Kaiya Sheron is UK's most experienced quarterback going into the Music City Bowl. (Vicky Graff Photo)
While Kentucky apparently is still contemplating who to start at quarterback in the Music City Bowl with starter Will Levis opting out of Saturday’s game, Iowa knows it will give Joe Labas his first start with its top two quarterbacks out.
Redshirt freshman Joe Labas will take over an Iowa offense that averaged just 17.4 points per game in the regular season and scored over 27 points just once.
“We’ve added some stuff to the playbook that we haven’t ran ever,” Labas said. “I feel very confident about it, and I’m excited about it.”
This will be the first time Labas has played in a collegiate game when the Music City Bowl kicks off Saturday in Nashville.
“I feel like I can execute whatever I’m asked to do,” he said. “I’m working hard to get ready for the bowl and doing the best I can to help lead our team.”
Kentucky has redshirt freshman Kaiya Sheron, freshman Destin Wade and Iowa transfer Deuce Hogan listed as potential starting quarterbacks on the depth chart released Monday.
Sheron has played in four games as Will Levis’ backup and completed 17 of 29 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns. Most of his throws came in his only start in a 24-14 loss to South Carolina when Levis was hurt.
Both teams have added high profile quarterbacks in the transfer portal. Iowa signed Michigan’s Cade McNamara while UK signed North Carolina State’s Devin Leary and the bowl game could be a chance for this season’s backups to make a case for 2023 playing time.
Labas threw for 2,349 yards and 16 touchdowns his high school senior season. He also played basketball and baseball in high school and is athletic enough to be a running threat.
Iowa’s defense has been terrific all season giving up just 14.4 points per game. Linebacker Jack Campbell was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after making a team-high 118 tackles with two interceptions last season.
Iowa All-Big Ten Conference safety Kaevon Merriweather has opted out of the bowl game to begin preparations for the NFL draft and Sebastian Castro will get the start at strong safety. He had 38 tackles and forced two fumbles last season.
Castro almost sounds like he hopes Sheron will start.
“We do have that one game on him that we’re looking at,” Castro said. “That’s not a lot, not as much as we usually have. We just have to be ready to go and expect a little bit of everything.”
2 Responses
Did you see Sheron play this year? Larry, you have enough optimism for both of us, lol. I hope you’re right but still recall the agony of watching him play earlier this season.
Not sure you can judge on the South Carolina game where they handcuffed him
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