First-year Louisville Cardinals (8-5) head coach Scott Satterfield led the team to a 38-28 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the 2019 Franklin American Music City Bowl. Despite moving on prior to last year’s New Orleans Bowl as head coach of the Appalachian State Mountaineers, Satterfield has now led teams to four consecutive bowl victories. Led by redshirt sophomore signal-caller Micale Cunningham’s Music City Bowl MVP performance (350 total yards, 2 TDs), the Cardinals amassed over 500 yards (510) of total offense.
Louisville cruised to its first bowl victory since the last time they were in Nashville (2015 Music City Bowl). During the 2015 Music City Bowl , game MVP Lamar Jackson accounted for 453 total yards (4 TDs). The 2019 Franklin American Mortgage Music Bowl MVP this time was redshirt sophomore quarterback Micale Cunningham, who totaled 379 yards (2 TDs).
Tennessee Air National Guard f
The Tennessee Air National Guard flyover over the 2019 Music City Bowl featured the C-17 Globemaster, from the Memphis based 164th Airlift Wing.
Hassan Hall KR Louisville
Louisville's Hassan Hall (No. 19 pictured) finished fourth in the nation in kickoff returns in 2019 (30.5 yd/avg, TD) but he had problems getting away from Mississippi State WR JaVonta Payton (No. 4 pictured), S Landon Guidry (No. 35 pictured) and No. 34 Sherman Timbs.
Willie Gay, Jr LB Mississippi State
Mississippi State linebacker Willie Gay, Jr. (No. 6 pictured) saved his best for last. With the team missing starting linebacker Erroll Thompson, Gay, Jr. contributed a career-high 11 tackles, one forced fumble and one tackle for loss.
Tyre Phillips OT Mississippi State
Mississippi State LT Tyre Phillips (No. 78 pictured), 6'5 345, often used his size to envelop Louisville OLB Yasir Abdullah (No. 22 pictured).
Micale Cunningham QB Louisville
Louisville's Micale Cunningham rushed for 81 yards on 16 carries as he consistently kept linebackers like Mississippi State's Tim Washington (No. 41 pictured) in constant pursuit. In addition, Cunningham threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore phenom finished 2019 with 22 touchdown passes and five interceptions.
Scott Satterfield holding up the 2019 Music City Bowl trophy
Scott Satterfield continues to win bowl games at a frenetic pace. The Music City Bowl victory marked his fourth bowl game in the last four games he's coached in (didn't coach in the 2018 New Orleans Bowl for Appalachian State). His continued rise has coincided with a Louisville program that could be headed on the way back up the ladder in the ACC.
Clemson sophomore quarterback Trevor Lawrence accounted for 366 total yards and three touchdowns in leading the Tigers back from a 16-point deficit to defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes 29-23 in the 2019 Playstation Fiesta Bowl. The game MVP got a lot of assistance from ACC Offensive Player of the Year Travis Etienne, who chipped in with 150 all-purpose yards and three scores in the comeback effort.
Iowa’s Ihmir Smith-Marsette took his second kickoff return of the season to the house and scored touchdowns three different ways in the team’s 49-24 victory over the USC Trojans in the 2019 SDCCU Holiday Bowl. Along with Holiday Bowl Defensive MVP A.J. Epenesa’s 2.5 quarterback sacks, the Hawkeyes went on a 21-0 run to end the contest.
The Hawkeyes used a 21-0 run to extend away from the USC Trojans 49-24 in the 2019 SDCCU Holiday Bowl.
4 Stanley at the top of his release point
Iowa's Nathan Stanley completed 18-of-27 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns in the team's victory. Stanley, 6'5 240, passed for 68 touchdowns in his Hawkeyes career.
6 Smith-Marsette BEST SHOT of him spinning vs USC KO coverage
Iowa's Ihmir Smith-Marsette (No. 6 seen spinning on USC's Isaiah Pola-Mao) finished fifth nationally in kickoff returns this past season (29.6 yd/avg, 2 TDs). His 2019 Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP performance featured three touchdowns (KR, REC, RUSH) and nearly a fourth on a near touchdown pass.
73 Jackson attempting to turn his hips vs 94 Epenesa on turn-out block
USC's Austin Jackson (No. 73 pictured) gave up a sack and some quarterback pressures versus Iowa's A.J. Epenesa (No. 94 pictured), but he used his immense athleticism and strength to thwart him on occasion.
