Kirk Ferentz: Spencer Petras ‘gives us a better chance to be successful’

IOWA CITY — Any lingering doubt about Iowa football’s starting quarterback situation has evaporated this week.

Spencer Petras is clearly Iowa’s QB1 to start the season.

Head coach Kirk Ferentz mentioned Petras as one of the starters “set in stone right now” in his Tuesday news conference. It came a day after Iowa’s depth chart listed Petras as the No. 1 quarterback.

“Spencer has outperformed Alex (Padilla) a little bit at this point,” Ferentz said. “He's further ahead and gives us a better chance to be successful.”

Ferentz said the staff’s evaluation of Petras and Padilla began in January and included more than just on-field performance.

“It’s a long evaluation, and we evaluate everything,” Ferentz said.

Ferentz is optimistic about Padilla as well, calling the two quarterbacks “both quality guys.” He’s just more optimistic about Petras.

“That’s not to diminish what Alex has done,” Ferentz said. “Both have improved.”

Others in that “set in stone” category are linebackers Jack Campbell, Seth Benson and Jestin Jacobs, defensive backs Riley Moss and Kaevon Merriweather and tight end Sam LaPorta.

Kicker and punt/kick returner are not in that category yet.

Aaron Blom was the No. 1 kicker on Monday’s depth chart, but Ferentz said he doesn’t know yet whether he or true freshman Drew Stevens will be the first kicker in Saturday’s game.

“We'll let that play out, and it may play out for a week or two or a couple weeks,” Ferentz said. “It's gone back and forth a little bit, and I don't think it's a bad thing quite frankly. … They're both very capable.”

One possibility is for one kicker to handle kickoffs and for the other to handle field goals, Ferentz said.

As for returner, Ferentz said Arland Bruce IV, Cooper DeJean and Riley Moss are the “top three guys.” Alec Wick also is a “possibility” at punt returner, and Gavin and Leshon Williams “might be in the mix” at kick returner.

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