The Hawks Would Be Crazy Not to Snatch Up a Portal QB

[Palmerhawk]

If Iowa has a chance at Manske, OSU's Lincoln Kienholz, Notre Dame's Kenny Minchey, or Missouri's Beau Pribula they should do everything they can to land one.

Don't let QB be a position that holds you back next year. Experience will matter. Talent will matter. Both Kienholz and Minchey barely missed out on winning QB#1. Pribula has experience and talent. Manske at the very least gives you another talented young QB.

The Iowa pass game has a decent chance next year with the young talent at WR and TE. RB will be solid. OL could be solid. A lack of production at QB could be all the difference next year.

Buying one of these 3 guys with experience will preclude adding 4 or 5 quality guys at d-tackle, wr, and d- back ...need positions...and might end up not retaining quality guys already on roster.

More than ever constant evaluation by coaching professionals is critical in deciding where to allocate scarce resources .

 

[BunchofAholes]

I trust the Iowa coaches on this, not a message board hack.

Yes and No. See 2023 and 2022. Disasters at QB

 

[Jonesy5960]

Yes and No. See 2023 and 2022. Disasters at QB

A significant member of the staff that was responsible for those QB disasters no longer remains.

 

[BunchofAholes]

A significant member of the staff that was responsible for those QB disasters no longer remains.

True. A very significant one does.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Bump for accuracy

 

[uihawk82]

Doodle misses the point.

The problem with Lester's statement last week that "the Hawks are all set at QB and aren't looking to add anyone through the portal," isn't just that the 2 scholarship QBs on the roster were not highly sought after and have not played meaningful minutes...the problem is having only 2 scholarship QBs on the roster in the first place. Injuries happen all the time. What kind of logic is that? The points about Iowa having limited NIL funds are well taken...that's why I'm not advocating going after a Power 4 starter from ASU or somewhere like that. Instead, a more affordable highly touted young guy who played behind and learned from an elite QB.

Unlike the guys on the roster, Manske and Smolik were both big time in-state recruits. Both were just freshmen this year playing behind elite QBs. Penn State had Drew Allar (who was thought of as a 1st round NFL prospect before his injury). Iowa State had Rocco Becht, who has already thrown for over 9,000 yards and was one of ISU's all time greats.

Iowa's backups were head and shoulders behind the Big 10's 16th best QB. Yet at no point did they challenge him for playing time...even in the early games when he was throwing for 70 yards per game. If Brown and Hecklinski couldn't challenge a guy with a 122 pass rating (17th in the Big 10) for even spot minutes, what makes us so sure they are the best possible answer at QB next year?

Sure, we hope they improve, but QB regression at Iowa has been a long running theme. QB is the most important position on the field and the Hawks have had duds for far too many years in a row. This is why we have such a lengthy streak of losing to ranked opponents.

You know what OP, what if a really good proven dual option qb wants to play in the Big and likes what he sees in Iowa. A more pro style offense, maybe sees Lester as someone who can help him along, doesnt want a ton of money, wants his chance, likes Iowa and the culture.

Once in the portal the players and their agents can contact teams,

For $1 mill I might consider a proven QB from Div 1 who can really pass and run

The QB does touch the ball on almost every offensive play and is in all the time

 

[uihawk82]

Exactly. This will be our third year basically with a first year QB who didn't participate in spring. I think Lester is exciting to see what he can do with his entire QB room in their second year in his system. Maybe we should see how that goes, hmmm.....

If a new QB transfers in now he can play spring ball, really???? are you kidding

 

[uihawk82]

This isn't Indiana where you go out and get a transfer QB and go 10-2 and make the CFP, then go out the next year and get a transfer QB who wins the Heisman and has his team as the #1 seed.

This is Iowa. Iowa develops their QB's.

I think Indy has new found treasure chest

 

[IowaCityLit]

I had mentioned before that they need to find a QB that is good enough for what should be a really good and deep roster.

if you end up with a roster good enough to compete for a CFP berth except at the QB position, then its a coaching failure. Don’t need Joe Montana. But you do need Jeremy (if he’s the guy) to be good enough to elevate this offense and make winning plays.