94 Epenesa uses outside arm-over after pull-through maneuver
It was Epenesa's superior technique, however, that ultimately proved to be the difference in the much-anticipated matchup between the two all-conference performers. On this repetition, Epenesa uses an outside arm over and pull-through maneuver to cross Jackson's feet.
74 Wirfs bends back 26 Mauga
The Iowa Hawkeyes also have two offensive tackle prospects that will be playing on Sundays. Right tackle Tristan Wirfs' (No. 74 seen pictured blocking USC sophomore linebacker Kana'i Mauga, No. 26 pictured) power was evident for much of the night. He was effective pulling in space and displayed agility on outside reach blocks in their variety of offensive run schemes.
Ferentz thankful he's receiving the MVP trophy
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz won the ninth bowl game of his tenure in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes won its third consecutive bowl game.
Washington head coach Chris Petersen ended his career with a resounding 38-7 victory over his former team, the Boise State Broncos, in the 2019 Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl. Junior quarterback Jacob Eason passed for 210 yards and one touchdown while fellow junior running back Salvon Ahmed added two rushing scores. Junior defensive back Elijah Molden took home game MVP honors with nine tackles, one forced fumble and a 31-yard interception return.
Las Vegas City
The Las Vegas Bowl captures the spirit of the city in mid-December every year.
American Flag with Soliders 2
Our United States military provides a constant presence every year at the Las Vegas Bowl.
26 Ahmed RUNNING to his right again 5
Despite rushing for just 20 yards, Washington running back Salvon Ahmed (No. 26 pictured) scored two touchdowns in the 2019 Las Vegas Bowl. He went over the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in 2019 and finished his career with 21 rushing touchdowns. Ahmed -who recently declared for the 2020 NFL Draft- will be one of the fastest running backs available in this year's draft class.
56 Harris MAKES AN EXTREMELY ATHLETIC BLOCK vs 10 Nawahine as 6 McClatcher runs the fly sweep
Washington center Nick Harris (No. 56 pictured) provides mobility as a puller in space for wide receiver Chico McClatcher (No. 6 pictured) on a fly sweep.
Jimmy Lake new HC Washington with Chris Petersen former HC Boise State BEST SHOT 2
Washington defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake celebrates the Las Vegas Bowl championship with retiring coach Chris Petersen. Petersen finished 55-26 during his tenure with the Huskies and 147-38 overall (Boise State, Washington).
In what proved to be a competitive day for both the East and West squads, DraftNasty dove even deeper into the action. Find out which players either continued to make an impact or stood out for the first time on Day 2 of 2019 East-West Shrine practices.
4 Godwin beating 15 Moreland out of break
On Day 2, Georgia's Terry Godwin was challenged by James Madison CB Jimmy Moreland (No. 15 pictured), one of the better cover guys in attendance. Godwin's ability to roll his hips off of one step was evident on this out route during a one-on-one period. Moreland's eyes ventured into the backfield slightly out of his break as Godwin's ball skills continued to shine.
4 Godwin coming back down at 45-degree angle
One of the most impressive aspects in Godwin's week was his attention to detail during the team's wide receiver individual drills. On this repetition, he sinks his hips at a sharp 45-degree angle on a cone drill.
17 Custis using rip move to slip past 28 Jackson in press-man
Syracuse wide receiver Jamal Custis used this pull-through maneuver throughout the week to get on top of defensive backs. Miami (Fla.) cornerback Michael Jackson (6'1, 207) was a physical presence at the line of scrimmage, but even he couldn't handle Custis on this rep.
17 Custis CLIMBING THE LADDER TO MAKE GRAB
Custis, pictured, used his 82-inch wingspan to snag this high pass during a one-on-one drill versus Jackson.
85 Lodge attempts to swat down outside hand of 28 Jackson in man-to-man
Even though Jackson (No. 28 pictured) would lock his hips by jamming with his outside arm, he was able to handle Ole Miss' DaMarkus Lodge on this one-on-one rep. Lodge, perhaps the least heralded of the Rebels trio entering the 2019 NFL Draft, displayed good quickness in-and-out of his intermediate patterns during the week.
