By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa football program has long been considered a shining example of how a developmental program is supposed to work, and that has certainly been the case under Kirk Ferentz.

Iowa is a program where two and three-star recruits often have defied the odds.

Kirk Ferentz and his staff have shown a knack over the past quarter century for identifying talent and potential where other coaches don’t see it.

Phil Parker is now widely regarded as the top collegiate defensive coordinator in the country, and nobody has a gift for seeing talent and potential when others don’t see it like he does, especially when it comes to under-recruited defensive backs.

Iowa has developed players at multiple positions on offense, defense and special teams, some faster than others.

But there is one position where Kirk Ferentz and his staff have struggled to develop players, and that position is arguably the most important position in team sports – quarterback.

There is just no other way to spin it.

Drew Tate was the last Iowa quarterback to make first-team All-Big Ten, but that was two decades ago in 2004.

C.J. Beathard earned second-team honors in 2015, but that’s been it over the past 20 years.

In fairness to former Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley, he never made any all-conference teams as a three-year starter from 2017 to 2019, but he did throw for 8,302 yards and 68 touchdowns.

Stanley looks like Tom Brady compared to what is happening now at quarterback for Iowa, and to what has been happening for a while at the position.

The lack of quarterback development is arguably the biggest flaw under Kirk Ferentz, and it has been for quite some time.

Since 2010, Iowa has signed 16 quarterbacks, if you include A.J. Derby in 2010. Ten of the 16 quarterbacks would ultimately transfer out of the program and many of them transferred down a level.

All but two of the 16 quarterbacks were ranked as three-star recruits, the exceptions being Tyler Wiegers in 2014 and A.J. Derby in 2010, both of whom were four-star prospects, according to the On3 recruiting database.

However, Derby projected more as a tight end and the former Iowa City High standout left Iowa so he could play quarterback for a different school.

Wiegers never started a game for the Hawkeyes, and the Michigan native finished his career playing for Eastern Michigan.

Recruiting is a hit and miss business.

Scholarship offers are made to players at each position and then coaches hope for the best.

It almost seems from a recruiting standpoint that Kirk Ferentz treats quarterbacks the same way he does most other positions in that he takes what he can get and just hopes they develop.

Of course, the other option is to raid the transfer portal, which Iowa did in landing Cade McNamara from Michigan.

The problem is that it just hasn’t paid off yet.

Iowa is 8-4 in games that McNamara has started, but that is probably his best statistic, because from an individual standpoint, his numbers leave much to be desired.

McNamara at times has even struggled to make routine throws, as was the case in last Saturday’s 32-20 loss at Michigan State when he completed less than 50 percent of his passes.

“Cade is going to have to throw the ball a little bit more accurately,” said Kirk Ferentz. “I mentioned about the makeables, whether it’s him or anybody else, if he’s got a chance to give us better production, that’s what we need.

“We’ll keep pushing forward here and see what happens.”

The transfer portal has certainly changed the way coaches update their rosters, because it’s easier if you’re willing to spend enough money, to land an older and more experienced quarterback rather than develop a young one.

Iowa’s top two quarterbacks are both from the transfer portal with backup Brendan Sullivan having transferred from Northwestern this past June.

Sullivan still hasn’t played enough this season to know if he might be the solution at quarterback. But he won’t be the long-term solution since next season will be his last.

Kirk Ferentz has been criticized for being too loyal to McNamara, and to some of his other starting quarterbacks. But maybe his loyalty is based on not having any better options on the bench.

It’s hard to know for sure if Iowa’s problems at quarterback have more to do with poor recruiting or a lack of player development. The correct answer is probably that both are equally to blame.

Whatever the case, the struggles at quarterback continue to haunt the Iowa program.

The defense hasn’t lived up to its high standard this season, but far more times than not it has performed at an elite level, as have special teams.

Even the Iowa running game, which has struggled in recent seasons, is performing at an elite level this season under first-year offensive coordinator Tim Lester.

The problems on offense start at quarterback and extend to receiver because it’s hard to play well at receiver if your quarterback is struggling.

 

Iowa quarterback recruits since 2010

2024 – James Resar, 3-star

2023 – Marco Lainez, 3-star

2022 – Carson May, 3-star

2021 – Joe Labas, 3-star

2020 – Deuce Hogan, 3-star

2019 – Alex Padilla, 3-star

2018 – Spencer Petras, 3-star

2017 – Peyton Mansell, 3-star

2016 – Nate Stanley, 3-star

2015 – Drew Cook, 3-star; Ryan Boyle, 3-star

2014 – Tyler Wiegers, 4-star

2013 – Nic Shimonek, 3-star

2012- C.J. Beathard, 3-star

2011 – Jake Rudock. 3-star

2o10 – A.J. Derby, 4-star *

* Projected more as a tight end