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.