92 Phillips using feet through the bags again
Tennessee DL Kyle Phillips (No. 92 pictured going through bag drills) did an excellent job of bowing back tight ends with his six-inch punch during the week of practice. In addition, he re-traced his steps to the ball in pursuit. His biggest issue was establishing effective counters once his first move was taken away (at either DE or the three-technique DT).
12 Stick throws the ball on a line to 2 Johnson Fresno State on WR screen
North Dakota State's Easton Stick throws a quick screen to Fresno State's KeeSean Johnson during a team drill. Stick was effective on bootlegs going to his left and demonstrated decisiveness throwing in-between the hash marks. Some of his comeback patterns tended to die before reaching their final destinations.
23 Wyatt and 8 Brown celebrate their dance moves BEST SHOT
SMU cornerback Jordan Wyatt celebrates with Troy cornerback Blace Brown after picking off a slant and returning it for a touchdown during a team period. Wyatt got his hands on a number of passes during the week as he continues to round back into form following a 2017 late season injury.
24 Hall using play speed to frustrate West DEF
Pittsburgh running back Darrin Hall's instincts shined on draw concepts and gap-schemed runs. He also displayed solid hands to track the ball out of the backfield. A tendency to turn to the side was a bit of a surprise in his pass pro drills.
27 Wingard returns the INT down the right sidelines
Wyoming safety Andrew Wingard picked off this pass late in practice and took it to the house. It shouldn't have come as a surprise. He picked off 10 passes during school. While he didn't have success in one-on-one drills covering wideouts, the former Cowboy was far from shy in challenging any receiver in attendance.
35 Worthington breaks on the ball outside the numbers 9 Fulgham ball coming loose
Colorado's Evan Worthington (No. 35 pictured) broke on an out route thrown to Old Dominion's Jonathan Duhart. Worthington took full advantage of his second chance in school and his effort stands out. He rounded back into form during the week after missing three of the team's last four games.
43 Jones working back down the LOS again
Angelo State's Markus Jones, pictured, works through bag drills with a level of intensity that signifies his overall approach. The Lone Star Conference Player of the Year posted an unbelievable 36.5 tackles for loss in 2018. His power showed up in the Day 1 one-on-one pass rush sessions, when he powered Missouri offensive tackle Paul Adams to the ground with a speed-to-power bull rush.
46 Durham wins to the inside hip of 57 Adams
In a true SEC battle, Missouri's Paul Adams (No. 57 pictured from top-to-bottom) initially had control of Texas A&M's Landis Durham. Despite an 85-inch wingspan and 63-pound weight advantage over Durham, Adams allowed the former Aggie to win the leverage battle. He got his hands inside of Adams' jersey and used a snatch maneuver to reach the bottom of the pocket. Durham's 17 sacks and 22.5 tackles for losses the last two seasons lay credence to his quickness off the snap.
48 Hollins gets over the top of 77 Pope with the swipe move
San Diego State OT Ryan Pope was also one of the longer offensive tackles in attendance, but this battle came down to quickness. Oregon OLB Justin Hollins used a swipe move (see fourth picture on bottom) to clear Pope and easily turn the corner.
74 Dugas re-corrals his frame to recover vs 95 Mack
In a battle of perhaps two of the strongest offensive or defensive linemen in attendance, Texas A&M's Daylon Mack initially forced Louisiana Tech's O'Shea Dugas to cross his feet. However, as the down progressed, Dugas was able to re-corral his frame and sit down versus Mack's power step.
80 Oliver toe-tap grab near sidelines
Colorado School of Mines wide receiver Brody Oliver (pictured getting the toe-tap grab down during an individual drill) caught 224 passes for 4,010 yards and 59 touchdowns during school. During the week, he impressed with his body control and flexibility.
DraftNasty’s Corey Chavous takes us inside some of the Day 1 images from the 2019 East-West Shrine practices at Tropicana Field in Tampa, Florida.
25 Johnson FULL EXTENSION MAGAZINE North Alabama
North Alabama's Chris Johnson goes full extension during Day 1 drills. Throughout his career as a Lion, Johnson displayed the ability to get off the hash as a rangy, 6-foot-2, 210-pounder.
4 Godwin at full extension to grab pass
Georgia's Terry Godwin (No. 4 pictured) goes full extension for a grab on Day 1 of 2019 East-West Shrine practices. Aside from his ability to win in short areas, the former four-star recruit displayed range as a pass catcher.
