Iowa

Iowa football: Who is Brendan Sullivan, Hawkeyes’ new QB1? He hates to lose

Published

1 year ago

October 30, 2024

Iowa football: Who is Brendan Sullivan, Hawkeyes’ new QB1? He hates to lose

IOWA CITY — By the time he caught the ball, Iowa football tight end Johnny Pascuzzi already had a roughly six-yard head start on Brendan Sullivan.

Sullivan, who had just faked a toss, rolled to his right and pushed a pass to Pascuzzi, could’ve very well let his contributions to the play end right there. Instead, Sullivan turned on the jets, racing down the field and, despite the disadvantage, passed Pascuzzi to become a lead blocker.

“It wasn’t an official race, but you could probably say he’s faster than Pascuzzi,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “I guess that was the takeaway. But it says something about his personality, too, him wanting to get down there and help the play. He could have stood there and been a spectator, but he threw the ball and then he started basically trucking down the field. That, to me, was being a good teammate.”

Video: Kirk Ferentz on Brendan Sullivan, Cade McNamara and more

Kirk Ferentz discusses a variety of topics ahead of Iowa’s matchup with Wisconsin.

Iowa had planned to give Sullivan extended playing time in Saturday’s win over Northwestern. But an injury to Cade McNamara meant that Sullivan would take over full-time. He finished the game with 79 passing yards, 41 rushing yards and one touchdown on the ground, helping lead the Hawkeyes to a 40-14 win over his former program.

That extra effort block epitomizes who Sullivan is.

“Just the way I was raised,” Sullivan said. “My dad taught me to play the game with full effort, full confidence and just control the controllables. And so that’s something I can control — is helping my guy get more yards. If that’s going to help the team out, I’m going to do that every time.”

And now comes the next phase of Sullivan’s growing role. With McNamara out on Saturday due to a concussion, Sullivan will make his first career start as a Hawkeye when Iowa hosts Wisconsin.

“He embraced what it means to be an Iowa Hawkeye,” said center Logan Jones. “He does it at such a high level and he plays with so much passion. That’s the kind of guy we want. We want a physical guy, who plays hard and is competitive. He’s brought that since day one. That’s who he’s been. That’s his identity.”

Video: Logan Jones on what QB Brendan Sullivan brings to Iowa football

Logan Jones discusses QB Brendan Sullivan ahead of Iowa’s matchup with Wisconsin.

That’s what he showed at Davison High School in Michigan.

During his junior season, Davison was playing Lapeer in the playoffs. Lapeer, who was hosting the game, used motorcycle sounds to celebrate home touchdowns. So when Sullivan ran in a touchdown in the first quarter, he pretended to rev a motorcycle, mocking the opponent’s tradition.

Davison won that game and went on to capture a Division I state championship.

“He’s just a competitor,” said Davison coach Jake Weingartz. “Quarterbacks usually don’t freaking run their mouth and talk s— and flex on dudes. He just lets it rip, which gains the trust of his teammates and teammates’ respect. He’s just a dawg.”

Sullivan used to think he was going to play basketball in college, not football. He confirmed Tuesday that he can still do a windmill dunk.

“It’s not gonna be backed by a lot of guys, but I’d make the argument that I’m one of the best (basketball players) on the team,” Sullivan said.

Deontae Craig is among those Sullivan named in the mix for that crown. Upon being suggested he probably doesn’t want to be on the block with Craig, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 266 pounds, Sullivan answered:

“I’d challenge him,” he said with a laugh. “He can hear this. Any part of that court, I’ll challenge him.”

Video: Brendan Sullivan ahead of 1st career Iowa start: ‘Foot on the gas’

QB Brendan Sullivan discusses a variety of topics ahead of his first career start for Iowa football.

But it was football where he found his future. At Davison, Sullivan used to meet with Weingartz at lunch to watch film, habits that he has shown since arriving at Iowa. In July, Sullivan said he typically got to the facility around 5:30 a.m., did Bible study, watched film and then did a stretching routine.

