5 players to watch for in No. 23 Iowa football’s bowl game against No. 14 Vanderbilt

IOWA CITY — Vanderbilt’s used to the sunny weather of Florida, but it hasn’t faced a Big Ten program this season.

The No. 14 Commodores face No. 23 Iowa football in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Eve, marking the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Hawkeyes are expected to have their entire roster available, and Vanderbilt will boast a similar lineup.

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No. 23 Iowa vs. No. 14 Vanderbilt football glance: Time/TV/game info

Except for one.

Sources began reporting on Sunday that Vanderbilt tight end and John Mackey award winner Eli Stowers will opt out of the bowl game in anticipation of the NFL Draft. Stowers was Vanderbilt’s leading receiver this year, helping bring in four scores.

Although Vanderbilt won’t have their stellar receiver, there’s still a number of Commordores the Hawkeyes will need to plan for in Tampa.

Here are five players to look for when the two teams face off at Raymond James Stadium.

QB Diego Pavia

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz has said multiple times already that slowing down Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia is the biggest challenge of this bowl game. The Heisman runner-up brought the Commordores to the second-best offense in the SEC, averaging 39.4 points per game.

Pavia, a 6-foot graduate, ended his final season with 27 passing touchdowns and over 3,100 passing yards with just eight interceptions. He’s picked up over 800 rushing yards, too, scoring another nine touchdowns.

“I think maybe the most important thing he does, and this is what good quarterbacks do is just how they impact their team, regardless of how tall they are, how tall they aren't, whatever their style of play may be,” Ferentz said. “But does his team believe in him, do they move when that player is in the game.”

Pavia found himself in scandal following the Heisman ceremony, after posting reaction comments online — including a video of himself at a club flipping off Indiana. Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea said he’s spoken with Pavia since the ceremony, and that the entire team still stands behind him following an apology he sent out.

LB Bryan Longwell

As the leading tackler for Vanderbilt, junior linebacker Bryan Longwell has earned the status of top tackler for the second season — this year recording 68. He picked up nine tackles-for-loss, too, including an active four-game with at least TFL per game that began against Texas in November.

Longwell also recorded an interception and four quarterback hurries. Vanderbilt’s defense has found ways to get to the quarterback, but it’s more of a threat in pass defense.

WR Tre Richardson

Likely Pavia’s new top target without Stowers on the field, junior wide receiver Tre Richardson has recorded over 679 receiving yards this year for six touchdowns. Also as Vanderbilt’s returner, Richardson has averaged 26.5 yards per return in 11 games.

Five of those six touchdowns have come in the last three games, including a trio of scores recorded against Kentucky on Nov. 22.

Richardson played at Washburn (Kansas) last year, earning a unaimous Mid-America All-American honor and an honorable mention as a returner.

DB Martel Hight

Leading the team in interceptions, defensive back Martel Hight has picked off three passes this year, all during conference play. He’s recorded 32 tackles this season, and registered just a half tackle-for-loss.

Hight was also a Jet Award semifinalist last season, and as a second team SEC return specialist. He’s averaged 7.6 yards per return this year in 10 attempts.

RB Sederick Alexander

With no less than three carries a game this season, junior Sederick Alexander has brought 560 rushing yards for Vanderbilt. Alexander’s yards include a 65-yard burst against Alabama on Oct. 4.

He’s scored 11 times this season, and averages 46 yards per game. His usual pickup sits around seven yards per carry. Alexander also recorded four receiving touchdowns this year, with his longest catch at 26 yards.

Comments: madison.hricik@thegazette.com, sign up for my weekly newsletter, Hawk Off the Press, at thegazette.com/hawks.