Kirk Ferentz at Iowa football media day: Still a competition for starting QB

A few quick takeaways from Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz's media day press conference.

Still a QB competition

Ferentz said sophomore Nathan Stanley and junior Tyler Wiegers continue to compete for the No. 1 quarterback job.

Wiegers was C.J. Beathard's backup in 2015, but Stanley stepped into the No. 2 spot behind Beathard as a true freshman last season. Both are receiving first-team reps in practice.

'The good news, right there, is both Nate and Tyler are doing a good job competing,' Ferentz said. 'They've improved, I'd say, in the last couple days as well.'

He pointed to Brad Banks, Nathan Chandler, Ricky Stanzi and Beathard as guys who have quarterbacked successful teams in their first years as starters.

'History has proven you can have a successful team with a new quarterback taking snaps,' Ferentz said.

Grad transfers

Nevada graduate transfer James Butler has been in camp at running back and Ferentz is looking for him to help out returning 1,000-yard rusher Akrum Wadley.

Butler rushed for more than 3,000 yards in three years with the Wolf Pack.

'First of all, Akrum is one of our best football players,' Ferentz said. 'His weight's good, his attitude has been tremendous. He's practicing really well. He looks like a senior player.'

Wadley split carries with LeShun Daniels last season, who also rushed for more than 1,000 yards.

'Last year, we were better when we had two guys who could help us there,' Ferentz said.

There was no update on New Mexico receiver Matt Quarells reportedly grad-transferring to Iowa. Ferentz couldn't comment on anyone not on the current roster.

'We do have a player who's in the process of procedural things that have to take place to get him into school,' Ferentz said.

The Hawkeyes had a successful grad-transfer story last season with starting punter Ron Coluzzi.

'I've never been necessarily against it, it's just that it's become more frequent now,' said Ferentz, who also noted it wouldn't be a bad idea to look at the rule. As it stands now, players who graduate are immediately eligible at other schools. Ferentz said it's worth considering requiring graduate transfers to sit out a season.

'Thank goodness I don't coach basketball,' Ferentz said. 'It's like watching the waiver wire in the NFL.'

This and that

— There are still open competitions at kicker and punter. 'It's all about consistency now,' Ferentz said.

— The staff has an open mind about true freshmen playing, but Ferentz wasn't ready to name any possibilities this early in August.

— Ferentz said a young wide receiver group, where Matt VandeBerg is the only experienced player, is making progress. 'All of us have been impressed. They're better than they were in the spring. The question is, how fast can we get where we need to get? Can we get there before Sept. 2?'

We'll have much more coverage from Iowa football media day on the way. Like On Iowa on Facebook for the latest.