Sullivan isn’t afraid to demand excellence from others, either. One time during practice in high school, a receiver didn’t run a route correctly and “B freaking lit his a– up,” Weingartz said.

Sullivan was mostly pursued by non-power conference programs, and even the recruiting process with Northwestern took some creativity. Because so much was shut down due to COVID-19, Sullivan and Weingartz went to an elementary playground for a workout. Weingartz FaceTimed Northwestern’s offensive coordinator at the time so he could see Sullivan doing drills.

“You could see like swingsets in the background,” Weingartz said. “It was nuts.”

After his time at Davison, Sullivan spent three seasons with the Wildcats. In two of those seasons, Sullivan began the season as a reserve but ended up starting multiple games. There is so much value in that now that Sullivan finds himself in a similar situation at Iowa.

Despite joining the Hawkeyes program after spring practice, it didn’t take long for Sullivan’s bravado to become evident. His trash talk even caused some friction.

“I like letting the defense know when we’re playing pretty well and they didn’t like that one day,” Sullivan said. “So it got a little heated and then kinda went on from there. It’s all love, it’s all fun and I love that part of the game.”

Sullivan was beaten out for the starting job by McNamara but still managed to carve out a role on offense. In Iowa’s third game of the season against Troy, Sullivan was utilized around the goal line, a specialized package that was widely successful and continued throughout the year. Then he earned extended playing time against Northwestern.

At one point in that game against the Wildcats, Sullivan had exerted himself so much that when he tried to deliver a play in the huddle, Jones couldn’t even understand what he was saying.

“He’s obsessed with the game,” Weingartz said. “He’s obsessed with getting better. The kid is a competitor to the 8,000th degree. He f—ing hates to lose. Like you watch him on the field — he’s got a s— ton of swagger.”

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com

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Vote: Who Should be Iowa’s High School Athlete of the Week? (4/5/2026)

Published

5 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

Vote: Who Should be Iowa’s High School Athlete of the Week? (4/5/2026)

Here are the candidates for High School on SI’s Iowa high school athlete of the week for March 30-April 4. Read through the nominees and cast your vote.

Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. PT on Sunday, April 12. The winner will be announced in the following week’s poll. Here are this week’s nominees:

Greyson Hartman, Washington boys track and field

The junior recorded the second-best United States throw in the shot put with a toss of 67-3.5. It is the second-best throw in Iowa history, breaking the Class 3A mark set by NFL standout Tristan Wirfs.

Shea Rapp, Ridge View girls track and field

Rapp won the high jump and the 200 at the Audubon Early Bird while also running on the winning distance medley relay and runner-up 4×400 relay.

Rylee Hemmingsen, Treynor girls track and field

Hemmingsen showed off her skills by winning the 100 hurdles, running on the winning shuttle hurdle and 4×400 relays, and placing second in the high jump at the Audubon Early Bird.

Cash Varner, Alburnett boys track and field

Varner was cash at the Benton Early Bird, placing first in both the 100 dash and long jump.

Aiden Gosselink, Grinnell girls track and field

Gosselink hit the Blue Standard to qualify for the Drake Relays in the long jump while also winning the 100 at the Benton Early Bird.

Rylan Peters, Waverly-Shell Rock boys track and field

Peters set a new school-record in the long jump at 23-8 while also hitting the Blue Standard and qualifying for Drake Relays.

Jase Price, Des Moines Christian boys soccer

Price had quite the varsity debut, as the freshman recorded a haul by scoring four goals in a win over Boone.

Aiden Kellar, Treynor boys soccer

Kellar tallied a hat trick with three goals in a 5-1 win for the Cardinals over Harlan.

Kaden Theisen, Western Dubuque boys soccer

Theisen was peppered with 20 shots in a match vs. Beckman Catholic, saving 19 of them to help the Bobcats to a 2-1 win.

Lucas Sidles, Independence boys track and field

Sidles swept the throwing events at the West Delaware Early Bird, winning the shot put and discus.

Adam Kacmarynski, Pella Christian boys track and field

Kacmarynski won the 100 and ran on the winning sprint medley and 4×100 relays at the Chariton Invitational.