 

[Hawkapottomos Rex]

I think the staff plays to win every game.

They definitely do but I would rather them go for next year since this game doesn't mean much. We always start the year looking like garbage especially with new quarterbacks.

 

[MotownHAWK]

Another L Take from Coleslaw

 

[Hawkapottomos Rex]

Exactly. This will be our third year basically with a first year QB who didn't participate in spring. I think Lester is exciting to see what he can do with his entire QB room in their second year in his system. Maybe we should see how that goes, hmmm.....

I bet Lester would love to see the new guys in action in the bowl game to see what he's dealing with when they're under real fire.

 

[Hawkapottomos Rex]

They definitely know more than the OP.

Debatable

 

[Jonesy5960]

We always start the year looking like garbage especially with new quarterbacks.

It's Iowa. That's a feature not a bug when you are recruiting injured QBs requiring off season surgery and extensive rehab.

 

[squeezebox_1]

It's Iowa. That's a feature not a bug when you are recruiting injured QBs requiring off season surgery and extensive rehab.

So Rocco Becht to Iowa confirmed?

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

If a new QB transfers in now he can play spring ball, really???? are you kidding

My point was the last three years we had a guy here basically learning the system, and injured and couldn't work on the field. Lester has said he's till adding stuff and look forward to year two with the same guys. Makes sense to me but......

 

[uihawk82]

My point was the last three years we had a guy here basically learning the system, and injured and couldn't work on the field. Lester has said he's till adding stuff and look forward to year two with the same guys. Makes sense to me but......

I definitely agree with being injured and not getting reps.

 

[Bearhawk0530]

Manske is young, a big time talent, and an instate kid. The QB job is wide open next year. It would be foolish not to reach out to him to gauge interest.

 

[jhoosh43]

You know what OP, what if a really good proven dual option qb wants to play in the Big and likes what he sees in Iowa. A more pro style offense, maybe sees Lester as someone who can help him along, doesnt want a ton of money, wants his chance, likes Iowa and the culture.

Once in the portal the players and their agents can contact teams,

For $1 mill I might consider a proven QB from Div 1 who can really pass and run

The QB does touch the ball on almost every offensive play and is in all the time

There is not a proven D1 player that can really pass and run that Iowa could get for $1 mil. Maybe a couple years ago. Whatever Iowa can offer, there are numerous teams that can outbid them.
Supply of proven QBs is limited.

 

[herkhatescy2]

I'm hearing Iowa isn't interested in a portal QB this year because the 2026 roster ha a grand total of two career backups plus a freshmen walk-on who will transfer the minute his dad gives him the green light to join him at Michigan State. That is mind blowing in this day and age.

Since when was having 2 mediocre caliber scholarship QBs going into a season enough? Especially when one is Hank Brown, who is as slow as Nate Stanley and completed just 11 passes for 107 yards this year. His only meaningful snaps where against Indiana where he threw the biggest interception Iowa has suffered in the past decade, costing the Hawks the chance to beat the #1 team in the nation. The other option stands just 5'10 and completed 2 passes for 8 yards this year. Sure, he's "confident" and has swagger, which seems to be his only claim to fame from the homer media, but so did Cade McNamera and Deauce Hogan. Hecklinski's only offers out of high school were Georgia Southern and lowly Wake Forest (who finished 15th in the ACC last year and 11th this year). We're going to put all our eggs in THAT basket?

Take take a moment and think about the lowest hanging fruit out there available in the portal:

In 2023, Jaxon Smolik was a star QB recruit out of Dowling. He's from Hawkeye country. He ultimately picked blue blood QB factory Penn State, but they fired their coach. The guy would come in as a sophomore next year and have 3 years of eligibility. Is he not at least worth a look?

In 2024, Alex Manske was an elite 11 QB out of small town Algona. The Hawks wanted him bad, as did Nebraska. He picked Iowa State, probably because they actually had a passing game and real WRs. Iowa State's coach and 80% of their roster bailed and Manske is in the portal. The guy would come in with 4 years of eligibility. Is he not every bit as capable as Hecklinski and Brown but with the benefit of being an in-state kid?

