Where Iowa’s quarterback situation stands ahead of fall camp

Cade McNamara remains clear QB1 at this point in summer

INDIANAPOLIS — Kirk Ferentz left little ambiguity about who Iowa’s starting quarterback is when fall camp begins next week.

Asked if he considers McNamara to be the definitive starter, Ferentz said, “I do.”

That being said, nothing seems to be written in permanent marker with six weeks to go until the Hawkeyes’ season opener against Illinois State on Aug. 31.

“I would say everything is fluid right now,” Ferentz said on Wednesday as part of the Big Ten’s football media days. “Hopefully it won’t be in the fall, but right now everything is fluid.”

The preseason depth chart released on Wednesday had McNamara as the first-team quarterback, Marco Lainez as the second-teamer and Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan as the third-teamer.

Sullivan’s third-team spot, for now, is despite him starting four games in the Big Ten last season with Northwestern. (He completed 63.6 percent of passes while throwing six touchdowns and two interceptions.)

“We could have listed Brendan, too,” Ferentz said, answering a question about the depth chart. “He hasn’t put a helmet on yet for us. When we see him on the field, maybe he’ll be in competition with the other three guys. I expect it to be three guys competing.”

McNamara’s “demonstrated success” gives the former third-team all-Big Ten quarterback a “huge advantage” in that competition, Ferentz said.

In McNamara’s last fully healthy season, he completed 64.2 percent of his passes while throwing 15 touchdowns versus six interceptions on a Michigan team that advanced to the College Football Playoff.

“Cade’s got an impressive resume,” Ferentz said. “He’s done it, done it successfully and directed his team to wins, which is what the quarterback is supposed to do. At least that’s his No. 1 challenge.”

Ferentz said he “didn’t even have a conversation with Cade” about adding Sullivan via the portal.

“I don’t think he’s looking in the rearview mirror,” Ferentz said.

To Ferentz’s point, when McNamara was asked earlier this month about adding another quarterback with Big Ten starting experience, he pointed out that Iowa had to “add someone eventually.” (At one point, he and Lainez were the only quarterbacks on the roster.)

“Even the NFL has more than two guys,” McNamara said.

As confident as McNamara seems, Ferentz still preaches there are “no incumbents.”

“It’s a good room,” Ferentz said of his quarterbacks. “All three of these guys are great guys, and they’re competitive guys. And they’re all going to compete, and that’s good for our football team.”

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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