Mark Fraise, Davis County boys track and field

Fraise finished first in the 400 hurdles, was on the first place shuttle hurdle and 4×400 relays, and also ran on the second place distance medley relay.

Gage Hoppenworth, Johnston boys track and field

Hoppenworth had a three-gold night at the Dowling Catholic meet, winning the 110 and 400 hurdles while running the third leg on the winning shuttle hurdle relay.

Alayna Goldsberry, Southeast Polk girls track and field

The junior won the 100 and 200 at her home invitational while running the anchor on the second place 4×400 relay.

Natalie Sitzmann, Waukee girls track and field

Sitzmann, a senior, won the 200 and ran on the first place shuttle hurdle and 4×400 relays at her home invitational.

Isabel Spradling, Des Moines Roosevelt girls track and field

Spradling picked up a first in the 1,500 and was on the gold-medal 4×400 and 4×800 relays at the Waukee Invitational.

Alayna Williams, Carlisle girls soccer

Williams, a senior, recorded five goals in a season-opening win over Knoxville, 10-1.

Carly Torneten, Harlan Community girls soccer

Torneten not only scored four goals, but she recorded four assists vs. Carroll.

About Our Athlete of the Week Voting

High School on SI voting polls are meant to be a fun, lighthearted way for fans to show support for their favorite athletes and teams. Our goal is to celebrate all of the players featured, regardless of the vote totals. Sometimes one athlete will receive a very large number of votes — even thousands — and that’s okay! The polls are open to everyone and are simply a way to build excitement and community around high school sports. Unless we specifically announce otherwise, there are no prizes or official awards for winning. The real purpose is to highlight the great performances of every athlete included in the poll.

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Former TJ Otzelberger Assistant From UNLV Would Be Perfect for Iowa State

Published

17 hours ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

Former TJ Otzelberger Assistant From UNLV Would Be Perfect for Iowa State

Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger knew that his program was in for a busy offseason.

Before any moves were made with the roster, whether it be players entering the transfer portal or declaring for the NBA draft, Otzelberger knew that he would have five seniors who would have to be replaced on the roster.

In addition to player needs, the head coach needs to replenish his coaching staff. Two of his assistants, JR Blount and Kyle Green, were hired as head coaches. Blount is heading to the San Diego Toreros, and Green was brought back for a fourth stint with the Northern Iowa Panthers.

Both were integral parts of the team’s success, with Blount being a leader on the recruiting front and Green being an architect behind the team’s defense. Who could Otzelberger turn to as a replacement?

Tim Buckley is great option for Iowa State coaching staff

Mar 12, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones mascot during a timeout against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half at T-Mobile Center. | William Purnell-Imagn Images

One person who would make a lot of sense as a candidate is Tim Buckley. Most recently, he was on staff with the Cincinnati Bearcats, but with their head coaching change of Wes Miller to Jerrod Calhoun, Buckley is back on the market.

He is someone with whom Otzelberger has familiarity, which could play a big role in the evaluation process when candidates are interviewing. The two worked together with the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels from 2019-21, the position which Otzelberger held before Iowa State.

Buckley could help replace some of what Green’s departure is being lost with the defensive game plan.

“Buckley seems to have a defensive background, and he was described as being “old school” to Cyclone Alert by one source close to the Bearcat program,” wrote Alec Busse of Cyclone Report, part of the 247Sports Network (subscription required).

Familiarty, defense are biggest assets Buckley provides

Mar 26, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger speaks ahead of the Midwest regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

He also has some experience working in the Midwest. Buckley spent one campaign in 2007-08 with the Marquette Golden Eagles and worked with the Wisconsin Badgers in the mid-1990s.

Since Otzelberger took over as head coach, the Cyclones have found a ton of success recruiting in Wisconsin. Buckley can help keep the pipeline active.

He would also bring an established relationship with Otzelberger and plenty of experience. Buckley has been on different sidelines as a coach for nearly 40 years and has been a head coach previously with Rockford and the Ball State Cardinals.

