Iowa steps away from Illinois prep QB

Iowa told an Illinois prep quarterback Monday that it was no longer interested in his services.

Fenwick (Ill.) quarterback Jack Beneventi told HawkeyeReport.com on Tuesday night that the Hawkeyes decided to pull their scholarship offer. Beneventi, 6-6, 210-pounds, is a 2015 recruit who had been committed to the Hawkeyes since last December.

This prep season, Beneventi transferred from Benet Academy to Fenwick, where he completed 119 of 250 pass attempts for 1,480 yards with 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Beneventi struggled in Fenwick's final two games of the regular season, both losses, with a stat line of 14 of 41 for 118 yards, four interceptions and no touchdowns.

'It's something internally,” Fenwick coach Gene Nudo told the Journal of Oak Park and River Forest. 'Jack is a wonderful kid, we love him. [The QBs who replaced Beneventi] have been with us all year and have been working hard all year. We thought this was the way to go. They both bring a little something different to the table.”

Beneventi handled the news from Iowa with aplomb.

'They came in Monday and updated me on where they stand,” Beneventi HawkeyeReport.com. 'They are going in a different direction and I respect that. It was nice that they told me in person and I wish the program the best, but I'm looking forward to other opportunities ahead.”

Iowa still does have two potential quarterbacks in the 2015 class. Iowa City Regina QB Drew Cook (6-5, 218) led the Regals to a record fifth straight state championship. West Des Moines Dowling Catholic quarterback Ryan Boyle led the Maroons to their second straight state championship.

Their numbers are cartoonish. Cook, son of Regina coach and former Iowa all-American tight end Marv Cook, finished six in the state (across all classes) with 3,210 combined yards rushing and passing. Boyle was 11th in that number with 3,057 yards. Cook accounted for 47 TDs, tying for No. 1 in the state. Boyle accounted for 37.

Both players seem to be locked in at quarterback. Cook told HawkeyeReport.com that quarterback is his preferred position, but also said he'd do anything to get to the field.

'Yeah, just start out at quarterback and see where it goes from there,” Cook told HawkeyeReport.com. 'They said they'd start me at quarterback.”

All of Boyle's discussions with Iowa since his commitment have focused on the 6-1, 215-pounder playing quarterback. Boyle, who suffered a torn ACL his sophomore year, is a dual-threat QB, rushing for 1,123 yards and 19 TDs this season.

'I'll be talking to the Iowa coaches after their bowl game but I know I need to get my body better,” Boyle said. 'I want to be faster, strong, and improve my throwing. Throwing the ball will be key going into Iowa. I also want to mature as a person and a player.”

Boyle's last visit to Iowa was for the Nebraska game on Nov. 28.

'Just watching the game, I was trying to put myself into the shoes of Jake Rudock and seeing what he is seeing,” Boyle told HawkeyeReport.com. 'I also had a chance to talk to more of the coaches and build that relationship with them and a few of the players. It was an amazing visit and I just can't wait for those next year.”

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com