By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara had to correct a member of the media who on Tuesday asked if there are any nerves or mental hurdles with playing on an injured leg in a real game that you might have to get over.

“I’ve gotten over it. I mean my leg is not injured,” McNamara said. “There is no injury. There is nothing. This is the best my body has felt. I’m fully confident in that. And I think the only thing, just like any quarterback every single offseason, the only thing we haven’t done is gotten hit.

“So I’m excited to finally play some real football instead of just standing back there. There is no lagging or any kind of injury for me going on right now. I’m in the best shape I’ve been.”

McNamara met with the media for about five minutes during Iowa’s weekly in-season press conference on Tuesday.

He is expected to make his sixth start as a Hawkeyes in Saturday’s season opener against Illinois State.

McNamara started the first five games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Michigan State in the fifth game.

He also suffered a season-ending knee early in the 2022 season while playing for Michigan.

“I’m excited. It’s been a long time,” McNamara said. “I’ve been anticipating really since the surgery. I’ve been working towards this week and just putting my body and my mind and everything in the best position to help out the team.

McNamara declined to comment on the NCAA investigation that led to Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz and receiver coach Jon Budmayr both being suspended for the Illinois State game.

The suspensions are related to a a recruiting violation that occurred when Iowa made contact with McNamara before he had entered the transfer portal in late 2022.

Kirk Ferentz took full accountability and blamed himself for using poor judgement.

“This team loves coach Ferentz and we’re going to rally for him,” McNamara said. “As far as any other question go I’m not going to comment. I appreciate the questions, but I’m not going to comment on any NCAA review or anything. But this team really loves coach Ferentz and we’re going to rally behind him.”

Iowa Assistant Head Coach Seth Wallace will serve as the acting head coach for the Illinois State game.

“Coach Wallace is an awesome dude and I think everyone is just focused on doing the best we can to prepare for this week,” McNamara said. “And everyone loves coach Wallace as well.”

McNamara is believed to be in a hotly contested battle with Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan to to keep his starting position.

There was speculation that Sullivan might be the long-term solution at quarterback after McNamara performed poorly in the Kids Day practice on Aug. 10 at Kinnick Stadium.

“Recovering from an injury and being back on the field for the first time, I think really over the course of camp it’s had its ups and downs,” McNamara said. “But I’m just really excited through all the work that we’ve all put in as a group for it to finally come to fruition and hopefully we’ll have some success this weekend.”

McNamara led Michigan to the 2021 Big Ten title, and to college playoff as its starting quarterback.

He then lost the starting position to J.J. McCarthy early in 2022 season and also suffered a season-ending knee injury.

McNamara entered the transfer poral in late Nov. 2022, and then said later on a podcast that he already knew where he was going.

That apparently is what led to the NCAA investigating Iowa’s recruitment of McNamara.

Iowa released its depth chart on Monday, and perhaps the biggest surprise was redshirt freshman Kamari Moulton being listed as the No. 1 running back.

“Kamari is an awesome dude,” McNamara said. “He’s a really energetic guy. I’d say he’s definitely one of the favorites on the team. He and the rest of the guys, we just can’t wait to see what he does this year.

“He’s just done a great job of being consistent. But I think overall the running back room in general, there’s going to be a lot of dudes playing. There’s a lot of talent in that room. And I think with the the way our o-line has been playing, we’re just excited to see what they can do.”

Moulton’s climb up the depth was partly due to an injury suffered by senior Leshon Williams, who led Iowa with 821 rushing yards last season.

Williams has missed multiple practices this preseason, but he is now listed as the N0. 2 running back and is expected to play on Saturday.

Saturday’s season opener will also mark the debut of Tim Lester as the new Iowa offensive coordinator.

“Collectively, everything is a work in progress as a unit,” McNamara said. “We’re excited to finally face a defense other than our own.”

McNamara also looks forward to being part of the Swarm again on Saturday.

“It’s going to be very special,” he said of when the Iowa players take the field with their arms interlocked in a tight group. “The swarm means something for every guy. It’s important to every single guy.

“For me, I still remember my first swarm, and for me to be able to experience that again in a full Kinnick Stadium, and not just me, the entire team. It’s going to be very exciting.”