Cade McNamara: Former Michigan QB a Strong Fit at Iowa

McNamara played only three games in 2022, underwent knee surgery

The Iowa Hawkeyes landed one of the most coveted transfers in the portal when former Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara announced his commitment to the Hawkeyes on Dec. 1. The 6-foot-1, 206-pound McNamara, who has two seasons of college eligibility remaining, is expected to slide in as Iowa’s starter from Day 1. The Hawkeyes open the season on Sept. 2 against Utah State.

What can the Hawkeyes and their fans expect from McNamara? Let’s take a closer look.

Looking Back on 2022

After battling with J.J. McCarthy for the quarterback job throughout most of training camp, Cade McNamara started the 2022 opener against Colorado State, in which he completed 9-of-18 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown in a 51-7 victory.McNamara’s playing time could have been more sparse after that, though.

McNamara backed up McCarthy the following week on the NCAAF schedule against Hawaii, attempting only six passes with an interception off the bench. He injured his knee in Week 3 versus UConn. The injury eventually required surgery and forced him to miss the rest of the season, leaving his future as a Wolverine in doubt.

While McNamara was sidelined, McCarthy guided Michigan to a 13-1 finish and a berth in the College Football Playoff, where the Wolverines fell 51-45 to TCU in the national semifinals. McCarthy completed 58.8% of his passes for 343 yards in the loss and finished the season with 22 touchdowns and only five interceptions, earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors.

McCarthy’s emergence essentially spelled the end of McNamara’s tenure in Ann Arbor. McNamara finished with 3,181 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions over 16 starts, per college football stats.

What To Expect Next Season

Needing a quarterback to jumpstart its dormant passing attack, Iowa stuck to what it knew. Head coach Kirk Ferentz stayed inside the Big Ten to find McNamara.

Why? Well, why not? For the Hawkeyes, it makes perfect sense. McNamara didn’t necessarily lose his job because he underperformed. McNamara flashed his potential, even leading Michigan to a Big Ten title in 2021.

McNamara, 23, is a substantial upgrade for Iowa. The Hawkeyes’ offense was abysmal last season, ranking 123rd nationally in both passing (156.7 yards per game) and scoring (17.7 points per game). Despite that, they still managed to go 8-4 (5-4 Big Ten) and win the Music City Bowl 21-0 over Kentucky

Just imagine what the Hawkeyes can do with competent quarterback play. At the very least, McNamara should provide that. CBS analyst Tom Fornelli called McNamara, a former four-star recruit, the “most proven and talented QB Iowa has had since C.J. Beathard.” Beathard made Second Team All-Big Ten in 2015 and was a third-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

The Odds on Iowa

Oddsmakers are optimistic about Iowa’s postseason chances under McNamara. The Hawkeyes are projected for 7.5 wins and, at +1200, have the fifth-best odds to win the Big Ten behind Ohio State (+170), Michigan (+180), Penn State (+550), and Wisconsin (+650).

The Hawkeyes are a +20000 longshot to capture the national championship. If you’re feeling bold, you can take McNamara’s predecessor, McCarthy, to win the Heisman Trophy at +2500.

For Cade McNamara news, betting analysis, and more, visit pointspreads.com

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