Iowa appears to have found its starting quarterback for 2023, as former Michigan starter Cade McNamara announced Thursday night that he is committed to the Hawkeyes.
McNamara entered the transfer portal earlier this week.
“New beginning,” McNamara tweeted along with a mock-up of himself in an Iowa uniform.
McNamara led Michigan to its first College Football Playoff appearance in 2021. The Wolverines won their first Big Ten title since 2004 and finished the season 12-2.
However, in the second game of the 2022 season, McNamara lost his starting job to sophomore J.J. McCarthy, a five-star recruit in the 2021 class who has the Wolverines on the brink of a second straight CFP appearance.
McNamara, named an offensive captain in August, started the opener against Colorado State on Sept. 3 and was 9 of 18 for 136 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown pass to Roman Wilson, before McCarthy took over the job.
After getting hurt in the Wolverines’ Sept. 17 game against UConn, McNamara subsequently underwent knee surgery.
McNamara played in 21 games at Michigan and completed 267 passes for 3,181 yards, with 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He added two rushing TDs.
Iowa (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten) has needed help at quarterback. Spencer Petras was the Hawkeyes’ starter in 2022, and he threw for 1,725 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions while completing just 55.9 percent of his throws, all while Iowa ranked 130th of 131 FBS programs in total offense (255.4 yards per game).
Petras is playing his final year of NCAA eligibility, and backup Alex Padilla entered the transfer portal earlier this week.
McNamara will have two seasons of eligibility remaining due to a redshirt and the NCAA’s decision to add a year of eligibility because of COVID-19.
–Field Level Media
