The Daily Iowan Pregame - 12.15.2022

NOT YOUR

AVERAGE JOE

Joe Evans began his Iowa career as a walk-on. This season, he’s tied for the team lead in sacks.

IOWA -2

This rematch of the Citrus Bowl is going to be a rock fight. Both offenses rank outside the top 100 in scoring, and both stop units sit top-15 in scoring defense. Then, there are a number of offensive uncertainties on both sides. That gives value to the side with more continuity, which I think is Iowa. The Hawkeyes should have no problem shutting down an offense full of backups.

UNDER 31.5

If this total stays at 31.5, Iowa will have been involved in the two games with the lowest over/unders in college football history. These are offenses with fresh faces all over the field facing two of the best defenses in the nation. With the Wildcats missing their QB and top two running backs, I don’t see how they’re going to find success on the ground or through the air.

IOWA -2

Another line under three points in an Iowa football game? That makes sense for the Hawkeyes’ final contest of the 2022 season. As I have all year, I would implore bettors to explore their options with the moneyline. A thin spread like this one doesn’t really provide much of a safety net, so the Music City Bowl’s line is as risky as its moneyline.

UNDER 31.5

This might be the easiest under bet of the year. I’ve jokingly said I’d play this under all the way down to 18 points because I just don’t see these teams scoring more than 17 points combined. A 10-7 final score makes sense for a game that will feature backup quarterbacks under center and defenses that rank inside the top 20 in the country.

3 Cooper DeJean SO SS 26 Kaevon Merriweather SR FS 30 Quinn Schulte JR CB 3 3 Riley Moss SR P 9 Tory Taylor JR

SOUTHERN

WASHINGTON +5.5

The Huskies will feel disrespected in this one and cover the spread against Texas.

Each week during the Iowa football season, Daily Iowan Pregame Editor Austin Hanson and Action Network College Football Editor Pete Ruden will place three hypothetical bets of $100. The score of the contest will be kept in the piggy banks to the right and left with a winner to be declared at the end of the season.

Ruden’s 2022 record: 19-16-1

For advanced analysis and statistics, read the full version of The Daily Iowan’s bettor’s guide at dailyiowan.com

Hanson’s 2022 record: 17-16

The Daily Iowan’s official bettor’s guide to Iowa football’s Music City Bowl matchup with Kentucky.

PETE RUDEN College Football Editor, Action Network Daily Iowan Alumnus

AUSTIN HANSON

Pregame Editor

Evans leading Hawkeyes in final season

Joe Evans was an undersized linebacker when he arrived at Iowa in 2018. Now, he’s tied for the team lead in sacks in 2022.

Austin Hanson Pregame Editor

Iowa football players have Thursdays off during the regular season. And every Thursday, defensive end Joe Evans visits a familiar retreat on the north side of Iowa City.

Abby and Spence Evans, Joe’s parents, have made a weekly tradition out of having dinner with their 23-year-old son on his off day.

Often, Joe isn’t greeted by his parents when he arrives at the ranch-style home off of Court Street. Rather, Ghost — a former shelter dog with snow white fur — meets Joe at the door.

“I wouldn’t put any amount of money on what we have,” Spence said of his family’s weekly dinners. “I think we’ve been very fortunate — knowing not everybody gets that. Sometimes the parents get to see their kids for

15 minutes after a game. We’re very fortunate that we’ve been so close. Joe can just pop over whenever he wants to.”

The Evans’ supper-time get-togethers — which sometimes include Joe’s brother Teddy and sister Sarah — are a breeding ground for conversation, weekly updates, and sometimes even fortune telling.

Before Iowa took on then-No. 2 Ohio State, Joe learned Spence would be sitting near the end zone during the game in Columbus. Spence then jokingly told Joe bring him to a ball if he scores a touchdown.

Two days after Spence asked his son for a touchdown ball, he nearly got one.

Just two minutes into the Hawkeyes’ game against the Buckeyes on Oct. 22, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud dropped back to pass near his own 25-yard line. Before the Heisman Trophy candidate even had a chance to survey his receivers, Joe was in his face.

Joe started the play lined up near Buckeye left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. outside the hash marks. When the ball was snapped, Joe cut back toward the inside of the field and ran at Stroud, unblocked, whopping him near the 15-yard line. When the ball popped out of Stroud’s hands and landed near the 12-yard line, Joe

scooped it up and raced into the end zone for his first career touchdown.

Joe ultimately didn’t run the ball to his dad. But he still recognized him in his own way.

Joe made a gesture toward Spence with his chest, referencing the pregame bump they share before all of the Hawkeyes’ contests.

“Obviously, I’m not going to do that because it’s a flag,” Joe said of running the ball to his dad on Oct. 22. “We were just kind of joking around. But the opportunity came, I

scooped it, and in my head I was like, ‘Should I run the ball over to him?’ But then I was like, ‘No, I’m not gonna do that.’

[at my family] and know that I’m thinking about them.”

Growing up, Joe was

My family means everything to me. Just being able to celebrate, obviously with my team, but to like look [at my family] and know that I’m thinking about them.”

“My family means everything to me. Just being able to celebrate, obviously with my team, but to like look

a rambunctious and undersized kid who dreamed of playing football at Iowa.

