A wobbly fall camp and rustiness from last season’s knee injury didn’t prevent Cade McNamara from winning Iowa’s starting quarterback job.
McNamara will play his first game in 11 months on Saturday when the No. 25 Hawkeyes face FCS program Illinois State at Iowa City, Iowa.
McNamara tore the ACL in his left knee last Sept. 30 against Michigan State. He was cleared to resume football activities in June and held off a challenge from Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan in fall camp.
“It’s been a long time,” McNamara told reporters on Tuesday. “I’ve been really anticipating this, really ever since surgery. I’ve been working for this week and just putting my body and my mind in the best position to help out the team.”
McNamara passed for 505 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions last season prior to the injury.
McNamara played for Michigan from 2020-22 prior to transferring to Iowa.
However, Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz jumped the gun in seeking McNamara’s services and contacted him prior to the quarterback entering the transfer portal. That led to an NCAA violation and one-game suspension that Ferentz will serve on Saturday.
Assistant head coach Seth Wallace will serve as Iowa’s head coach.
It will be the first time someone other than College Hall of Famer Hayden Fry or Ferentz has coached the Hawkeyes since Nov. 25, 1978, at Michigan State.
“We have a good leadership group here, and they’ll do great,” said Ferentz, in his 26th season as the Iowa head coach. “There’s going to be some challenges, there’s no question about that.”
Receivers coach Jon Budmayr also is suspended for the opener due to the violation.
McNamara chose not to discuss what happened during his session with reporters.
“I’m not going to comment (on the) NCAA review or anything,” McNamara said. “But this team really loves Coach Ferentz and we’re going to rally behind him.
“Coach Wallace is an awesome dude. Everyone is just focused on doing the best that we can to prepare for this week.”
One player the Hawkeyes expect great play from is national defensive player of the year candidate Jay Higgins, the linebacker who led the nation with 171 tackles during last season’s 10-4 campaign. That tied the school mark set by Andre Jackson in 1972.
Illinois State didn’t play an FBS opponent last season while going 6-5.
The Redbirds haven’t named a starting quarterback for the opener and coach Brock Spack indicated that both Tommy Rittenhouse and Jake Rubley will play against the Hawkeyes. Rubley is the son of former NFL quarterback T.J. Rubley.
Rittenhouse started five games over the past two seasons while the now-departed Zack Annexstad was out with injuries. He passed for 684 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions and also had four rushing scores.
Rubley is a transfer from Kansas State. He got into six games over the past two seasons for the Wildcats and completed five of six passes.
“Once we get in game scenarios, the guy with the hot hand will probably play more,” Spack said. “Both guys are doing a great job and playing really well.”
Illinois State returns star receiver Daniel Sobkowicz, who had 68 catches for 933 yards and 10 scoring receptions last year. Also back is running back Mason King, who had 980 yards and 14 scores last season while known as Mason Blakemore.
Defensively, safety Keondre Jackson is the leading returning tackler (76). Linebacker Amir Abdullah had a team-best 9.5 sacks last season.
In the only previous meeting, Iowa posted a 31-14 home win over the Redbirds in 2015.
