Iowa Iooking to add much-needed depth, competition at quarterback
Northestern QB Brendan Sullvian expected to visit Ioa Tuesday
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa football team already has its starting quarterback for next season, but it also has a contingency plan just in case Cade McNamara doesn’t stay healthy.
McNamara had each of his past two seasons, first for Michigan in 2022, and then for Iowa last season, cut short by a season-ending knee injury.
He was playing his fifth game for Iowa last season when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament against Michigan State.
McNamara is expected to receive medical clearance in June and should be ready for the start of preseason practice.
But just in case, Iowa will have to be prepared for a potential setback, and that is where former Northwestern quarterback Brendan Sullivan could fit in.
He recently entered the transfer portal and is expected to visit Iowa City on Tuesday.
It’s reasonable to assume that Sullivan didn’t enter the portal to be a backup quarterback since he already had a decent shot of being Northwestern’s starting quarterback next season.
So, what is his motivation in visiting Iowa?
Sullivan must truly believe that the competition will be open, even if McNamara is healthy and listed as the starter.
The Iowa coaches are probably telling Sullivan that while yes, Cade, is our starter right now, you will have a fair chance to win the job.
And fair enough.
Iowa only has two quarterbacks on scholarship right now in McNamara and redshirt freshman Marco Lainez and will add another this summer when incoming freshman James Resar joins the team.
So, that adds up to a quarterback that is coming off two serious knee injuries, another that has appeared in just one game in Lainez, and another who still is in high school.
That’s a problem in which the only solution is adding a quarterback that has a proven track record at this level.
Iowa has reached this position due to recently losing two quarterbacks to the transfer portal, including Deacon Hill, who started nine games last season after McNamara was injured.
Walk-on quarterback Tommy Poholsky also entered the portal last month.
Sullivan is from the state of Michigan and was recruited by new Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester when Lester was the head coach for Western Michigan.
Last season, Sullivan completed 63-of-99 passes for 714 yards, six touchdowns to two interceptions. He is also a career 68.7-percent passer with a two-to-one touchdown-to-interception ratio. He also has rushed for 257 yards in his collegiate career.
If Sullivan ultimately commits to Iowa, then let the competition begin.
Cade McNamara will have to realize that no job is just handed to you, and who knows, he might relish the opportunity to win the competition over Sullivan, or any other quarterback that might join the team from the transfer portal.
The job right now is McNamara’s to lose, and Sullivan is obviously interested in competing for the job or he wouldn’t be visiting Iowa.
Iowa is taking a chance with Cade McNamara and needs protection.
What would really be interesting is if Sullivan were to commit to Iowa and then win the job over McNamara, how would McNamara handle it?
This isn’t to suggest that McNamara would be a problem, but rather pointing out what could be an awkward situation.
Deacon Hill’s presence on the roster probably wasn’t that big of a deal to McNamara because Hill was brought in to be a backup while McNamara is on the roster.
Hill wasn’t a threat to McNamara’s job, whereas Sullivan could be.