Kirk Ferentz has no choice, but to add a proven quarterback from the portal
Iowa QB Alex Padilla announces he has entered the transfer portal
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The transfer portal is your friend, and your enemy.
It gives, and it takes as it took from to the Iowa football team on Tuesday with junior quarterback Alex Padilla having entered the transfer portal.
The portal inspires hope and optimism from gaining players and causes concern and fear from losing players.
You wouldn’t know that as much from how the Iowa football team has operated under veteran head coach Kirk Ferentz, who has shown little interest in using the portal to upgrade his roster.
But it’s true.
Most Power Five programs treat the portal almost like free agency, looking for that quick fix, or that star player to fill a void.
Iowa isn’t like most Power Five programs in this case, however, because Kirk Ferentz would prefer to develop his own players rather than rely on players that were developed at other schools.
Iowa has added a few players via the portal under Kirk Ferentz, but almost every player on the current roster came from the old-fashioned way of being recruited directly out of high school.
However, there is talk that Kirk Ferentz has softened his stand on the portal, and that Iowa will be a serious player on the open market during this coming offseason.
Kirk Ferentz hasn’t said that publicly, but it’s being said by members of media, and by fans, although, with the fans, it’s probably based more on hope than on reliable sources.
Just moments after Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara had entered the portal on Monday, reports surfaced on social media saying Iowa could be a possible landing spot for him.
McNamara should be a hot commodity after having led Michigan to the 2021 Big Ten title, and to the college playoff.
He lost his starting position to sophomore J.J. McCarthy this season, and as so many quarterbacks do these days, McNamara has decided to look for a new school where he can be a starting quarterback again.
Whether he truly is interested in Iowa should come to light in the new few weeks as McNamara looks for a new home.
The Iowa offense has been historically bad this season and the struggles at quarterback have certainly contributed to the misery.
Fifth-year senior Spencer Petras has only thrown five touchdown passes and he finished the regular season averaging just 143.8 passing yards per game.
Petras could return for another season with his free Covid year, but he has indicated that he plans to move on after being a three-year starter.
And with Padilla now in the portal, Iowa will have no quarterback on the roster with any game experience heading into next season unless one is added from the portal.
It’s one thing to say you’re going to add a proven quarterback from the portal, but to actually do it is the real challenge.
Kirk Ferentz can offer playing time and the chance to play for a Power Five program that has only had two losing seasons since 2006.
He can offer a quarterback a chance to play for a team that has a rock-solid defense, reliable special teams and a devoted fan base.
Those in charge of the Iowa NIL collective are also looking for ways to be more competitive in the open market, because whether you like it or not, name, image and likeness is here to stay and Iowa has to do its part to be competitive.
Word is that McNamara would like to a play in a pro-style offense to help prepare for the NFL, and that could help Iowa’s cause.
But would McNamara be willing to join an offense that has been mocked and ridiculed throughout the season because of how poorly it has performed?
And would Kirk Ferentz be able to convince a proven quarterback to come to Iowa without making any significant changes on offense?
Those are two fair questions that Kirk Ferentz will have to address as he searches for a proven quarterback
It seems unavoidable now that Iowa will have to add a quarterback from the portal because the thought of a quarterback with no game experience running the Iowa offense next season is frightening if you’re a Hawkeye fan.
There is certainly an opportunity at Iowa for a proven quarterback to step right in and play for a winning program, and for a head coach who ranks third all-time in Big Ten wins.
But given the current state of the Iowa offense under embattled offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, who is Kirk Ferentz’s son, it might take more than just an opportunity to land a quarterback.
Kirk Ferentz also might have to show a willingness to make some significant changes on offense.
He has been reluctant to make changes, but he might not have a choice this time if he wants to add a proven quarterback to the roster.
— Alex Padilla (@APadilla_8) November 29, 2022