Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara enters transfer portal

IOWA CITY — Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara will be entering the transfer portal, he announced Wednesday morning on social media.

“I’m looking forward to this offseason, being the healthiest I’ve been in years and continuing my growth as a player, leader and person,” McNamara said in an Instagram post. “I am excited to see where God takes my football journey next.”

McNamara’s desire to find a new home will be dependent on the NCAA approving a seventh year of eligibility for the ex-Michigan quarterback. He has a plausible case for the waiver considering he only played in three games in 2022, five games in 2023 and eight games in 2024 due to various injuries.

McNamara was Iowa’s starter for the first eight games of the 2024 season before being replaced by Brendan Sullivan during Iowa’s Oct. 26 win over Northwestern. He then missed the last four games of the regular season with a concussion.

Iowa initially planned to honor McNamara along with 23 other seniors ahead of Friday’s regular-season finale against Nebraska, but he asked not to be part of the senior day ceremony.

McNamara arrived at Iowa after the 2022 season with much hype, especially considering his role in Michigan’s 2021 run to the College Football Playoff. He could not replicate his Michigan-level of play in Iowa City, however.

He completed only 51.1 percent of his passes in 2023 with four touchdowns and three interceptions before suffering a season-ending knee injury. In 2024, he completed 60.5 percent of passes with six touchdowns and five interceptions.

The Hawkeyes’ anticipated options at quarterback in 2025 include Sullivan, Marco Lainez and Jackson Stratton. Iowa will bring in two quarterbacks as part of the 2025 recruiting class — Jimmy Sullivan and Ryan Fitzgerald — and will have the opportunity to add via the transfer portal when it opens next week.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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