Vanderbilt was the darling of the college football world this season. The Commodores were 10-2, including a close loss to Texas, and were led by versatile quarterback Diego Pavia. The second-place finisher in the Heisman Trophy voting totaled more than 4,000 combined yards this season and 36 touchdowns. This contest does not have any great NFL prospects, rather mostly Day 3 selections to track.

Top Prospects Expected To Sit

Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers has chosen to opt out of this game. Stowers is an athletic pass-catching tight end who followed coach Jerry Kill from New Mexico State to Vanderbilt.

Stowers led Vanderbilt with 62 receptions and 769 receiving yards, adding four TDs. He’s a prototypical move tight end who is best lined up in the slot or put in motion before the snap of the ball. Projected as a Day 2 prospect, Stowers would be a great fit for the Denver Broncos, a team that desperately needs a tight end.

Key Draft Prospect Matchup To Watch

Iowa tackle Gennings Dunker gets Day 2 love by some, yet I believe he’s more of a fourth-round pick.

Dunker is a big, strong right tackle prospect who I’ve followed since his sophomore season. He overwhelms defenders in the run game, yet he lacks agility and footwork on passing downs.

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His matchup against Vanderbilt’s speedy edge rusher Miles Capers, who finished the season with 9.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks and five hurries, is one NFL scouts will key on.

Mixed Bag Prospect Who Could Use a Big Game

Though Pavia had a marvelous season leading Vanderbilt, the quarterback does not project well to the NFL. Measuring under 5-foot-10, Pavia is better carrying the ball than throwing it. He’ll have a challenge against Iowa, which lines up several talented defensive backs, as they often do.

Under-The-Radar Prospects With Most To Gain In Bowl Game Spotlight

Iowa cornerback TJ Hall is coming off a terrific season where he broke up a career-high eight passes, which helped earn him an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

Junior Deshaun Lee is a terrific zone cornerback who intercepted two passes and broke up six more this season.

Pavia’s ability to get the ball to junior receivers Junior Sherrill or Tre Richardson, who combined for 13 touchdown catches, will be key against Hall and Lee.