QB is NOT a Transfer Portal Priority, per KF on Dec 18. Jeremy Hecklinski appears to have passed Hank Brown on the Depth Chart.

[Franisdaman]

Dec 18, 2025 UPDATE:

In Thursday, Dec 18th's press conference, Kirk said that he’ll “never say never,” but it sounds like QB will not be a priority in the transfer portal.




ORIGINAL POST (on Oct 12, 2025)

Jeremy Hecklinski appears to have passed Hank Brown on the Depth Chart.

 

[Franisdaman]

From Aug 8:

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[AxisBoldAsKIrk]

Im cool with Helsinki being #2.
Helsinki starter in '26 and ol Hank enters portal again.
Kirk 6.0 has a Soph QB to work with. Giddyup!

 

[Franisdaman]

Kirk, postgame, on Jeremy Hecklinski moving into the 2nd-string QB spot:

“The way he’s practiced. … It’s really close. Hank has done a really good job. … It’s going to be ongoing — the competition. We like how those guys operate.”

 

[Rambler Hawk]

Well, he did something Hank couldn’t do - complete a screen pass. (I think) What could have been vs Indy….

 

[Moral]

I never thought I would see the day when QB1 and QB2 were filthy Polacks. Maybe it is time for Kirk to go.

 

[o_RightwingHawk]

Should I assume Hank is headed back to the portal?

 

[WeBeHerkin]

Love it. Give him his shot.

 

[CountingSheep]

I never thought I would see the day when QB1 and QB2 were filthy Polacks. Maybe it is time for Kirk to go.

How many Iowa QBs does it take to change a light bulb? Trick question, their army still uses cavalry and all their lamps are still powered by the fat from the dead horses following the blitzkrieg which is just as well because they are mostly illiterate (because they are from Poland) and don't need much artificial light for anything.

 

[DukeSlater]

Too bad KF and Lester kept MG in the game for so damn long. It might've made sense to pull MG for at least the entire 4th quarter for three compelling reasons:
1- The game was over
2 - MG is hurt. Smart to keep him from getting hurt worse.
3 - Give the backup some chances to throw the damn ball, although Hecklinski's handoffs looked awesome.

Now please feel free to explain the reasons KF did what he did.

 

[QChawks]

can he run the QB dive ?

 

[MeetTheFerentzes]

Too bad KF and Lester kept MG in the game for so damn long. It might've made sense to pull MG for at least the entire 4th quarter for three compelling reasons:
1- The game was over
2 - MG is hurt. Smart to keep him from getting hurt worse.
3 - Give the backup some chances to throw the damn ball, although Hecklinski's handoffs looked awesome.

Now please feel free to explain the reasons KF did what he did.

QB injury issues with inexperienced back-ups has been KF’s ace-in-the-hole excuse for poor offense for years now. Having two quality, experienced QBs takes that away from him.

 

[DBHawkSoCal]

QB injury issues with inexperienced back-ups has been KF’s ace-in-the-hole excuse for poor offense for years now. Having two quality, experienced QBs takes that away from him.

There really is no other excuse. If the backup comes in and makes some passes, looks competent, Kirk does not want to field the questions that naturally come up in every single program in the history of football

By not giving the backup any real meaningful snaps the backup is always too inexperienced and therefore QB1 always gives us the best chance to win

 

[Jonesy5960]

There really is no other excuse. If the backup comes in and makes some passes, looks competent, Kirk does not want to field the questions that naturally come up in every single program in the history of football

By not giving the backup any real meaningful snaps the backup is always too inexperienced and therefore QB1 always gives us the best chance to win

I think this is a bit of a stretch. Kirk will do everything in his power to avoid a QB controversy and values adherence to the program over raw talent but it's not because he's afraid of criticism. He really believes that gives him the best chance to win..

 

[Hawk48]

There really is no other excuse. If the backup comes in and makes some passes, looks competent, Kirk does not want to field the questions that naturally come up in every single program in the history of football

By not giving the backup any real meaningful snaps the backup is always too inexperienced and therefore QB1 always gives us the best chance to win

agreed and has been the Ferentz mode of operation for years IMO.

 

[Palmerhawk]

Our starting QB has been out for 2 weeks.
He actually needed to get game reps.
He will be playing at QB next week and kf wants the rust off

Those hawk fans who hate KF will not even give him one ounce of credit for a 37-0 demolishment of a rival on the road ..no...gotta find things to criticize him instead.

 

[DBHawkSoCal]

I think this is a bit of a stretch. Kirk will do everything in his power to avoid a QB controversy and values adherence to the program over raw talent but it's not because he's afraid of criticism. He really believes that gives him the best chance to win..

He’s not afraid, he just ******* hates being questioned. He won 10 games two years ago remember !!

 

[DBHawkSoCal]

Our starting QB has been out for 2 weeks.
He actually needed to get game reps.
He will be playing at QB next week and kf wants the rust off

Those hawk fans who hate KF will not even give him one ounce of credit for a 37-0 demolishment of a rival on the road ..no...gotta find things to criticize him instead.

He’s been a college QB for like 15 years
There is no rust. He is what he is, but more limited with a bum knee.

He should have been pulled early in the 3Q to allow his knee more rest and give others a chance at real live action

 

[MeetTheFerentzes]

Our starting QB has been out for 2 weeks.
He actually needed to get game reps.
He will be playing at QB next week and kf wants the rust off

Those hawk fans who hate KF will not even give him one ounce of credit for a 37-0 demolishment of a rival on the road ..no...gotta find things to criticize him instead.