Joe hails from a football family. His dad played

Darren Chen/The Daily Iowan

The Evans’ family dog, Ghost, sits on a couch at the family home in Iowa City on Dec. 8.

Darren Chen/The Daily Iowan Spence and Abby Evans, Joe’s parents, pose for a portrait at their home in Iowa City on Dec. 10.

— Iowa defensive end Joe Evans

quarterback at Iowa for one season in 1989 and went on to coach high school football.

Spence’s father, Bob Evans, amassed over 200 wins as a coach at Mount Pleasant High School. Bob was named Prep Football Coach of the Year by the Des Moines Register in 1959 and inaugurated into the Iowa Coaches Hall of Fame in 1969.

While Spence and Abby never pushed Joe toward football, it quickly became clear that he was built for the sport. Before he even put a helmet and shoulder pads on, Joe displayed his toughness and physicality.

Abby said when Joe was 3 or 4 years old he occasionally rode his big wheel tricycle barefoot until his feet bled.

Spence added that, in sixth grade, Joe broke his arm. When a doctor went to reset the bone, he warned Joe the process would be painful. After the doctor fixed Joe’s arm, he asked when the really painful part would begin, Spence said.

With a high pain tolerance to leverage, Joe’s football career began to take off when he was 9 years old. Spence said his son was the subject of a special meeting of youth tackle football administrators.

“In Johnston, [Iowa], they had third and fourth grade tackle football and fifth and sixth grade tackle football,” Spence said. “He was a fourth grader, and he was hitting kids so hard that they were getting hurt. One game they actually had to have an ambulance. Then [administrators] had to meet, and it was like this big situation, and they moved him up to fifth and sixth grade football.”

Joe played quarterback and

linebacker as a youth football player. During his sophomore year of high school, however, it appeared his days of playing QB were numbered. Joe was called up to the Ames High School varsity team as a linebacker.

Injuries to the Little Cyclones’ No. 1 and 2 options at quarterback soon after he joined the team, however, reignited Joe’s career on offense. In the second game of his sophomore season, Joe came into the game at quarterback. He even changed his shoulder pads at halftime to help him throw the ball better.

“I will never forget that,” Abby said. “We would stand down on the sidelines, and I was talking to someone when Ted goes, ‘Mom, do you realize what’s happening right now?’ And I was like, ‘No, what?’ And he was like, ‘Joe is going to be going in as quarterback.’ And I was like, ‘What?’ I was watching the game, but I guess it just didn’t register that he was the next guy in.”

Once Joe got the Little Cyclones’ starting gig, he never relinquished it. Joe played quarterback until he graduated high school in 2018.

Few colleges recruited Joe as quarterback — most looked at him as a linebacker or pass rusher. Rivals.com listed Joe as a zero-star recruit after his senior year of high school.

“I just knew in high school I was going to keep grinding and grinding until I got an opportunity to go play Division I football,” Joe said. “I knew that that was always my goal ... If I ever got the opportunity, I knew that was what I was going to go do. So, I never really thought about

Iowa

Joe Evans

me being a zero-star. I just knew I was going to come into whatever program it was and work my butt off and just compete.”

Joe was recruited by Minnesota State, Iowa Western, Wayne State, and South Dakota. Iowa and Iowa State were the only Power Five teams to give him a chance to play.

The Cyclones offered Joe a spot as a preferred walk-on. The Hawkeyes told him he would have a place on their roster, but they didn’t give him preferred walk-on status.

Iowa didn’t seriously recruit Joe until January of his senior year of high school — after his final football season. Because the Hawkeyes pursued him so late in the recruiting process, Joe never attended

an Iowa football game as a recruit. Rather, the

Jerod Ringwald/The Daily Iowan

defensive end

tackles Minnesota running back Mohamed Ibrahim during a football game between Iowa and Minnesota at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Nov. 19. The Hawkeyes defeated the Gophers, 13-10.

Darren Chen/The Daily Iowan Photos, trophies, and knick-knacks are displayed at Joe Evans’ and his family’s home in Iowa City on Dec. 8.