14 Cornelius about to throw deep with 90 Dogbe on the way
East quarterback and former Oklahoma State Cowboy Taylor Cornelius got outside of the pocket to throw a perfect pass on the move to Auburn wide receiver Ryan Davis. Davis got behind James Madison CB Jimmy Moreland on the play. Cornelius was at his best throwing deep breaking square-in patterns most of the day.
5 Davis about to get tackled by 15 Moreland in the open field after big catch
Despite getting behind Jimmy Moreland on this play, Davis (No. 5 pictured) had some issues with his footing and drops during the week. The former Tigers wideout caught 180 passes from a variety of positions during his four-year stay in the SEC.
22 Hampton IN FOCUS break
Rutgers safety Saquon Hampton, pictured, did a fine job of breaking on flat routes and filling as a run defender during the week. Hampton led the Big Ten with 16 passed defended (3 INTs, 13 PBUs) in 2018.
95 Slayton fumble recovery
Syracuse DL Chris Slayton displayed an ability to bend his knees during a scoop-and-score drill during an individual period. On Day 1, he won across the faces of guards and centers attempting angle blocks and also demonstrated power in one-on-one pass rush drills. Slayton -a 700-pound squatter- was difficult to block much of the week.
96 Broughton on the bags
Cincinnati DL Cortez Broughton (pictured doing bag drills) was often run by the pocket as a defensive end, but he used head-and-shoulder quickness to win as a three-technique on occasion. Despite being undersized to a degree, Broughton (6'2, 291) brings scheme versatility to the table with his 81-inch wingspan.
4 Rypien throwing from cloudy pocket in Monday’s practice
West quarterback and former Boise State Bronco Brett Rypien was effective throwing under pressure during several periods of Monday's practice. The player about to hit him -Kansas' Daniel Wise (No. 96 pictured)- was the most disruptive West defensive lineman during the day.
The 22nd-ranked Northwestern Wildcats used a furious third quarter rally to overtake the 17th-ranked Utah Utes, 31-20. Led by a defense that forced timely turnovers and 2018 SDCCU Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP Clayton Thorson, the Wildcats scored 28 unanswered points in the third stanza. DraftNasty’s Corey Chavous takes us inside the game with this photo collage.
Utah’s Army representative flies into the stadium on parachute
The Frog-X parachute team came into the stadium with a focus on entertaining the crowd.
Northwestern’s military representation flying into the field lands on the field 4
This member of the Frog-X parachute team represented the Northwestern Wildcats and landed on the field effortlessly to the delight of the crowd.
Navy holding up the American Flag during the National Anthem Center of the Field
The Navy held up the American flag to give the fans in the stands a full-sized view.
Utah shows respect to each other in the pregame
The Utes' team unity was evident during the pregame.
22 Hansen working pass rush counter with 30 Barton in the pregame
Utah All-Pac-12 linebacker Chase Hansen, pictured, would have been huge for the Utes in this game but did not play due to an undisclosed injury. The player he's doing drills with -Utes captain and LB Cody Barton- finished his 2018 campaign with 116 tackles, four quarterback sacks, 10.5 tackles for losses and six pass break-ups.
18 Thorson just gets rid of the ball as 30 Barton arrives on the blitz 2
Despite Barton's presence most of the night (8 tackles, 1/2 sack, 1/2 TFL), Northwestern QB Clayton Thorson was still able to get this pass off early in the game versus the blitz.
15 Shelley takes a shot from the EZ, 6 Shyne in PP, 7 Whillock blitzing
Utah freshman quarterback Jason Shelley once again started for an injured Tyler Huntley. Shelley passed for 302 yards (60%), 2 TDs and 2 INTs.
4 Green dives to the ball with 41 McGee closing in for the cover
Utah running back TJ Green couldn't quite get to this pass on the sidelines in the first quarter of Monday's action.
97 Gay kicks the FG as 94 Oxley nearly blocks it
Utah placekicker Matt Gay (No. 97 pictured) -the 2017 Lou Groza Award winner- nearly had this kick blocked by Northwestern DL Ben Oxley (No. 94 pictured). Gay had three kicks blocked in 2018.