These are just two options out there of home grown talent we let get away but who are now a little more seasoned and available for the pickin. I'm sure there are dozens of other QBs out there who would at least consider coming to a perennial Top 25 program with a huge opening at the starting QB position. We should be at least sniffing around and seeing what's out there. We can't have yet another season where the Hawks rank last in the Big 10 in passing.

I trust Lester more than I trust you.

 

[3-D_chess]

I'm hearing Iowa isn't interested in a portal QB this year because the 2026 roster ha a grand total of two career backups plus a freshmen walk-on who will transfer the minute his dad gives him the green light to join him at Michigan State. That is mind blowing in this day and age.

Since when was having 2 mediocre caliber scholarship QBs going into a season enough? Especially when one is Hank Brown, who is as slow as Nate Stanley and completed just 11 passes for 107 yards this year. His only meaningful snaps where against Indiana where he threw the biggest interception Iowa has suffered in the past decade, costing the Hawks the chance to beat the #1 team in the nation. The other option stands just 5'10 and completed 2 passes for 8 yards this year. Sure, he's "confident" and has swagger, which seems to be his only claim to fame from the homer media, but so did Cade McNamera and Deauce Hogan. Hecklinski's only offers out of high school were Georgia Southern and lowly Wake Forest (who finished 15th in the ACC last year and 11th this year). We're going to put all our eggs in THAT basket?

Take take a moment and think about the lowest hanging fruit out there available in the portal:

In 2023, Jaxon Smolik was a star QB recruit out of Dowling. He's from Hawkeye country. He ultimately picked blue blood QB factory Penn State, but they fired their coach. The guy would come in as a sophomore next year and have 3 years of eligibility. Is he not at least worth a look?

In 2024, Alex Manske was an elite 11 QB out of small town Algona. The Hawks wanted him bad, as did Nebraska. He picked Iowa State, probably because they actually had a passing game and real WRs. Iowa State's coach and 80% of their roster bailed and Manske is in the portal. The guy would come in with 4 years of eligibility. Is he not every bit as capable as Hecklinski and Brown but with the benefit of being an in-state kid?

These are just two options out there of home grown talent we let get away but who are now a little more seasoned and available for the pickin. I'm sure there are dozens of other QBs out there who would at least consider coming to a perennial Top 25 program with a huge opening at the starting QB position. We should be at least sniffing around and seeing what's out there. We can't have yet another season where the Hawks rank last in the Big 10 in passing.

You know the problem as well as I do.
In 2009 KF got a recruit named John Wienke to switch from Michigan to Iowa ... he made the elite 11 QB a punter and started 4-win Vandenberg over him. Until we fire Captain Lawsuit we are stuck being the program equivalent of the CyClowns.

 

[RicoSuave102954_rivals343668]

Portal money would be better spent on WR's.

 

[Hawkfan_08*]

Just so I get this straight...

Does the OP want us to spend money on backup QBs hoping that one could be a starter? The argument was thay we have 2 on the roster (but have 5 that may likely flip to 4.)

I don't care if we send out feelers to Manske with no promises to have him start but I don't think we offered Smolik out of HS, did we?

 

[iahawkeyes17]

You know the problem as well as I do.
In 2009 KF got a recruit named John Wienke to switch from Michigan to Iowa ... he made the elite 11 QB a punter and started 4-win Vandenberg over him. Until we fire Captain Lawsuit we are stuck being the program equivalent of the CyClowns.

Wienke was 3rd string in 12’. He’s an example of an elite 11 4* not living up to the hype (see Jake Christensen). Some of those guys just aren’t good. Look up Tate Martell poster boy for over hyped Elite 11 qb. My only gripe that year was not giving backup any snaps which was Ruddock.

iowas biggest issue is crawling out of the mess left by Brian ferentz. Offense a disaster and national joke, last year he was qb coach which was giant mistake and awful recruiting and even portal additions under him. Let’s face it Kirk snagged first big name with McNamara which was a bad fit and he was a shell of the guy who beat OSU 13 months before all in a desperate attempt trying to help his son and OC fredo. Look at qbs left over from Brian’s tenure last season. Cade at E TN St, Deacon backup at Utah Tech, Carson may TE at Abilene Christian, deuce hogan nichols st, Lainez Elon and most successful Labas starting at Central Michigan.

we finally have a competent adult running offense room and qbs. Next year could be first time has a starter here from previous season let alone participates in spring ball.