0 Diante Vines WR 6-0 198 Soph Danbury, CT

1 Xavier Nwankpa DB 6-2 210 Fr Pleasant Hill, IA

1 Aaron Blom K 5-11 189 Soph Oskaloosa, IA

2 Kaleb Johnson RB 6-0 212 Fr Hamilton, OH

3 Carson May QB 6-3 221 Fr Jones, OK

3 Cooper DeJean DB 6-1 209 Soph Odebolt, IA

4 Leshon Williams RB 5-10 210 Soph Chicago, IL

4 Koen Entringer DB 6-0 199 Fr Ypsilanti, MI

5 Joe Labas QB 6-4 207 #Fr Brecksville, OH

6 TJ Hall DB 6-0 183 Fr Fresno, CA

7 Spencer Petras QB 6-5 231 Sr San Rafael, CA

8 Deshaun Lee DB 5-10 174 Fr Belleville, MI

9 Jaziun Patterson RB 5-10 188 Fr Pompano Beach, FL

9 Tory Taylor P 6-4 230 Jr Melbourne, Australia

11 AJ Lawson DB 6-0 193 Soph Decatur, IL

12 Jaxon Rexroth DB 6-2 213 #Fr Cedar Rapids, IA

13 Reese Osgood WR 5-11 176 Fr Franklin, WI

13 Joe Evans DE 6-2 246 Sr Ames, IA

14 Brody Brecht WR 6-4 217 #Fr Ankeny, IA

15 Jacob Bostick WR 6-2 171 Fr Palatine, IL

15 Dallas Craddieth DB 5-11 207 Sr St. Louis, MO

16 Jamison Heinz DB 6-0 205 Soph Humboldt, IA

17 Max White RB 5-10 203 #Fr Cedar Rapids, IA

17 Brenden Deasfernandes DB 6-0 192 Soph Belleville, MI

18 Alec Wick WR 6-1 196 #Fr Iowa City, IA

18 Drew Stevens K 6-0 180 Fr North Augusta, SC

19 Graham Friedrichsen WR 6-1 183 Fr Urbandale, IA

19 Gaven Cooke DB 6-1 184 #Fr Kentfield, CA

20 Deavin Hilson RB 6-1 192 #Fr Des Moines, IA

20 Kael Kolarik DB 6-0 211 Fr Indianola, IA

21 Kaden Wetjen WR 5-10 191 Soph Williamsburg, IA

21 Thomas Hartlieb DB 5-11 193 Jr Madison, WI

22 Nolan Donald RB 5-9 197 Jr Morton, IL

22 Carter Erickson DB 6-0 181 Fr Indianola, IA

23 Landyn Van Kekerix LB 6-1 198 Fr Inwood, IA

25 Kelby Telander LB 6-4 228 #Fr North Liberty, IA

26 Kaevon Merriweather DB 6-0 212 Sr Belleville, MI

27 Jack Johnson WR 6-0 194 Soph West Des Moines, IA

42 Zach Twedt LB 6-3 240 #Fr Story City, IA 43 Karson Sharar LB 6-2 224 #Fr Iowa Falls, IA 44 Seth Benson LB 6-0 232 Sr Sioux Falls, SD 45 Deontae Craig DL 6-3 266 Soph Fort Wayne, IN 45 Nick Phelps P 5-10 200 Sr Kingsley, IA 46 Logan Klemp LB 6-2 235 Sr Jewell, IA 48 Max Llewellyn DL 6-5 243 #Fr Urbandale, IA 49 Andrew Lentsch TE 6-4 252 #Fr West Des Moines, IA 49 Ethan Hurkett DL 6-3 252 Soph Cedar Rapids, IA 50 Louie Stec DL 6-0 268 Jr La Grange Park, IL 51 Luke Gaffney DL 6-2 247 Fr Robins, IA 52 Asher Fahey OL 6-5 289 Soph Waukon, IA 53 Michael Myslinski OL 6-3 287 #Fr Jacksonville, FL 54 Matt Fagan OL 6-5 296 Sr Council Bluffs, IA 54 Dominic Wiseman DL 5-11 274 Fr Davenport, IA 55 Jeremiah Pittman DL 6-3 297 #Fr Palatine, IL 56 Nick DeJong OL 6-6 300 Jr Pella, IA 57 Will Hubert DL 6-3 247 Fr Omaha, NE 58 Taylor Fox OL 6-3 292 Jr Winthrop, IA 59 Griffin Liddle OL 6-3 282 #Fr Bettendorf, IA 63 Justin Britt OL 6-4 301 Jr Indianapolis, IN 65 Logan Jones OL 6-3 283 Soph Council Bluffs, IA 66 Jeremy Chaplin OL 6-2 263 #Fr Waverly, IA 67 Gennings Dunker OL 6-5 316 #Fr Lena, IA 69 Tyler Endres OL 6-6 297 Jr Norwalk, IA 70 Beau Stephens OL 6-6 307 #Fr Blue Springs, MO 71 Jack Dotzler OL 6-6 266 Fr Waunakee, WI 72 Kale Krogh OL 6-5 276 Fr Huxley, IA 73 David Davidkov OL 6-6 309 #Fr Glenview, IL 76 Tyler Elsbury OL 6-5 308 Soph Byron, IL 77 Connor Colby OL 6-6 308 Soph Cedar Rapids, IA 78 Mason Richman OL 6-6 308 Soph Leawood, KS 79 Jack Plumb OL 6-7 297 Sr Green Bay, WI 80 Kyson Van Vugt TE 6-6 247 Fr Hull, IA 81 Cael Vanderbush TE 6-4 208 Fr Plainfield, IN 82 Johnny Pascuzzi TE 6-4 224 #Fr Olathe, KS 83 Alex Eichmann WR 6-2 193 Fr Sussex, WI 83 Jameson Witte DL 6-5 270 Soph O'Fallon, MO 84 Sam LaPorta TE 6-4 249 Sr Highland, IL 85 Luke Lachey TE 6-6 252 Soph Columbus, OH 85 Logan Lee DL 6-5 275 Jr Orion, IL 86 Steven Stilianos TE 6-5 264 Jr Hayes, VA 86 Jeff Bowie DL 6-5 270 #Fr West Branch, IA 87 Addison Ostrenga TE 6-4 234 Fr Sun Prairie, WI 87 Andrew Kraus DL 6-4 227 Fr Barrington, IL 88 Jackson Frericks TE 6-6 233 Jr Cedar Falls, IA 89 Nico Ragaini WR 6-0 196 Sr East Haven, CT 90 Brian Allen DE 6-4 263 Fr Lake in the Hills, IL 91 Lukas Van Ness DL 6-5 269 Soph Barrington, IL 92 John Waggoner DL 6-5 267 Sr Des Moines, IA 93 Anu Dokun DL 6-3 230 Soph Iowa City, IA 94 Yahya Black DL 6-5 306 Soph Marshall, MN 95 Aaron Graves DL 6-4 271 Fr Dayton, IA 96 Lucas Amaya K 6-2 209 Jr Muskego, WI 97 Caden Crawford DL 6-4 253 Fr Lansing, KS 97 Liam Reardon LS 6-1 223 Soph Chicago, IL 98 Chris Reames DL 6-7 274 Jr Van Meter, IA 99 Noah Shannon DL 6-0 289 Sr Montgomery, IL 99 Max Hoskins P 6-1 175 Fr Salem, OR

0 Deone Walker DT 6-6 330 Fr Detroit, MI

1 Keidron Smith DB 6-2 204 Sr West Palm Beach, FL

2 Barion Brown WR 6-1 166 Fr Nashville, TN

3 Dekel Crowdus WR 5-10 171 #Fr Lexington, KY

3 Alex Afari Jr. DB 6-2 203 Fr Cincinnati, OH

4 DeMarcus Harris WR 6-1 183 Jr Vero Beach, FL

4 Jalen Geiger DB 6-1 197 Jr Columbia, SC

5 DeAndre Square LB 6-1 221 Sr Detroit, MI

6 Dane Key WR 6-3 194 Fr Lexington, KY

6 Tyrell Ajian DB 6-0 193 Sr Mansfield, OH

7 Vito Tisdale DB 6-1 184 Jr Bowling Green, KY

8 Izayah Cummings TE 6-3 240 Jr Louisville, KY

8 Octavious Oxendine DT 6-1 281 Jr Radcliff, KY

9 Tayvion Robinson WR 5-11 187 Sr Virginia Beach, VA

10 Chauncey Magwood WR 6-0 198 Soph Leesburg, GA

10 Jacquez Jones LB 6-0 233 Sr Tuscaloosa, AL

11 Zion Childress DB 6-0 191 Soph Houston, TX

12 Kaiya Sheron QB 6-3 208 #Fr Somerset, KY

12 Chance Poore K 6-2 221 Sr Anderson, SC

13 Jordan Anthony WR 5-9 155 Fr Tylertown, MS

13 J.J. Weaver LB 6-5 242 Jr Louisville, KY

14 Carrington Valentine DB 6-0 194 Jr Cincinnati, OH 15 Destin Wade QB 6-3 222 Fr Spring Hill, TN 15 Jordan Wright LB 6-5 231 Sr Fort Lauderdale, FL 16 Deuce Hogan QB 6-4 205 Soph Southlake, TX 16 Kobi Albert DB 5-11 185 Fr Fairfield, AL 17 JuTahn McClain RB 5-9 201 Jr Fairfield, OH 18 Brandon White WR 5-9 160 Fr Cincinnati, OH 20 Keaten Wade LB 6-5 237 Fr Spring Hill, TN 21 Dee Beckwith RB 6-5 230 Soph Florence, AL 21 Andre Stewart CB 5-11 182 Fr Atlanta, GA 22 Chris Oats LB 6-3 232 Sr Cincinnati, OH 23 Andru Phillips DB 6-0 190 Soph Mauldin, SC 24 Chris Rodriguez Jr. RB 5-11 224 Sr McDonough, GA 24 Elijah Reed CB 6-3 183 Fr Louisville, KY 25 Jordan Lovett DB 6-2 202 #Fr Radcliff, KY 26 Ramon Jefferson RB 5-10 215 Sr Bronx, NY 27 Kory Albert LB 6-3 215 Jr Clanton, AL 28 Jordan Robinson DB 6-4 202 Soph Columbia, SC 29 La'Vell Wright RB 6-0 217 #Fr Louisville, KY

Jackson Schulz DB 6-2 180 Fr Louisville, KY

Taj Dodson DB 6-1 203 Jr Union City, GA

Maxwell Hairston DB 6-1 185 #Fr West Bloomfield, MI

Trevin Wallace LB 6-2 240 Soph Jesup, GA

Tomiwa Durojaiye DL 6-4 255 Fr Middletown, DE

Trey Dennis WR 5-8 150 Soph Lexington, KY

Brady Pierce DB 6-0 181 Fr Spring Hill, TN

Sean O'Horo RB 5-11 180 Fr Youngstown, OH

Londyn Craft DB 6-0 200 Sr Rio Rancho, NM

Adrian Huey DB 6-0 172 #Fr Nashville, TN

Isaac Dixon RB 5-11 201 Fr Belfry, KY

Edward McKee LB 6-1 206 Fr Fort Worth, TX

William Nalty LB 6-0 220 Sr Metairie, LA

Dillon Wheatley FB 6-1 215 Sr Richmond, KY

39 Jackson Smith K 5-11 194 Fr Danville, KY

40 Luke Fulton LB 6-4 225 Jr Youngstown, OH 42 Tyreese Fearbry LB 6-5 227 Fr Pittsburgh, PA 43 Angelo Washington LB 6-2 226 Fr Ironton, OH

44 Martez Thrower LB 6-2 224 Soph Rochelle, GA

45 Jase Bruner LB 6-2 235 Jr Science Hill, KY

46 Braxton Eiserman LB 6-1 226 Sr Jackson, KY

46 Cade Degraw LS 5-11 213 Sr Lake Cormorant, MS

47 Justice Dingle II FB 6-3 267 Sr Bowling Green, KY

47 Jarard Mosely DB 6-2 185 Fr West Palm Beach, FL

48 Jack Varga FB 5-11 223 Sr Louisville, KY

49 Jai Williams LB 6-5 215 Soph Lake Forest, IL

50 Darrion Henry-Young DL 6-4 255 Soph Cincinnati, OH

52 Justin Rogers DL 6-3 332 Jr Oak Park, MI

54 D'Eryk Jackson LB 6-1 241 Jr Dublin, GA

54 Jordan Morrow LS 6-1 226 Sr Louisville, KY

55 Noah Matthews LB 6-5 244 Fr Bridgeville, DE

55 Clay Perry LS 6-0 193 Jr Upton, KY

56 Deondre Buford T 6-3 312 Soph Detroit, MI

57 Jonathan Berry OL 6-5 284 Soph Stamping Ground, KY

58 Lucas Padgett OL 6-4 306 Soph Birmingham, AL

59 Conner Long LB 6-3 220 Soph East Lansing, MI

60 Quintin Wilson OL 6-1 295 Sr Cincinnati, OH

62 Jager Burton OL 6-4 301 #Fr Lexington, KY

63 Alex Bascom DT 6-5 264 Sr Louisville, KY

64 Richard Bascom DT 6-5 269 Sr Louisville, KY

65 Grant Bingham OL 6-5 318 Fr Paintsville, KY

66 Abelardo Reza OL 6-3 250 Fr Eminence, KY

67 Paul Rodriguez OL 6-5 325 #Fr Mason, OH

68 Kenneth Horsey G 6-3 304 Sr Sanford, FL

70 Nikolas Hall OL 6-6 307 Fr Austin, TX

72 Josh Jones OL 6-6 325 Soph Columbus, GA

74 David Wohlabaugh Jr. OL 6-6 302 #Fr Stow, OH

75 Eli Cox G 6-4 298 Jr Nicholasville, KY

77 Jeremy Flax OL 6-6 328 Jr Detroit, MI

78 Kiyaunta Goodwin OL 6-8 351 Fr Louisville, KY 79 Tashawn Manning OL 6-4 330 Sr Apopka, FL

80 Brenden Bates TE 6-5 264 Sr Cincinnati, OH

81 Cole Lanter WR 5-11 179 Fr Danville, KY 83 Jack Monday TE 6-1 227 Fr Lexington, KY 84 Josh Kattus TE 6-4 232 Fr Cincinnati, OH 85 Jordan Dingle TE 6-4 236 #Fr Bowling Green, KY 86 Dylan Gary WR 6-4 198 Fr Sugar Hill, GA 87 Josh Terrell WR 5-10 175 Fr Fort Worth, TX 90 Tre'vonn Rybka DL 6-4 275 Soph Dickson, TN 91 Sam Anaele DE 6-4 287 Soph Lagos, Nigeria 92 Kahlil Saunders DL 6-5 288 #Fr Huntsville, AL 93 Wilson Berry P 6-4 208 #Fr Maribyrnong, Australia 94 Colin Goodfellow P 6-2 225 Sr Cleveland, OH 95 Jamarius Dinkins DT 6-5 280 #Fr Columbus, OH 96 Matt Ruffolo K 5-11 211 Sr Centerville, OH 98 Isaiah Beasley DL 5-11 263 Jr Radcliff, KY 99 Josaih Hayes DL 6-3 309 Jr Horn Lake, MS

EVANS

Continued from 5

give him preferred walkon status.

Iowa didn’t seriously recruit Joe until January of his senior year of high school — after his final football season. Because the Hawkeyes pursued him so late in the recruiting process, Joe never attended an Iowa football game as a recruit. Rather, the Hawkeyes took him to a men’s basketball game when he visited campus.

Even though he grew up in the Cyclones’ backyard and played football at Ames High School, Joe has always been a Hawkeye fan — his dad played at Iowa and a number of his family members attended the university.

Joe’s childhood fandom pushed him to Iowa — even though he would’ve been on scholarship at a smaller school.

As he wasn’t a preferred walk-on at Iowa, Joe could not start practicing with the Hawkeyes until the first day of the 2018 fall semester. He redshirted his freshman season and eventually moved from linebacker to defensive end.

Spence said Joe weighed around 205 pounds about six months before he joined the Iowa program, but he was used to competing as an undersized player because he started at center during his high school basketball career. Joe, who is 6-foot-2, often faced opposing centers that towered over him at 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-8, Spence noted.

