Depth charts: Projected starters for No. 19 Iowa at Northwestern
Danny LawhonIt seems like it's been a sort of Charlie Brown season for Iowa football.
Just when you think things might be ready to take that next big leap, Lucy rips the pigskin away at the last moment.
A 4-0 start? Boom, woeful performances on offense against Michigan and Penn State.
A rebound of sorts against Purdue, along with Wisconsin's inexplicable loss at Illinois, to boost Big Ten West hopes? Pow, so long to Brandon Smith for several weeks.
And now, the looming doom of Pat Fitzgerald's devil magic he holds over Kirk Ferentz awaits in Evanston this weekend, as the 5-2, 19th-ranked Hawkeyes look to survive their way into another bye week.
The Wildcats are bad: 1-5 overall, winless in conference play. But you know better in this series. Get a win, and get out.
Here are projected starters for the 11 a.m., ESPN2-televised matchup:
OFFENSE
Quarterback: No. 4, Nate Stanley (6-foot-4, 243 pounds, senior)
Running back: No. 10, Mekhi Sargent (5-11, 223, junior)
Tight end: No. 39, Nate Wieting (6-4, 250, sr.)
Fullback: No. 36, Brady Ross (6-0, 246, sr.)
Wide receiver: No. 3, Tyrone Tracy Jr. (5-11, 200, freshman)
Wide receiver: No. 6, Ihmir Smith-Marsette (6-1, 183, jr.)
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Left tackle: No. 77, Alaric Jackson (6-6, 320, jr.)
Left guard: No. 68, Landan Paulsen (6-5, 305, sr.)
Center: No. 65, Tyler Linderbaum (6-3, 286, fr.)
Right guard: No. 71, Mark Kallenberger (6-5, 291, sophomore)
Right tackle: No. 74, Tristan Wirfs (6-5, 322, jr.)
DEFENSE
Defensive end: No. 57, Chauncey Golston (6-5, 270, jr.)
Defensive end: No. 94, A.J. Epenesa (6-6, 280, jr.)
Defensive tackle: No. 95, Cedrick Lattimore (6-3, 295, sr.)
Defensive tackle: No. 91, Brady Reiff (6-3, 277, sr.)
Weak-side linebacker: No. 32, Djimon Colbert (6-1, 235, soph.)
Middle linebacker: No. 43, Dillon Doyle (6-3, 235, fr.)
Leo/Cash: No. 49, Nick Niemann (6-4, 235, jr.)
Strong safety: No. 9, Geno Stone (5-10, 210, jr.)
Free safety: No. 28, Jack Koerner (6-0, 204, soph.)
Cornerback: No. 11, Michael Ojemudia (6-1, 200, sr.)
Cornerback: No. 33, Riley Moss (6-1, 191, soph.) OR No. 8, Matt Hankins (6-0, 185, jr.)
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SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: No. 10, Caleb Shudak (5-8, 180, jr.) OR No. 3, Keith Duncan (5-10, 180, jr.)
Punter: No. 22, Michael Sleep-Dalton (6-0, 212, sr.)
Kickoff returns: No. 6, Ihmir Smith-Marsette (6-1, 183, jr.)
Punt returns: No. 19, Max Cooper (6-0, 188, jr.)
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NORTHWESTERN'S PROJECTED STARTERS
OFFENSE
Quarterback: No. 11, Aidan Smith (6-2, 215, jr.) OR No. 15, Hunter Johnson (6-2, 216, soph.)
Running back: No. 25, Isaiah Bowser (6-1, 215, soph.)
Wide receiver: No. 8, Kyric McGowan (5-10, 210, jr.)
Wide receiver: No. 19, Riley Lees (6-0, 201, jr.)
Wide receiver: No. 81, Ramaud Bowman (6-2, 203, jr.)
Slot back: No. 89, Charlie Mangieri (6-4, 252, soph.)
Left tackle: No. 70, Rashawn Slater (6-3, 305, jr.)
Left guard: No. 66, Nik Urban (6-3, 305, jr.)
Center: No. 65, Jared Thomas (6-4, 310, sr.)
Right guard: No. 52, Sam Gerak (6-3, 291, soph.)
Right tackle: No. 73, Gunnar Vogel (6-6, 300, jr.)
DEFENSE
Defensive end: No. 97, Joe Gaziano (6-4, 275, sr.)
Defensive end: No. 91, Samdup Miller (6-3, 270, jr.)
Defensive tackle: No. 95, Alex Miller (6-3, 300, sr.)
Defensive tackle: No. 96, Trevor Kent (6-6, 280, soph.)
Will: No. 51, Blake Gallagher (61-, 235, jr.)
Mike: No. 42, Paddy Fisher (6-4, 24,6 jr.)
Sam: No. 28, Chris Bergin (5-11, 215, jr.)
Safety: No. 13, J.R. Pace (6-1, 205, jr.)
Safety: No. 7, Travis Whillock (6-1, 200, jr.)
Cornerback: No. 2, Greg Newsome II (6-1, 193, soph.)
Cornerback: No. 18, Cam Ruiz (5-11, 180, soph.)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: No. 14, Charlie Kuhbander (6-0, 185, jr.)
Punter: No. 17, Daniel Kubiuk (6-1, 201, sr.)
Kickoff and punt returns: No. 19, Riley Lees (6-0, 201, jr.)