There are two quarterbacks on the Iowa Hawkeyes’ depth chart, a third one is not healthy. A few weeks ago, the Hawkeyes committed to a transfer in Cade McNamara, a two-year starter from Michigan who will arrive in January. Unlike Petras and May, who had no real experience in college football, McNamara has some Day 3 NFL Draft potential. He is a solid player who can make a difference.
As the season winds down, the focus is on the Iowa Hawkeyes’ quarterback situation. While the future is bright for incoming sophomores Carson May and Joe Labas, there are some questions about the health of the other quarterbacks on the team.
Iowa has already had to replace two players who are preparing to play in the NFL, including last year’s starting quarterback Spencer Petras. Petras was injured during the first quarter of the Nebraska game and required surgery. His recovery will take several months. Then, there is the question about whether or not he will be able to play next season.
The Hawkeyes will be looking for walk-on contributions from the quarterback position, and a strong scout team. There are other questions surrounding the offensive line and the offensive coordinator. Kirk Ferentz, the head coach, said that he knew there would be questions about the quarterback position going into this season.
It appears that the Hawkeyes are getting a more mobile quarterback than what they’ve had in recent years. James Resar visited Iowa City on Saturday, and has confirmed that he has committed to Iowa. If he does commit, his thought process reveals the type of quarterback that the Hawkeyes are going to get in the future.
Another quarterback that the Hawkeyes could use is Alex Padilla. He was called up to replace Petras after he injured his arm in the Nebraska game. In two games, he completed 182 of 269 passes for 2,678 yards. Padilla has four interceptions and three touchdowns. But, he was only able to start the season due to injuries.
In December, the Hawkeyes signed Michigan transfer QB Cade McNamara. McNamara threw for 2,470 yards and 15 touchdowns during the 2021 Big Ten Championship. He has an 88 transfer rating and is a solid player.
With two years left on his NCAA eligibility, it is unclear when McNamara will be able to participate in spring practice. Depending on the nature of the injury, he might not be able to throw for a few months. When he does come back, he could be a solid candidate for the starting job.
It remains to be seen if the Hawkeyes are going to go through the same quarterback rotation that they did this season. The two scholarship quarterbacks that have been on the roster so far are Alex Padilla and Joe Labas. However, there’s a possibility that the Hawkeyes might hit the transfer portal to bring in a more experienced and proven quarterback.
Although he has not been a starting quarterback in the past, Labas has shown a knack for throwing for big gains on third-and-eight plays. Labas also has the ability to run the ball, so his skill set will be a huge boost for the Hawkeyes.