Iowa Hawkeyes QB Cade McNamara to enter transfer portal

On December 5, 2024By Littum

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Cade McNamara announced he is entering the transfer portal in an Instagram post Wednesday.

McNamara played two injury-plagued seasons with the Hawkeyes after transferring from Michigan.

In the Instagram postacknowledged McNamara’s ups and downs and expressed gratitude for the people and experiences he had at Iowa.

McNamara started the first eight games for the Hawkeyes. He missed a significant portion of 2023 fall camp with a leg injury. His season ended in the fifth game when he tore the ACL in his left knee. In 2022, a knee injury ended his season with Michigan after three games.

After McNamara suffered a concussion in October 2024, Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz talked about the quarterback’s difficult stretch.

“Feel bad for him because it’s been a rough stretch for about two and a half years,” Ferentz said. “I’ve said it before, and you’ve heard me say it a million times, the worst part of coaching is dealing with injuries. It’s something nobody wants to deal with and he’s certainly had his fair share of bad luck here.”

The Hawkeyes have had a bit of a revolving door at quarterback this season, with Brendan Sullivan, who replaced McNamara, also dealing with an injury.

Sophomore quarterback Jackson Stratton, who joined the team as a walk-on, has taken over the job in recent weeks, starting with wins over Nebraska and Maryland.