You have to be a level of KF bootlicker that I can't even imagine to defend KF by saying that his QB, who has more starts than any other current college QB, needed to play nearly the entire 37-0 game to "get the rust off" after missing less than half of a quarter of their last game. You are exactly the kind of fan KF counts on.

 

[Palmerhawk]

You have to be a level of KF bootlicker that I can't even imagine to defend KF by saying that his QB, who has more starts than any other current college QB, needed to play nearly the entire 37-0 game to "get the rust off" after missing less than half of a quarter of their last game. You are exactly the kind of fan KF counts on.

Yada yada...I know...you have more insight into the Iowa FB team than the coaches....congrats.

 

[nyhawk52]

I like Hecklinski's quick release and accuracy. He will be the starter next year if not before.

 

[UIAlumFireFighter]

Should I assume Hank is headed back to the portal?

Why are you asking Fran?

 

[UIAlumFireFighter]

I think this is a bit of a stretch. Kirk will do everything in his power to avoid a QB controversy and values adherence to the program over raw talent but it's not because he's afraid of criticism. He really believes that gives him the best chance to win..

Kirk does in fact appear to be afraid of criticism given some of the snarky responses he’s provided to media members in the past.

KF wants zero expectations and gets upset when it seems people actually have them.

 

[UIAlumFireFighter]

He’s not afraid, he just ******* hates being questioned. He won 10 games two years ago remember !!

This.

But it could be said he’s “afraid”

 

[Jonesy5960]

Kirk does in fact appear to be afraid of criticism given some of the snarky responses he’s provided to media members in the past.

KF wants zero expectations and gets upset when it seems people actually have them.

Nah. I think you're confusing being afraid of criticism to feeling like you're above it.

 

[UIAlumFireFighter]

Nah. I think you're confusing being afraid of criticism to feeling like you're above it.

Maybe but the two possibilities are equally as pathetic.

 

[Jonesy5960]

Im cool with Helsinki being #2.
Helsinki starter in '26 and ol Hank enters portal again.
Kirk 6.0 has a Soph QB to work with. Giddyup!

It's all a tallest midget discussion anyway. Who cares?

 

[Franisdaman]

Well, he did something Hank couldn’t do - complete a screen pass. (I think) What could have been vs Indy….

Yep.

Tim Lester on the screen call on 3rd & 5 w/ 2:06 to go in the Indiana game: "It was there. It would've been a touchdown."

Iowa would have then taken a 20-13 lead.

Let's face it. It was a play Hank Brown should have made. It was an easy throw. The coaches were playing to win with a play that was perfectly set up & according to Tim Lester would have resulted in a TD.

The next play (on 4th & 5), of course, was a 42 yard missed Drew Stevens FG.

Tap or click on image once or twice for a larger view.

 

[Franisdaman]

Our starting QB has been out for 2 weeks.
He actually needed to get game reps.
He will be playing at QB next week and kf wants the rust off

Those hawk fans who hate KF will not even give him one ounce of credit for a 37-0 demolishment of a rival on the road ..no...gotta find things to criticize him instead.

 

[Franisdaman]

He’s been a college QB for like 15 years
There is no rust.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

Our starting QB has been out for 2 weeks.
He actually needed to get game reps.
He will be playing at QB next week and kf wants the rust off

Those hawk fans who hate KF will not even give him one ounce of credit for a 37-0 demolishment of a rival on the road ..no...gotta find things to criticize him instead.

SOSDD.....

 

[Franisdaman]

You have to be a level of KF bootlicker

So mature and level headed.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

Nah. I think you're confusing being afraid of criticism to feeling like you're above it.

Nah. I think you're confusing being afraid of criticism to feeling like you're above it.

While this is certainly true, you do have to consider the source of where much of that criticism comes from. Posters on sites like this, who don't have an ounce of actual knowledge about the game compared to a guy whos been coaching most of the last 50 years, and HAS been successful both in college and the pro game. Its like getting the clerk at Walmart to give you financial advice instead of a seasoned CPA. Its hilarious how the couch coaches come out of the woodwork when something goes wrong in the game, doing so as ALWAYS with the benefit of hind sight. Oh, I'd have done it like this..

 

[eyesofhawk]

He’s not afraid, he just ******* hates being questioned. He won 10 games two years ago remember !!

Yes, KF included that information as part of an answer to a question that, in part, referenced the previous year's performance. He simply answered the guy's question.

GOOD LORD, FANS ARE ******* DUMB!

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

Imagine whatever profession your in. People who don't know you at all, who don't work in your profession, who have very little actual real experience in your field, (video games don't count), and people you don't work with or for, were able to critique your job performance weekly and call for your ouster on social media platforms. Would you be inclined to be dismissive even surly to their critique? Forget the money coaches get paid. Its all ridiculous monopoly money anyway. How would you react. Truthfully....

 

[herkhatescy2]

Our starting QB has been out for 2 weeks.
He actually needed to get game reps.
He will be playing at QB next week and kf wants the rust off

Those hawk fans who hate KF will not even give him one ounce of credit for a 37-0 demolishment of a rival on the road ..no...gotta find things to criticize him instead.

They were up 37 for christ sakes there was no reason that they couldn't of put Backup QBs in the 4th quarter.

 

[eyesofhawk]

They were up 37 for christ sakes there was no reason that they couldn't of put Backup QBs in the 4th quarter.

He just gave you valid reasoning

 

[Franisdaman]

Officially official today.

They list Jeremy at 5'11"

Click on or tap on the image once or twice for a LARGER view

 

[2D]

Hecklinski gets the nod again. Next year sure will be interesting with the QB battle.