6 Anae final copy of forced fumble
Utah's Bradlee Anae (No. 6 pictured) forces a fumble versus Northwestern running back Isaiah Bowser (No. 25 picutred) in the fourth quarter. He finished 2018 with 51 tackles, eight quarterback sacks, 15.5 tackles for losses, two forced fumbles and three pass break-ups.
6 Shyne in the Wildcat as 50 Umana about to snap, 42 Fisher focused
The Utes tried to put Armand Shyne in the Wildcat near the goal line, but Northwestern linebacker Paddy Fisher was on his game most of the night.
42 Fisher with form tackle of 22 Brumfield in the fourth quarter
Fisher (No. 42 pictured tackling Devin Brumfield in the fourth quarter) finished second on the Wildcats in tackles this year (117). In the Holiday Bowl, he had 13 tackles, 1/2 tackle for loss and one forced fumble.
18 Thorson releases for this third quarter TD
The Wildcats were down 20-3 at halftime before a furious third quarter rally featured 28 unanswered points. Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson (No. 18 pictured) threw this third quarter pass to offensive lineman Trey Klock (No. 39 pictured) to put the Wildcats up 24-20.
Everyone happy for 39 Klock III after he scores a TD in the Holiday Bowl
What a moment for the senior Klock, who battled injuries as a former offensive lineman for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Northwestern WR Riley Lees scores the TD
Northwestern's Riley Lees (No. 19 pictured) is sort of a jack of all trades for the Wildcats. The team's starting punt returner also lines up in the Wildcat and scored on an eight-yard touchdown late in the third quarter to put the team up 31-20.
18 Thorson injured late in the game after big hit by 13 Blair
Despite getting banged up late in the fourth quarter after a huge hit on the sidelines by Utah safety Marquise Blair, the game was a redemption for Thorson (No. 18 pictured). He was injured (torn ACL) in last year's 2017 Music City Bowl.
Fitzgerald’s fourth quarter Gatorade bath
Pat Fitzgerald enjoyed the Gatorade bath late in the fourth quarter.
Pace and Thorson MVPs
Sophomore safety JR Pace was named the 2018 Holiday Bowl Defensive MVP (7 tackles, 1/2 TFL, 34-yard fumble return, one interception and one pass break-up). Thorson was named the 2018 Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP after completing 21-of-30 passes for 241 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Fitzgerald and Clayton Thorson celebrate the 2018 Holiday Bowl Trophy
Pat Fitzgerald held up the Holiday Bowl trophy in style as his senior quarterback Clayton Thorson approved.
Pat Fitzgerald kisses the Holiday Bowl Trophy in the rain
Northwestern HC Pat Fitzgerald kissed the Holiday Bowl trophy after the game.
Led by redshirt junior quarterback Jarrett Stidham’s six touchdowns (5 PASS, 1 RUSH), the Auburn Tigers overtook the Purdue Boilermakers 63-14 in Friday’s 2018 Franklin Mortgage Music City Bowl. DraftNasty’s Corey Chavous gives a peek at some of the images from Nashville.
National Anthem shot Oak Ridge Boys 5-time Grammy Award winners
The Oak Ridge Boys, five-time Grammy Award winners, performed a stirring National Anthem for the fans.
21 Monday SMOKES 4 Moore in kickoff coverage
Tigers freshman defensive back Smoke Monday (No. 21 pictured) earned his first name on this big second quarter hit in kickoff coverage.
89 Hopkins extends for the catch in the first quarter
Junior tight end Brycen Hopkins (No. 89 pictured) averaged 17.1 yards per catch on his 34 receptions (2 TDs) in 2018..
12 Dean mistimes leap on ball intended for 7 Zico
Purdue senior wide receiver Isaac Zico was unable to re-establish his feet in-bounds on this second quarter potential touchdown reception versus Auburn junior cornerback Jamel Dean (No. 12 pictured).
5 Schwartz reaches the ball over the GL for the TD after he gets the score
Freshman wide receiver Anthony Schwartz, who averaged over seven yards per carry in 2018, scored his seventh touchdown of the year in the second quarter.
5 Schwartz looking at camera after he scores a TD
The Pembroke Pines, Florida native then showed off his guns to the crowd.