Joe played seven games

during the 2020 season, recording seven tackles and one sack. His performance led the Iowa coaching staff to put him on scholarship.

Joe’s big break came in 2021. Then pushing 250 pounds, Joe played in 14 games and racked up 34 tackles, seven sacks, one forced fumble, and a pass deflection.

Joe played behind the likes of now-NFL defensive lineman Chauncey Golston, Daviyon Nixon, and Zach VanValkenburg during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

This year was Joe’s first as a full-time starter. He’s amassed 37 tackles, six sacks, and two forced fumbles in 12 starts.

“I mean, I knew he could do it,” Abby said of Joe rise from walk-on to starter. “... His goal was to play college football. He just never gave up.”

Joe has not decided what he will do after Iowa plays Kentucky in the 2022 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Dec. 31. Because of NCAA COVID-19 rules, Joe could return to Iowa for a sixth season. He can also declare for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Most NFL Draft websites don’t feature a pick projection for Joe yet. Some don’t even have a scouting report on him. If Joe is selected in the 2023 or 2024 NFL Drafts, he’d be the first Iowa defensive end picked since Chauncey Golston in 2021.

“That would be his end goal, I think, is to be in the NFL someday,” Spence said. “But he’s still got some college football to play.”

austin-hanson@uiowa.edu

Darren Chen/The Daily Iowan

Abby Evans, Iowa defensive end Joe Evans’ mother, answers questions from Daily Iowan Pregame Editor Austin Hanson at the Evans family home in Iowa City on Dec. 10.

Darren Chen/The Daily Iowan Spence Evans, Iowa defensive end Joe Evans’ father, answers questions from Daily Iowan Pregame Editor Austin Hanson at the Evans family home in Iowa City on Dec. 8.

Who isn’t playing in the Music City Bowl

Iowa and Kentucky’s starting quarterbacks will not play in the Citrus Bowl rematch on Dec. 31.

Chloe Peterson Sports Editor

The Music City Bowl will be a battle of backup quarterbacks.

Both Iowa and Kentucky football’s offenses will be depleted at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Dec. 31, with multiple key players injured, entering the transfer portal, or opting out of the game to prepare for the NFL Draft.

Starting quarterback Spencer Petras and backup Alex Padilla will not play in the Hawkeyes’ postseason game. Petras injured his throwing arm in Iowa’s 2417 loss to Nebraska on Nov. 25 and eventually had season-ending surgery.

“The injury he had at the Nebraska ballgame was significant enough to require surgery, so he’s not going to be able to compete,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said on Dec. 4. “Nobody’s more disappointed than him, obviously, like any player that has an injury that requires surgery. It’s good that he’ll be with us, but all of us wish he wasn’t on the sidelines.”

Padilla, who played almost all of Iowa’s game against Nebraska, entered the transfer portal at the end of regular season.

Redshirt freshman Joe Labas or true freshman Carson May will start for the Hawkeyes in Tennessee, Ferentz said. Neither have thrown a collegiate pass.

“We, as coaches, have to

figure out what we have to do to give our team the best chance to win, knowing the players involved,” Ferentz said. “And we’ll know more about that in the next cou ple weeks. It really is a high ly interesting situation, but we have a lot of strengths on our team.”

Kentucky starting quar terback Will Levis will also miss the Music City Bowl, he announced on Twitter on Dec. 7.

“After much thought, I have decided to forego my final college football game, look to that next step, and declare for the 2023 NFL Draft,” Levis wrote.

Levis threw for 2,406 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions this sea son.

The Wildcats will like ly start redshirt freshman Kaiya Sheron, who started one game this season when Levis was out with injury. Sheron went 15-of-27 for 178 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the Wildcats’ 24-14 loss to South Carolina on Oct. 8.

The Wildcats and Hawkeyes will also be missing some of their top ball carriers and pass-catchers on New Year’s Eve.

Hawkeye wide receivers Arland Bruce and Keagan Johnson both entered the transfer portal following the regular season. Johnson only played in two games this season because of injury, catching two passes for 11 yards. Bruce started

Iowa

24-10.

for the Hawkeyes alongside senior Nico Ragaini, but he only caught 19 passes for 187 yards in 11 games.

Johnson committed to Kansas State on Sunday. He’ll have three years of eligiblity remaining when he gets to Manhattan. Johnson caught 18 passes for 352 yards and two touchdowns with the Hawkeyes in 2021.

With Bruce and Johnson out, the Hawkeyes will

only have three scholarship wide receivers for the Music City Bowl: Ragaini, sophomore Diante Vines, and redshirt freshman Brody Brecht.

Hawkeye running back Gavin Williams will also miss the Music City Bowl. Williams was Iowa’s firststring tailback at the beginning of the season, but he missed multiple games with an ankle injury and mononucleosis.

He eventually fell to third on the depth chart behind true freshman Kaleb Johnson and sophomore Leshon Williams. Gavin Williams ended the regular season with just 43 carries for 158 yards.

Kentucky’s top two running backs will not be in Nashville either. Chris Rodriguez Jr., who almost hit 1,000 rushing yards with the Wildcats in 2022, opted out of the bowl game to

prepare for the NFL Draft. Rodriguez finished 2022 with 904 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

Senior Kavosiey Smoke entered the transfer portal to play his last season of college football with a different program. Smoke was the Wildcats’ second-leading rusher behind Rodriguez, recording 277 yards on 59 carries.