A bonus: Buckley knows the Big 12 landscape after working with Cincinnati the last two seasons. That is an underrated part of his resume, as he can help give some insight into how opponents game plan against Otzelberger and his team while bringing some new ideas to the table in how Iowa State can stop them.

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When is the NFL draft? See prospect grades for Iowa, Iowa State players.

Published

1 day ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

When is the NFL draft? See prospect grades for Iowa, Iowa State players.

The 2026 NFL Combine has passed, Pro Days have wrapped up, and scouts and front‑office personnel from across the league are finishing their draft boards in preparation for April’s NFL Draft.

Here’s what to know about the 2026 NFL draft.

When is the 2026 NFL draft?

The 2026 NFL draft will begin with the first round on Thursday, April 23. Rounds 2 and 3 occur the following day, and the draft will conclude on its third day with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 25.

Where is the 2026 NFL draft?

Pittsburgh — home of the Steelers — will host the 2026 NFL draft.

How to watch the 2026 NFL draft

Live coverage of the NFL draft can be found on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and the NFL Network. Coverage is also available on NFL+, ESPN Select, ESPN Unlimited and Fubo TV.

Thursday, April 23: Round 1 starts at 7 p.m. CT
Friday, April 24: Round 2 and Round 3 start at 6 p.m. CT
Saturday, April 25: Rounds 4-7 start at 11 a.m. CT

Watch the NFL Draft on ESPN+

How are NFL draft prospects graded?

Using NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein’s grading scale, players are evaluated based on their physical traits, on-field performance and projected role. Here’s how that scale breaks down.

8: Perfect prospect
7.3-7.5: Perennial All-Pro
7.0-7.1: Pro Bowl talent
6.7-6.9: Year 1 starter
6.5-6.6: Boom-or-bust potential
6.40-6.49: Will become a good starter within two years
6.30-6.39: Will eventually be plus starter
6.20-6.29: Will eventually be an average starter
6.10-6.19: Good backup with the potential to develop into a starter
6.0-6.09: Traits or talent to be above-average backup
5.80-5.99: Average backup or special-teamer
5.60-5.69: Candidate for bottom of roster or practice squad
5.50-5.59: Priority undrafted free agent

For context, the highest-graded player in the year’s entire draft class was former Ohio State linebacker/defensive end Arvell Reese, who earned a rating of 7.04. Reese ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the defensive end position, clocking a 4.46, and is considered a top-five draft pick after earning All-American and Big Ten Linebacker of the Year honors in 2025.

Similar to high school recruiting rankings, these evaluations aren’t an exact science. They’re projections, and players can ultimately exceed or fall short of them.

For example, before becoming a multiple-time Pro Bowler, George Kittle received a 5.90 grade. Similarly, former Iowa State Cyclones football quarterback Brock Purdy was given a 5.57 rating before outperforming that projection at the NFL level.

What Iowa football players are graded ahead of the 2026 NFL draft?

Here is a breakdown of the prospect grades for Iowa football players according to NFL.com. Combine data, including 40‑yard dash and vertical jump results, is listed where available, though not all 2026 draft‑eligible players were invited to or participated in the Combine.

Gennings Dunker, offensive line: 6.24 (Will eventually be an average starter) − Fifth out of 24 guards in highest prospect grade, according to NFL.com
- 40-yard dash: 5.18 seconds (20th out of 39 offensive linemen)
- Vertical jump: 32.5″ (tied 5th out of the 40 offensive linemen)
- 20-yard shuttle: 4.63 seconds (3rd out of 12 offensive linemen)
Logan Jones, center: 6.2 (Will eventually be an average starter)− Tied fourth out of 15 centers in prospect grade.
- 40-yard dash: 4.90 seconds (1st out of 39 offensive linemen)
- 3-cone drill: 7.46 seconds (2nd out of 14 offensive linemen)
- 20-yard shuttle: 4.53 seconds (2nd out of 12 offensive linemen)