4 Moore crosses the paint for TD in first quarter
Purdue freshman All-American Rondale Moore (No. 4 pictured) scored his second rushing touchdown of the season in the second quarter. Moore finished the season with 114 receptions for 1,258 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns.
Fly over the top of the stadium got everything going
Prior to the game the mood was set with a flyover that preceded a star-studded National Anthem.
1 Bryant scores the TD in scecond quarter to put Auburn up 42-7
Auburn defensive end Big Kat Bryant (No. 1 pictured) returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.
4 Igbinoghene WR-DB knocks 8 Jones off his feet
Auburn CB-WR Noah Igbinoghene (No. 4 pictured) averaged 28.7 yards per kickoff return in 2018, but he also proved to be a physical presence. He finished the season with 50 tackles.
33 Britt takes down 8 Jones late in fourth
Sophomore linebacker K.J. Britt (No. 33 pictured) could be a factor for Auburn as well in the near future. His tracking speed was on display in the fourth quarter when he tracked down Purdue's Markell Jones.
13 Gatewood MESH POINT with 37 Tolbert as 50 Irvin leads around for QB counter
Freshman offensive lineman Jalil Irvin (No. 50 pictured) pulls around on a quarterback zone read counter in the fourth quarter.
13 Gatewood running in the open field
The future could be bright for the Tigers with the potential of freshman quarterback Joey Gatewood (No. 13 pictured). The former four-star recruit rushed for 28 yards in his first extended action of the season.
8 Stidham in the pocket good shot again
Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham stood tall in the pocket most of the afternoon.
8 Stidham holds up MVP trophy
The story of the day was Stidham. The former Baylor Bears signal-caller accounted for 43 touchdowns (36 passing, seven rushing) over the last two seasons. He won 18 of his 26 career starts for the Tigers.
Auburn holds up the Music City Bowl trophy after the game
Auburn seniors Ryan Davis (No. 23 pictured), Darrell Williams (No. 49 pictured), Chase Cramer (No. 45 pictured) and Deshaun Davis (holding up trophy) celebrate the 2018 Music City Bowl championship on the podium with their teammates.
Washington State emerged victorious in a back-and-forth thriller against Iowa State. The Cougars defeated the Cyclones 28-26 to win the 2018 Valero Alamo Bowl. DraftNasty’s Troy Jefferson gives his impressions in this in-game report:
16 Gardner Minshew (6’2 220) Washington State QB-Senior
Former East Carolina quarterback Gardner Minshew’s transition to Pullman culminated with his selection as college football’s 2018 Johnny United Golden Arm Award winner.
The East Carolina transfer put together a season that ended with him winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award, which is given to the nation’s top senior quarterback. Minshew impressed in the Valero Alamo Bowl with his short compact delivery and his elusiveness in the pocket. Iowa State opted to rush just three defensive linemen for the better part of the game and he took his time with patient reads. When he is at his best, Minshew can power off his back foot and drive the ball in the short and intermediate passing game. At the next level, the Cougars quarterback will have to answer questions about his deep ball accuracy and ability to run a less quarterback-friendly offense than head coach Mike Leach’s air raid offense. The former ECU Pirate finished his senior season with 4,779 passing yards, 38 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
4 Marcus Strong (5’9 185) Washington State CB-Junior
Marcus Strong showed his anticipation and ball skills when he jumped a slant in the first quarter and ran the interception in for a touchdown. The junior cornerback, however, was called for a taunting penalty and had his touchdown negated. For the game, Strong finished with seven tackles, one sack and one interception. He impressed this season -and against Iowa State- with his ability to compete and play through the whistle. Despite giving up nine inches against Iowa State receiver Hakeem Butler, Strong got physical and made life hard on the taller opponent. The lack of size will concern scouts, but the Cougars cornerback has the right mentality to play on the outside in the NFL.
18 Hakeem Butler (6’6 225) Iowa State WR-Junior
Butler is physical and not afraid to put his hands on the opposing cornerback to create room in his routes. He also showed the skills to seal the edge during running plays. Despite his height, Butler can still get low and get in-and-out of his breaks (see his comeback routes during the first half). The junior had a productive season, posting 60 catches for 1,318 yards and nine touchdowns. Against Washington State, he caught nine passes for 192 yards. This included an acrobatic one-handed catch over the middle of the field.