Both

Jerod Ringwald/The Daily Iowan

quarterback Spencer Petras throws a pass during a football game between Iowa and Wisconsin at Kinnick Stadium on Nov. 12. The Hawkeyes defeated the Badgers,

1.Michigan

I was the only OTL picker to correctly predict the outcome of this year’s Ohio State-Michigan game.

2. Ohio State

Ohio State-Michigan for a national title? That’d be cool.

3. Penn State

Penn State has been No. 3 all year.

4. Purdue

Congrats on back-to-back blowout losses in the Big Ten title game, Charlie and Tyrone!

5. Illinois

It’s going to be hard to rank all these teams, but Illinois looks right here.

6. Iowa

The bowl game won’t be fun, but 2023 could be.

7. Minnesota

I still feel bad for Mohamed Ibrahim.

8. Maryland

I don’t know, they’re playing in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

9. Wisconsin

2022 was the Badgers’ first non-winning regular season in quite a while.

10. Nebraska

The Cornhuskers would be higher on this list if they were bowl eligible.

11. Michigan State

An overtime loss to Indiana ended the Spartans’ bowl chances.

12. Indiana

If you only have two conference wins, you go here.

13. Rutgers

Congrats, you made it to basketball season.

14. Northwestern

I would say it’s basketball season, but I’m not sure that will be much better.

This has to be the least hyped bowl game in Iowa football history.

WISCONSIN

Dec. 27 | 9:15 p.m. |

Wisconsin (6-6, 4-5) Oklahoma State (7-5, 4-5)

Guaranteed Rate Bowl Chase Field - Phoenix, AZ

Line: WI -3 O/U: 43.5

MARYLAND

Dec. 30 | 11:00 a.m. |

Maryland (7-5, 4-5) NC State (8-4, 4-4)

Duke’s Mayo Bowl Bank of America Stadium - Charlotte, NC

Line: MD -1 O/U: 48

MICHIGAN

Dec. 31 | 3:00 p.m. |

Michigan (13-0, 9-0) TCU (12-1, 9-0)

Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal) State Farm Stadium - Glendale, AZ

Line: MI -7.5 O/U: 59

ILLINOIS

Jan. 2 | 11:00 a.m. |

Mississippi State (8-4, 4-4) Illinois (8-4, 5-4)

ReliaQuest Bowl

Raymond James Stadium - Tampa, FL

Line: MSU -1 O/U: 46.5

OKLAHOMA STATE

With Graham Mertz in the transfer portal, Braelon Allen might have to catch the snap and hand the ball off to himself. If you aren’t a fan of these teams, you could use this broadcast as white noise to fall asleep to.

NC STATE

I’m here for the postgame mayo bath. Iowa needs to make this game before Kirk Ferentz retires. I need to see him doused in mayonnaise.

Chris Werner christopher-werner@uiowa.edu

MINNESOTA SYRACUSE

Dec. 29 | 1:00 p.m. |

Minnesota (8-4, 5-4) Syracuse (7-5, 4-4)

Pinstripe Bowl Yankee Stadium - New York City, NY

Line: MN -10 O/U: 42

IOWA

Dec. 31 | 11:00 a.m. |

Iowa (7-5, 5-4) Kentucky (7-5, 3-5)

Music City Bowl Nissan Stadium - Nashville, TN

Line: IA -2 O/U: 31.5

Is this really Tanner Morgan’s final game for the Gophers? I swear he was there when I was born. Strange.

KENTUCKY

This one will be tough for Iowa fans to watch. The Hawkeyes won’t have their top two quarterbacks. Their receiving room is also more like a closet at this point.

OHIO STATE

GEORGIA

I talked to Max Duggan’s dad for a story on former Iowa kicker Caleb Shudak once. Jim Duggan coached Shudak at Lewis Central in Council Bluffs, Iowa. With all that said, this one won’t be very close.

TCU MISSISSIPPI STATE

I have few thoughts about this game. I think Illinois will win, and Bret Bielema will be happy. When Bret Bielema smiles, I feel comfy.

Dec. 31 | 7:00 p.m. |

Ohio State (11-1, 8-1) Georgia (13-0 8-0)

Peach Bowl (CFP Semifinal) Mercedes-Benz Stadium - Atlanta, GA

Line: GA -6.5 O/U: 61.5

PURDUE

Jan. 2 | 2:30 p.m. | Purdue (8-5, 6-3) LSU (9-4, 6-2)

Citrus Bowl

Camping World Stadium - Orlando, FL

Line: LSU -8 O/U: 58

PENN STATE UTAH

Jan. 2 | 4:00 p.m. |

Penn State (10-2, 7-2) Utah (10-3, 7-2)

The Rose Bowl

Rose Bowl - Pasadena, CA

Line: Purdue -2.5 O/U: 52

I feel pretty safe in saying that Sean Clifford won’t pull a Caleb Williams and paint his nails for this one. I like the Nittany Lions here. Clifford has that cat in him.

