle: Brady Reiff (6-3, 277, sr.)
Weak-side linebacker: Djimon Colbert (6-1, 235, sophomore)
Middle linebacker: Kristian Welch (6-3, 239, sr.)
Cash: Barrington Wade (6-1, 236, jr.)
Strong safety: Geno Stone (5-10, 210, jr.)
Free safety: Kaevon Merriweather (6-0, 210, soph.)
Cornerback: Michael Ojemudia (6-1, 200, sr.)
Cornerback: Matt Hankins (6-0, 185, jr.)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: Caleb Shudak (5-8, 180, jr.) OR Keith Duncan (5-10, 180, jr.)
Punter: Michael Sleep-Dalton (6-0, 212, sr.)
Kickoff and punt returns: Ihmir Smith-Marsette (6-1, 183, jr.)
MORE IOWA HAWKEYES COVERAGE
- Upgrades to Kinnick include sculptures, new tunnel
- Ihmir Smith-Marsette has refined grasp on maturity
- Leistikow: Now that he's eligible, what should we expect from Oliver Martin?
- Bob Stoops named honorary captain for opener
MIAMI PROJECTED STARTERS
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Jackson Williamson (6-2, 201, soph.) OR A.J. Mayer (6-3, 226, fr.) OR Brett Gabbert (6-0, 207, fr.)
Running back: Jaylon Bester (5-8, 184, jr.)
Tight end: Andrew Homer (6-6, 246, jr.)
Wide receiver: Luke Mayock (6-5, 229, sr.)
Wide receiver: Maurice Thomas (5-11, 179, sr.)
Wide receiver: Jack Sorenson (6-0, 192, jr.)
Left tackle: Tommy Doyle (6-8, 318, jr.)
Left guard: Pete Nank (6-5, 319, soph.)
Center: Danny Godlevske (6-3, 287, jr.)
Right guard: Jarrett LaRubbio (6-5, 310, sr.)
Right tackle: Matt Skibinski (6-5, 285, sr.)
DEFENSE
Defensive end: Dean Lemon (6-2, 250, sr.)
Defensive end: Kameron Butler (6-3, 252, soph.)
Defensive tackle: Isaac Hampton (6-0, 294, soph.)
Defensive tackle: Doug Costin (6-2, 295, sr.)
Linebacker: Myles Reid (6-1, 225, sr.)
Middle linebacker: Ryan McWood (6-1, 223, jr.)
Nickelback: Bart Baratti (6-1, 200, sr.)
Safety: Sterling Weatherford (6-4, 218, soph.)
Safety: Mike Brown (6-1, 210, jr.)
Cornerback: Emmanuel Rugamba (5-11, 190, jr.)
Cornerback: Travion Banks (5-11, 183, sr.)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: Sam Loman (5-8, 205, sr.)
Punter: Kyle Kramer (6-3, 215, sr.)
Kickoff returns: Maurice Thomas (5-11, 179, sr.)
Punt returns: Jack Sorenson (6-0, 192, jr.)