 

[AndreTheHawk]

Manske is young, a big time talent, and an instate kid. The QB job is wide open next year. It would be foolish not to reach out to him to gauge interest.

Don't know if 6'3" 225 lb Manske is the answer, but not thrilled with a 5'11" 185 lb QB in Hecklinski. If he can play and move the sticks, then I'm all for it, but I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[herkhatescy2]

Don't know if 6'3" 225 lb Manske is the answer, but not thrilled with a 5'11" 185 lb QB in Hecklinski. If he can play and move the sticks, then I'm all for it, but I'll believe it when I see it.

I'll take the 5'11" 185 lb mobile quarterback anyday.

 

[AndreTheHawk]

I'll take the 5'11" 185 lb mobile quarterback anyday.

I'd prefer a 6'2" to 6'5" 220 lb + mobile QB, but if Hecklinski is the next Doug Flutie then great.......

 

[herkhatescy2]

I'd prefer a 6'2" to 6'5" 220 lb + mobile QB, but if Hecklinski is the next Doug Flutie then great.......

He's the next Fran Tarkenton..

 

[AndreTheHawk]

He's the next Fran Tarkenton..

That would work too, and prior to my last post I looked up Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton. They had him listed at 6'0". Maybe Hecklinski will grow an inch by next year.

 

[HMB Trumpet]

Doodle misses the point.

The problem with Lester's statement last week that "the Hawks are all set at QB and aren't looking to add anyone through the portal," isn't just that the 2 scholarship QBs on the roster were not highly sought after and have not played meaningful minutes...the problem is having only 2 scholarship QBs on the roster in the first place. Injuries happen all the time. What kind of logic is that? The points about Iowa having limited NIL funds are well taken...that's why I'm not advocating going after a Power 4 starter from ASU or somewhere like that. Instead, a more affordable highly touted young guy who played behind and learned from an elite QB.

Unlike the guys on the roster, Manske and Smolik were both big time in-state recruits. Both were just freshmen this year playing behind elite QBs. Penn State had Drew Allar (who was thought of as a 1st round NFL prospect before his injury). Iowa State had Rocco Becht, who has already thrown for over 9,000 yards and was one of ISU's all time greats.

Iowa's backups were head and shoulders behind the Big 10's 16th best QB. Yet at no point did they challenge him for playing time...even in the early games when he was throwing for 70 yards per game. If Brown and Hecklinski couldn't challenge a guy with a 122 pass rating (17th in the Big 10) for even spot minutes, what makes us so sure they are the best possible answer at QB next year?

Sure, we hope they improve, but QB regression at Iowa has been a long running theme. QB is the most important position on the field and the Hawks have had duds for far too many years in a row. This is why we have such a lengthy streak of losing to ranked opponents.

Obviously, you forgot about Jimmy Sullivan.

 

[IowaCityLit]

I think Indy has new found treasure chest

Mark Cuban. It’s widely known he’s pumping huge amounts of money into their athletic programs now that there are no rules. Look at their volleyball program. Just like football they were historically one of the worst programs in D1. They made the sweet 16 this year after buying several transfers.

 

[3-D_chess]

Mark Cuban. It’s widely known he’s pumping huge amounts of money into their athletic programs now that there are no rules. Look at their volleyball program. Just like football they were historically one of the worst programs in D1. They made the sweet 16 this year after buying several transfers.

Oh Jesus don't do that. Th SEC is full of money and they are 2-4 in bowl games. We paid a ton of money for a QB who is no better than Labas.
If you gave Jirk all the money Cignetti has he would screw it up and attain another "glorious" 8 win season that gives lemmings a boner.

 

[_Mjolnir_]

Buying one of these 3 guys with experience will preclude adding 4 or 5 quality guys at d-tackle, wr, and d- back ...need positions...and might end up not retaining quality guys already on roster.