TJ Hall, defensive back: 5.98 (Average backup or special-teamer) − 16th out of 33 defensive backs in prospect grade.
- 40-yard dash: 4.59 seconds (14th out of 20 cornerbacks)
- Vertical jump: 36″ (12th out of the 23 cornerbacks)
- 20-yard shuttle: 4.19 seconds (2nd out of 5 cornerbacks)
Kaden Wetjen, wide receiver: 5.98 (Average backup or special-teamer) − 21st out of 55 wide receivers in prospect grade.
- 40-yard dash: 4.47 seconds (tied 15th out of 34 wide receivers)
- Vertical jump: 35.5″ (13th out of 30 wide receivers)
- 3 cone drill: 6.95 seconds (3rd out of 7 wide receivers)
Beau Stephens, offensive line: 5.97 (Average backup or special-teamer) − 10th out of 24 guards in prospect grade.
- 40-yard dash: 5.35 seconds (27th out of 39 offensive linemen)
- Vertical jump: 28″ (tied 14th out of 40 offensive linemen)
- Broad jump: 8.6″ (15th out of 40 offensive linemen)
Max Llewellyn, defensive end: 5.97 (Average backup or special-teamer) − Tied 28th out of 41 defensive ends in prospect grade.
- 40-yard dash: 4.81 seconds (15th out of 20 defensive ends)
- Vertical jump: 32.5″ (tied 12th out of 17 defensive ends)
- Broad jump: 9.7″ (tied 10th out of 16 defensive ends)
Drew Stevens, kicker: 5.81 (Average backup or special-teamer) − Tied second out of three kickers in prospect grade.
- No specialists (kicker, punter) participated in any measurable athletic drills during the NFL Combine.

Xavier Nwankpa, safety: 5.69 (Candidate for bottom of roster or practice squad) − Tied 22nd out of 28 safeties in prospect grade.
- 40-yard dash: 4.48 seconds (8th out of 14 safeties)
- 10-yard split: 1.62 seconds (tied 9th out of 14 safeties)
- Vertical jump: 37.5″ (6th out of 16 safeties)
Karson Sharar, linebacker: 5.68 (Candidate for bottom of roster or practice squad)− Tied 24th out of 32 linebackers in prospect grade.
- Vertical jump: 40″ (tied 2nd out of 14 linebackers)
- 40-yard dash: 4.56 seconds (5th out of 12 linebackers)
- Broad jump: 10.3″ (5th out of 14 linebackers)

Which Iowa State football player is graded ahead of the 2026 NFL draft?

Out of the more than 350 players given a draft prospect grade by NFL.com, only one Cyclone was recognized among the prospects.

Iowa State defensive lineman Domonique Orange was rated the fifth highest out of 34 defensive tackles with a prospect grade of 6.24 (will eventually be an average starter). The 2025 All-Big 12 third-team member is the 78th highest-rated player according to NFL.com.

The Kansas City native was invited to the 2026 NFL Draft Combine and appeared in Indianapolis to interview with teams, but opted not to participate in the on‑field drills. Most mock drafts have Orange projected as a Day 2 NFL draft pick.

Last year’s starting offensive linemen, James Neal III and Jim Bonifas, were among about a dozen former Cyclones who participated in Iowa State’s Pro Day on March 24 to raise their draft profiles or improve their chances of signing as undrafted free agents.

Northern Iowa also held its pro day on March 23, while Iowa hosted its on March 26, which featured all of the aforementioned players along with former Hawkeyes such as quarterback Mark Gronowski and defensive lineman Aaron Graves, all of whom worked out in front of scouts from all 32 NFL teams.

Kadyn Proctor graded as a top NFL Draft prospect

NFL.com gave former Southeast Polk football star Kadyn Proctor a 6.45 prospect grade, claiming he “Will become a good starter within two years.” Proctor tied with former Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson as the 10th-highest rated prospect, according to NFL.com.

ESPN projects the former Alabama offensive lineman to be drafted with the 24th pick by the Cleveland Browns. Proctor, a native of Des Moines, is fourth among all offensive lineman prospects according to USA TODAY.

Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.

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