McNamara says he's fully healthy and ready to return with Iowa offense

FILE – Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara throws a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Western Michigan, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Iowa City, Iowa. Tim Lester has had nearly six months to come up with potential solutions to Iowa’s moribund offense, but the key for the Hawkeyes’ new offensive coordinator may be simply having a healthy starting quarterback. That should be McNamara, who started five games last season before a knee injury and subsequent surgery sidelined him for the rest of the year. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Tim Lester has had nearly six months to come up with potential solutions to Iowa’s moribund offense, but the key for the Hawkeyes’ new offensive coordinator may simply be having a healthy starting quarterback.

That should be Cade McNamara, who started five games last season before a knee injury and subsequent surgery sidelined him for the remainder of the year.

That’s why McNamara, in his sixth college season, was keen to stress Tuesday that he is “100%” healthy during summer practice as he and the rest of the Hawkeyes go through the process of learning Lester’s new offense.

“Overall, in general, I feel pretty good.” McNamara said. “This is my first time doing all the training, all the activities and all the drills at Iowa. So far, I’m a little sorer than usual. But so far, my body has handled it well.”

Iowa won 10 games and the Big Ten West division title last season despite an offense that ranked last among Football Bowl Subdivision teams in total offense and passing efficiency, 129th in scoring offense at 15.4 points per game and 127th in passing offense. That led to the midseason decision to fire offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, the son of Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, although he was allowed to finish the season.

McNamara, who transferred from Michigan before last season, was expected to inject some life into the Hawkeyes’ offense after posting similar numbers in 2022. But McNamara was limited by a quadriceps injury suffered in camp in August, and then the knee injury suffered in a 26-16 home win over Michigan State on Sept. 30 ended his season.

McNamara was replaced by Deacon Hill, who threw just five touchdowns against eight interceptions while completing just 48.6 percent of his passes.

“It’s hard,” McNamara said he is set to miss the remainder of the season. “As a competitor and as a quarterback, you know what kind of impact you can have on a team. If you sit on the sidelines, you can’t do anything about it. Sitting on the sidelines was very difficult for me, for a lot of reasons.”

McNamara has dealt with injuries in recent seasons: a leg injury ended his 2022 season with the Wolverines.

“To be honest, the biggest challenge was psychological,” McNamara said. “Maybe I wondered why this was happening again. I have grown a lot spiritually in the last few months. It has given me a new perspective on life.”

“He wants to be there” said center Logan Jones. “He wants to win. He can suffer – he’s in his sixth year, he’s an old man. But the fact that he comes every day and wants to compete says a lot about him.”

Lester, hired to replace Brian Ferentz on Jan. 31, spent the spring installing his new offense, which will feature more movement and, Lester said, a more versatile playbook.

McNamara was limited in his activities during spring training, but he was able to throw some shots while working to get to know Lester.

“Coach Lester and I just got along” McNamara said. “He’s a really nice guy. Sometimes I have to look at the time when I go into his office, because I can come out three hours later.”

Jones said McNamara led most of the summer training.

“He has a whole scenario” Jones said. “It’s not super intense. But we go there, we do good reps.”

McNamara will have some experience to compete with him at quarterback. Hill transferred after spring practice and was replaced by Brendan Sullivan, a junior who threw for 1,303 yards in 13 games at Northwestern.

“I feel like a Big Ten football player” Sullivan said. “I’m a versatile guy, a courageous guy who has already played in several categories. I bring that mentality at a high level.”

McNamara, however, is ready to play again.

“It was quite a journey” he said.

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