Kirk Ferentz talks Iowa football QBs: present, future, transfer portal

IOWA CITY — Brendan Sullivan will be a game of musical chairs at quarterback this season and is expected to start in Iowa football’s Dec. 30 game against Missouri in the Music City Bowl, head coach Kirk Ferentz said Friday.

Sullivan is now healthy. The replacement will be preferred backup Jackson Stratton, who started the final two games of the 2024 regular season.

“He feels completely confident,” Ferentz said of Sullivan. “The injury is now history. She’s over it.”

The Northwestern transfer went from backup, to a specialized short-yardage role, to starter, to missing time due to injury and now back to starter.

Sullivan has carved out a niche for himself as a red zone threat as a relief from starter Cade McNamara. When McNamara was eliminated with a win over Northwestern, Sullivan performed well in relief. He played well in his first start at Iowa against Wisconsin before suffering an injury in a loss to UCLA.

Because of this injury, Sullivan did not play in Iowa’s final two regular season games. But now he’s preparing for his third career start as a Hawkeye.

More:Superlatives for the 2024 Iowa football season: MVPs, top rookies, best Kirk Ferentz quotes

“He’s just a competitor and he wants to be out there,” Iowa center Logan Jones said of Sullivan. “When he sprained his ankle, you could tell right away that he was hurting a little bit not being out there with his guys. But he practiced well. He practices at a high level. He looks like himself now. He runs the ball and does the things he does. So he’s doing a great job and will continue to improve.”

Iowa’s quarterback room for the 2025 season is already taking shape. Auburn transfer Hank Brown and signee Jimmy Sullivan are expected to join the program as the Hawkeyes prepare for the Music City Bowl, although they will not be available to play.

This will allow them to get used to offensive coordinator Tim Lester’s system.

“At least we get to see these guys and get them out,” Ferentz said. “Tim will completely mess them up by Monday.”

Brown is the latest addition to the group after McNamara and Marco Lainez entered the transfer portal. Brown, who completed 34 of 52 passes (65.4%) for 535 yards with six touchdowns and three picks in his Auburn career, is an unpolished product but has potential with three seasons remaining.

“I think the things (Lester) is looking for, he found with Hank,” Ferentz said. “And the other key component is what it will be like when we meet the prospect and his family and things like that. How we believe they will fit into the program. And then vice versa. It has to be a mutual deal. Felt really good about it. We are thrilled.”

As of Friday afternoon, Brown is Iowa’s only public commitment to Iowa’s transfer portal class. But the Hawkeyes haven’t stopped their efforts to bolster the 2025 roster.

More:Auburn QB transfer Hank Brown commits to Iowa football: What that means for Hawkeyes

“I think we’re in a good position,” Ferentz said. “We will do our due diligence. If it works, it also works for the players we work with. If not, then so be it. I guess there will be a few more visitors here before Sunday. As far as I know we’ll be finished on Sunday. That could change. I think we’re comfortable at the moment.”

One of Iowa’s targets was on campus earlier this week. Penn State transfer Beau Pribula, one of the top quarterbacks on the market, is taking a few visits before deciding where he will play football next.

Pribula appeared in 24 games during his career with the Nittany Lions, completing 37 of 56 passes (66.1%) through the air for 424 yards and nine touchdowns, to just one interception. He also recorded 94 rushing attempts for 571 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.

Ferentz spoke about Pribula on Friday, but not by name — and without going into detail about Iowa’s involvement in his recruitment. In the context of the modern landscape of college football, Ferentz was asked about the fact that Pribula essentially had to choose between staying with the Nittany Lions in the College Football Playoff or entering the transfer portal.

Ferentz called it “a terrible situation.”

“I really feel sorry for him,” Ferentz said. “I feel for him. And also empathy for Penn State. This hurts their football team. It all comes down to one circumstance. But the way the system is right now, we’re teaching some things that you would never teach your kids at home or your kids on your soccer team.”

As it currently stands, Iowa’s 2025 quarterback room is slated to consist of Brendan Sullivan, Brown, Jimmy Sullivan, Stratton (preferred walk-on) and Ryan Fitzgerald (preferred walk-on). Three of those five – Brendan Sullivan, Brown and Stratton – have starting experience.

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