Jackson Stratton would be Iowa’s starting QB ‘if we were playing right now,’ Kirk Ferentz says ahead of Maryland game

IOWA CITY — Iowa quarterback Jackson Stratton would be the Hawkeyes’ starter “if we were playing right now,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday during his weekly news conference.

Cade McNamara — Iowa’s starter for the first eight games of the season before suffering a concussion against Northwestern — was listed as the starter on Monday’s depth chart.

When asked about McNamara’s status, Ferentz said “everything is cloudy right now.” He did practice on Sunday, which was when Ferentz created the depth chart.

“He has been cleared to play,” Ferentz said. “Whether or not he can effectively play or not, we’ll see. We’ll see how the week goes. But we’re prepared for anything, quite frankly.”

Iowa may have the benefit of Marco Lainez being available. Ferentz said the redshirt freshman quarterback has “started back” up after recovering from a hand injury, which required surgery. It would be a fast recovery for Lainez, who suffered the injury in practice in the week leading up to the Wisconsin game.

The one certainty at quarterback is Brendan Sullivan will not play. The Northwestern transfer continues to recover from his Nov. 8 ankle injury. Ferentz said he “would assume the bowl game” as a realistic point for Sullivan to return.

“Nothing is broken, so hopefully we get him back,” Ferentz said.

Ferentz said he will “know on Friday” who the starting quarterback will be against Maryland. If that remains Stratton, Saturday would mark his first career start. In Stratton’s two years at Colorado State, he appeared in four games and was 4-of-17 with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Stratton went 3-of-6 for 28 yards when replacing the Sullivan in the second half of Iowa’s loss to UCLA. It was the first time Stratton — once behind McNamara, Sullivan and Lainez on the depth chart — saw game action as a Hawkeye.

“He did some good things out in that last ballgame,” Ferentz told reporters. “He has talent. He can throw the football. You guys saw that.”

Ferentz said he is “a heck of a lot more comfortable” with Stratton than he was a week earlier.

“I’m not saying this in a negative way toward Jackson at all, but he hadn’t gotten any reps,” Ferentz said. “Once we started doing game prep, two guys get the reps, and that was obviously the first two guys. Even Marco was watching. He was holding a clipboard and watching, and Jackson was working the scout team.”

Other injuries

Iowa wide receiver Reece Vander Zee will not play against Maryland, Ferentz said. The true freshman standout last played in Iowa’s Oct. 26 win over Northwestern.

Iowa tight end Addison Ostrenga, on the other hand, has been medically cleared and is able to practice. Ostrenga has missed Iowa’s last five games, with his most recent appearance coming in Iowa’s Oct. 5 loss to Ohio State.

Fellow tight end Luke Lachey also has been able to practice, Ferentz said. He played sparingly against UCLA after missing Iowa’s Nov. 2 game against Wisconsin.

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