Hawkeyes bring in quarterback depth through transfer portal

Brendan Sullivan Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa Hawkeyes bring in depth at quarterback through transfer portal

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 5/9/24

An experienced backup quarterback can be the difference between a winning and losing season in college football. As such, the Iowa Hawkeyes have to be feeling pretty good heading into 2024.

While Iowa is hoping that Cade McNamara will be able to be fully healthy for all of the coming campaign, he's coming off two major surgeries in back-to-back years and his ability to stay healthy is far from a guarantee. When he's good, McNamara is the type of super-senior quarterback who could lead Iowa to a Big Ten championship.

Outside of McNamera and his questionable health, though, the Hawkeyes were heading into the season thin at quarterback.

That's no longer the case with the announcement that former Northwestern quarterback Brendan Sullivan will end up in Iowa City via the transfer portal.

MAJOR BREAKING:

Following an official visit, former Northwestern quarterback Brendan Sullivan has announced his commitment to #Iowa out of the transfer portal.

Huge get for the #Hawkeyes. pic.twitter.com/XdPrHS2BQ7
— Eliot Clough (@EliotClough) May 8, 2024

In Sullivan, the Hawkeyes are getting a player who can at the very least be a competent backup behind McNamara. If the starter goes down yet again, Sullivan has enough experience to at least keep the train on the tracks.

Though he was largely viewed as a backup in 2022 and 2023 for Northwestern, Sullivan did play in a total of 13 games over two years and he started eight of those games. He was the presumed 2024 starter for Northwestern before he hit the transfer portal and with two years of eligibility remaining, he should be considered the presumed starter for Iowa in 2025 when McNamara runs out of eligibility himself.

Sullivan has completed 134-of-195 passes in his college career for 1,303 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. He's also rushed 129 times for 257 yards and three touchdowns

More must-reads: