What do you know about Iowa Hawkeyes football Cade McNamara? The Iowa Hawkeyes have an important decision to make.
Who will be the starting quarterback? Will it be the incumbent starter and former Michigan quarterback, senior Cade McNamara, or will it be junior transfer Brendan Sullivan?
The Hawkeyes – one of the best teams in Iowa – face a tough test in the new-look Big Ten Conference. Michigan, Ohio State, and others loom large, but now Pac-12 staples like UCLA, USC, and Oregon will be joining the fray. For Iowa to win games and stay competitive this season and beyond, they will need to find a quarterback they can trust.
Who is Iowa Hawkeyes Football Cade McNamara?
McNamara was the No. 1 prospect in Nevada when he committed to Michigan, though he held offers from the likes of Georgia, Alabama, and USC. He wouldn’t see his first career start until the November 14, 2020, loss to Wisconsin. He threw a late touchdown pass to Mike Sainristil, his first in college.
McNamara would get his first win a week later. He had four touchdowns, all of them passes, plus a rushing touchdown in an overtime win over Rutgers. McNamara threw two touchdowns in a loss to Michigan State, a standout of his young career.
McNamara would eventually be replaced by J.J. McCarthy, leading to a transfer to Iowa. The departure of Spencer Petras and the injury McNamara suffered is what ultimately led to the quarterback battle we now see.
Cade McNamara Impact on the Iowa Hawkeyes
McNamara eventually took over as starter, throwing 90 passes a year ago. With just four touchdowns to three interceptions, McNamara looked a bit unsure of himself even before the injury took him out for the rest of the season.
If McNamara can display the same level of talent he did at Michigan, he has a clear advantage in this race. If he is the up-and-down McNamara of a year ago, the competition will be a lot closer. The Hawkeyes need consistency and stability if they are to improve on their porous offense of a year ago.
The Competition: Brendan Sullivan
Sullivan transferred from Northwestern in the offseason, starting eight games a year ago. He had an impressive 140.2 quarterback rating, completing 63.6% of his passes for 714 yards and six touchdowns while also adding two rushing touchdowns.
McNamara is a better pocket passer overall, the one the Hawkeyes want to lean on to improve the passing game. Sullivans is more mobile and has an advantage with his legs. His inexperience compared to McNamara is also a disadvantage in this race.
Can Former Michigan Quarterback Live up to Expectations?
McNamara came to Iowa looking for a fresh start after being supplanted as Michigan’s starting quarterback. His accuracy struggled along with the Iowa offense until the injury that ended his season. The hope is that another year learning the playbook and playing in the system can be the key to getting him on the right track.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz is optimistic. “He’s missed two years basically,” said Ferentz. “He’s thrown seven-on-seven, things like that, but it’s still not real football. You have to get out there, and you have to operate. You’ve got to be on the field with 11 people on your side and their side. I think he’ll have a good week this week, and hopefully we just keep pushing that forward.”
Conclusion: From Michigan History to Iowa Legacy
For an offense that struggled in 2023, this is a critical battle. Touchdowns were hard to come by and will be tougher when game action commences. It looks as though McNamara has the advantage coming out of spring ball, though things can change at any point during the season.
The season opener against Illinois State is coming. McNamara has the advantage in that he has been with the team longer and more career games played. How the injury against Michigan State will impact him remains to be seen but he will participate as starter for the time being, especially with freshman Marco Lainez deemed not quite ready.
