Holiday Bowl depth charts: Projected starters for No. 16 Iowa vs. No. 22 USC
Danny LawhonFriday night's Holiday Bowl between Iowa and USC is bound to be chock full of emotions.
It'll be the first Hawkeyes game since the death of longtime beloved football coach Hayden Fry. Kirk Ferentz, a former Fry assistant, will be dealing with those emotions while the Iowa program makes its first Holiday Bowl trip since 1991.
Nate Stanley leads a senior contingent in his final game with Iowa as he looks for his third bowl game victory in as many tries and hopes to send the Hawkeyes to a 10-win season for just the second time this decade.
Expect a charged atmosphere in San Diego for the 7 p.m., Fox Sports 1-televised contest (with Gus Johnson notably on the call).
Here are the game's projected starters.
OFFENSE
Quarterback: No. 4, Nate Stanley (6-foot-4, 243 pounds, senior)
►APPRECIATION: The proper framing for Nate Stanley's Hawkeyes career
Running back: No. 15, Tyler Goodson (5-10, 190, freshman)
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, fr.)
Wide receiver: No. 6, Ihmir Smith-Marsette (6-1, 183, junior)
►HAPPY HOLIDAY:Program's affinity for San Diego bowl began with Hayden Fry
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. 64, Kyler Schott (6-2, 290, sophomore)
Right tackle: No. 74, Tristan Wirfs (6-5, 322, jr.)
►KIRK FERENTZ:Winning still fiercely drives Iowa coach
►HAYDEN FRY: The plans to honor Hawkeyes' legendary late leader
DEFENSE
Defensive end: No. 57, Chauncey Golston (6-5, 270, jr.)
Defensive end: No. 94, A.J. Epenesa (6-6, 280, jr.)
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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. 34, Kristian Welch (6-3, 239, sr.)
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. 8, Matt Hankins (6-0, 185, jr.)
►HEALTHY COMPETITION:Players jockeying for Phil Parker's trust
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: No. 3, Keith Duncan (5-10, 180, jr.)
►GIVING THANKS:Duncan grateful for man who kick-started his career
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.)
USC PROJECTED STARTERS
OFFENSE
Quarterback: No. 9, Kedon Slovis (6-2, 200, fr.)
Running back: No. 29, Vavae Malepeai (6-0, 200, jr.) OR No. 7, Stephen Carr (6-0, 210, jr.) OR No. 30, Markese Stepp (6-0, 235, fr.) OR No. 23, Kenan Christon (5-10, 185, fr.)
Tight end: No. 84, Erik Krommenhoek (6-5, 260, jr.)
Wide receiver: No. 6, Michael Pittman Jr. (6-4, 220, sr.)
Wide receiver: No. 21, Tyler Vaughns (6-2, 190, jr.)
Wide receiver: No. 8, Amon-Ra St. Brown (6-1, 195, soph.)
Wide receiver: No. 15, Drake London (6-5, 205, fr.)
Left tackle: No. 73, Austin Jackson (6-6, 310, jr.)
Left guard: No. 75, Alijah Vera-Tucker (6-4, 310, soph.)
Center: No. 62, Brett Neilon (6-2, 300, soph.) OR No. 57, Justin Dedich (6-2, 295, fr.)
Right guard: No. 70, Jalen McKenzie (6-5, 300, soph.)
Right tackle: No. 53, Drew Richmond (6-5, 315, sr.)
DEFENSE
Defensive end: No. 89, Christian Rector (6-4, 270, sr.)
Defensive end: No. 99, Drake Jackson (6-4, 275, fr.)
Defensive tackle: No. 78, Jay Tufele (6-3, 305, soph.)
Nose tackle: No. 51, Marlon Tuipulotu (6-3, 305, soph.)
Strong-side linebacker: No. 42, Abdul-Malik McClain (6-4, 240, fr.)
Middle linebacker: No. 10, John Houston Jr. (6-3, 220, sr.)
Weak-side linebacker: No. 1 Palaie Gaoteote IV (6-2, 250, soph.) OR No. 26, Kana'i Mauga (6-2, 240, soph.)
Nickelback: No. 9, Greg Johnson (5-11, 190, soph.)
Free safety: No. 21, Isaiah Pola-Mao (6-4, 205, soph.)
Strong safety: No. 15, Talanoa Hufanga (6-1, 220, soph.)
Cornerback: No. 2, Olaijah Griffin (6-0, 170, soph.)
Cornerback: No. 6, Isaac Taylor-Stuart (6-2, 205, fr.) OR No. 8, Chris Steele (6-1, 190, fr.)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: No. 40, Chase McGrath (6-0, 190, soph.)
Punter: No. 24, Ben Griffiths (6-5, 240, fr.)
Kickoff returns: No. 1, Velus Jones Jr. (6-0, 190, jr.)
Punt returns: No. 8, Amon-Ra St. Brown (6-1, 195, soph.) OR No. 21, Tyler Vaughns (6-2, 190, jr.)