I think Ohio State could beat Georgia. Maybe we won’t have to wait until November 2023 to watch the Buckeyes and Wolverines play again.

LSU

I really wanted LSU to face Notre Dame in a bowl this year. Brian Kelly and his fake accent wouldn’t know what to do.

Pregame

IOWA

Is it Joe Labas or Carson May time?

GEORGIA

Maybe Alabama should’ve been in the playoff after all.

MICHIGAN

See my Georgia-Ohio State comment

KANSAS STATE

Is Keagan Johnson eligible to play in this game?

OREGON

To my future employer, I do not have a quack addiction.

PENN STATE

Penn State owns Kernkraft 400 by Zombie Nation. Other schools need to cease and desist.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Trust me, Spencer will be Rattling.

KENTUCKY

There will be less than 25 total points in this game.

GEORGIA

Back-to-back national championships for Georgia?

MICHIGAN

As much as I want a Michigan-OSU rematch, it ain’t going to happen.

KANSAS STATE

Get Nick Saban off my Big Ten Championship Game screen.

OREGON

Are the Ducks and the Tar Heels really on the same level?

UTAH

Pac-12 supremacy coming your way.

NOTRE DAME

The Fighting Irish can fight the Gators in the bowl easily.

KENTUCKY

This ain’t gonna be pretty.

GEORGIA

Unleash the Dawgs.

MICHIGAN

Iowa is getting one of Michigan’s guys.

ALABAMA

Nice try, Nick Saban. You made some cute speeches, but you still ain’t in.

WASHINGTON

I regret not casting my Heisman vote in favor of Michael Penix Jr.

CINCINNATI

Why do either of these teams need a keg of nails? They don’t do construction.

OREGON STATE

No Anthony Richardson, no W.

TEXAS

Hometown bowl? A little unfair.

CINCINNATI

I just want the Scott Satterfield dynamic.

OREGON STATE

How did the Beavers get stuck in the Las Vegas Bowl?

OREGON

I really didn’t want to do this. IOWA The Hawkeyes have proven that QB play doesn’t matter.

KENTUCKY

KENTUCKY

This game has 6-3 written all over it.

GEORGIA

The Bulldogs could beat Atlanta traffic.

MICHIGAN

Where Heartlanders forward Michael Pastujov skated.

GEORGIA

Ohio State is lucky to be in the College Football Playoff.

MICHIGAN

Duggan can only carry TCU so far.

GEORGIA

Dawgs are at home, so this one is easy.

MICHIGAN

How many Wolverines will transfer to Iowa?

KENTUCKY

Does a team really need a QB?

OHIO STATE

B1G or bust.

MICHIGAN

How big can the Big Game get?

ALABAMA

My new home state.. ALABAMA

Kansas State will feel the wrath of a non-playoff Alabama.

Couldn’t quite quack the top 10. OREGON

Where Animal House, a film I haven’t seen, was made.

UTAH

The Utes are always on past my bedtime.

SOUTH CAROLINA

The Gamecocks have yet to steer me wrong.

TEXAS

A lot of inappropriate joke opportunities here.

CINCINNATI

It’s pronounced Loserville.

OREGON STATE

I have buck teeth like a Beaver.

UTAH

One of America’s most underrated states.

SOUTH CAROLINA Ready for the Gamecocks to be overhyped in the preseason.

TEXAS Austin–Bergstrom International Airport is nice.

CINCINNATI

Will the Cincinnati Cyclones win the ECHL Central Division?

OREGON STATE

One of the few states I haven’t visited.

OREGON

North Carolina won’t bounce back from its loss to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game.

PENN STATE

The Nittany Lions aren’t like USC. They can play defense.

SOUTH CAROLINA New coach, same Notre Dame.

WASHINGTON

Penix Jr. throws for 400 in San Antonio.

CINCINNATI

No Fickell, no problem.

OREGON STATE

Jonathan Smith might be the most underrated coach in the NCAA.

ALABAMA

Crimson Tide may be playing a lot of backups.

NORTH CAROLINA

Would be a decent basketball matchup.

UTAH

A strange matchup for Pasadena.

KANSAS STATE

A bad loss to a bad team.

OREGON

Tar Heels have dropped three straight games.

UTAH

An old school, classic Big Ten-Pac 12 rivalry.

SOUTH CAROLINA Gamecocks on a roll to end the season.

WASHINGTON

Michael Penix will be the difference.

CINCINNATI

Maybe the most awkward bowl of them all.

OREGON STATE

Beavers and Gators in Las Vegas. Love bowl season.

NOTRE DAME

Just join a super conference already.

TEXAS Longhorns are tough to beat in the Alamo, as Iowa knows.

LOUISVILLE

Only 100 miles separate these schools. Let’s play in Boston..

OREGON STATE

This game is played in Vegas and still nobody cares to bet on it.

AUSTIN HANSON

Editor (29-31)

CHRIS WERNER Asst. Sports Editor (38-22)

ISAAC GOFFIN Football Reporter (37-23)

CHLOE PETERSON Sports Editor (38-22)

MICHAEL MERRICK DITV Sports Director (37-23)

JOHN BOHNENKAMP Sports Writing Coach (40-20)

JASON BRUMMOND Publisher (35-25)