32 David Montgomery (5’11 216) Iowa State RB-Junior
David Montgomery has the tools to be an every down back at the next level. He showed soft hands in the receiving game in the Valero Alamo Bowl (4 catches for 55 yards). And like he did all season long, he refused to go down on first contact. Against Washington State, he ran for 124 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. On the season, the Cincinnati native rushed for 1,216 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Temple got off to a strong start in the 2018 Walk-On’s Independence Bowl, but the Duke Blue Devils took off in the second half to pull away from the Owls 56-27. DraftNasty’s Corey Chavous goes inside the action with his photo gallery from Thursday’s action.
13 Isaiah Wright KR-WR Temple
Temple's Isaiah Wright (No. 13 pictured) is one of the nation's best all-purpose players. He's averaged 25.9 yards per kickoff return (2 TDs) and 11.9 yards per punt return (3 TDs) in his career.
14 Yancy finishes the catch in front of 27 Neal
Brodrick Yancy (No. 14 pictured) finishes the catch in front of Damani Neal (No. 27 pictured).
17 Jones reading the mesh point with 25 Jackson
Duke redshirt junior quarterback Daniel Jones did a fine job of reading the mesh point with running back Deon Jackson most of the afternoon.
17 Jones trying to throw over the top of 95 Dan Archibong getting his hands up as 98 Hogan rushes from the backside
Jones (No. 17 pictured) often had to throw in a cloudy pocket. He just gets this pass over the top of No. 95 Dan Archibong as No. 98 Jimmy Hogan rushed from the backside
18 Harris QB sneak getting low behind his OL
Duke backup QB Quentin Harris gets low on this quarterback sneak in the second quarter.
21 Gardner trying to stay in-bounds
Temple RB Jager Gardner did his best to stay in-bounds on this second quarter run down the left sidelines. He was replacing Owls star running back Ryquell Armstead, who sat out the Independence Bowl.
23 Young IV FITS up on 22 Jennings
Duke freshman safety Lummie Young IV (No. 23 pictured) fits up to tackle Temple RB Jeremy Jennings.
25 Jackson returning KO IN FOCUS 8
Duke RB Deon Jackson nearly broke this kickoff return in the first half of Thursday's game.
25 Jackson UPSIDE DOWN
Despite his success, Jackson got caught up in some precarious positions due to Temple's defensive pursuit.
28 Thomas and 99 Booth-Lloyd CRUNCH 25 Jackson
Jyquis Thomas (No. 28 pictured) and Freddie Booth-Lloyd (No. 99 pictured) combined to crunch Jackson.
28 Thomas with perfect fit on 25 Jackson in the hole
Thomas came back later to land a perfect fit on Jackson in the hole.
51 Dimukeje about to close in for the sack on 15 Russo
Duke DE Victor Dimukeje (No. 51 pictured) tries to close in for the sack on Temple quarterback Anthony Russo in the third quarter.
17 Jones long TD pass to 3 Rahming in the game in Independence Bowl
Jones' career-long 85-yard touchdown pass to senior WR T.J. Rahming (No. 3 pictured) in the third quarter represented a career-long for Rahming as well.
17 Jones INT to 32 Walls in the fourth quarter
Duke QB Daniel Jones is picked off by Temple safety Benny Walls in the fourth quarter of Thursday's action. Despite his outstanding game, Jones made a couple of mistakes throwing into coverage.
70 Fair blocking vs 32 Hill coming inside
Temple LG Jovahn Fair (No. 70 seen blocking versus Duke LB No. 32 Brandon Hill) has been a consistent force for the Owls the last two seasons.
77 Robinson tries to cut 59 Hornbuckle on the edge
Temple LT Jaelin Robinson, a bonafide NFL prospect, tries to cut Duke DE Tre Hornbuckle (No. 59 pictured) on the edge.
86 Drew Jordan forces a fumble vs 4 Ritrovato in fourth quarter of the game
Duke sophomore DE Drew Jordan (No. 86 pictured) forced his first fumble of the season versus Temple RB Rob Ritrovato in the fourth quarter.
Temple players disappointed on the sidelines during blowout loss
Temple players were disappointed on the sidelines during the end of a game that started off with a halftime lead.
Duke players holding up trophy Independence Bowl
Duke players hold up the 2018 Walk-On's Independence Bowl trophy at the end of their 29-point victory.