More than ever constant evaluation by coaching professionals is critical in deciding where to allocate scarce resources .

And yet QB is the one individual postion that can cost you 3-5 wins a season. Hence why the investment is larger. If Iowa didn't invest in Gronowski in the portal and we rolled the dice with the QB's on the roster this very well could be a 5-7 win team. What other portal addition made anywhere even close to his contributions this year on the roster?

 

[DaytonaHawk]

I think we would be crazy to not snatch up a new HawkLaw.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

I think we would be crazy to not snatch up a new HawkLaw.

Can't wait to see his recap of the game giving backhanded compliments and downplaying other things to players like Gronowski (he'll say Gronk or Gronkowski because he knows it triggers people) and Moulton. @IowaLaw

 

[eyesofhawk]

V

 

[eyesofhawk]

I'm hearing Iowa isn't interested in a portal QB this year because the 2026 roster ha a grand total of two career backups plus a freshmen walk-on who will transfer the minute his dad gives him the green light to join him at Michigan State. That is mind blowing in this day and age.

Since when was having 2 mediocre caliber scholarship QBs going into a season enough? Especially when one is Hank Brown, who is as slow as Nate Stanley and completed just 11 passes for 107 yards this year. His only meaningful snaps where against Indiana where he threw the biggest interception Iowa has suffered in the past decade, costing the Hawks the chance to beat the #1 team in the nation. The other option stands just 5'10 and completed 2 passes for 8 yards this year. Sure, he's "confident" and has swagger, which seems to be his only claim to fame from the homer media, but so did Cade McNamera and Deauce Hogan. Hecklinski's only offers out of high school were Georgia Southern and lowly Wake Forest (who finished 15th in the ACC last year and 11th this year). We're going to put all our eggs in THAT basket?

Take take a moment and think about the lowest hanging fruit out there available in the portal:

In 2023, Jaxon Smolik was a star QB recruit out of Dowling. He's from Hawkeye country. He ultimately picked blue blood QB factory Penn State, but they fired their coach. The guy would come in as a sophomore next year and have 3 years of eligibility. Is he not at least worth a look?

In 2024, Alex Manske was an elite 11 QB out of small town Algona. The Hawks wanted him bad, as did Nebraska. He picked Iowa State, probably because they actually had a passing game and real WRs. Iowa State's coach and 80% of their roster bailed and Manske is in the portal. The guy would come in with 4 years of eligibility. Is he not every bit as capable as Hecklinski and Brown but with the benefit of being an in-state kid?

These are just two options out there of home grown talent we let get away but who are now a little more seasoned and available for the pickin. I'm sure there are dozens of other QBs out there who would at least consider coming to a perennial Top 25 program with a huge opening at the starting QB position. We should be at least sniffing around and seeing what's out there. We can't have yet another season where the Hawks rank last in the Big 10 in passing.

Without having seen Iowa's current QB's play, and without any knowledge of Iowa's financials, the portal options, and they're costs, you're determining something to be "crazy"?

I would say that's crazy, but somehow it's just par for the course for football fans.

It's the lack of being a team player from the start that leads to all the blatant inconsideration. These type of fans actually have never been fans at all

 

[hawkeyebob1962]

You know the problem as well as I do.
In 2009 KF got a recruit named John Wienke to switch from Michigan to Iowa ... he made the elite 11 QB a punter and started 4-win Vandenberg over him. Until we fire Captain Lawsuit we are stuck being the program equivalent of the CyClowns.

So much fail. So. Much. Fail.

 

[IowaLaw]

Obviously, you forgot about Jimmy Sullivan.

Jimmy Sullivan was a Jon Budmyer recruit who could not even beat out a walk-on to be Iowa's scout team QB this year. I wouldn't hold out too much hope on him contributing any more than all the other Budmyer recruits did.

 

[Heathen Raider]

Jimmy Sullivan was a Jon Budmyer recruit who could not even beat out a walk-on to be Iowa's scout team QB this year. I wouldn't hold out too much hope on him contributing any more than all the other Budmyer recruits did.

That walk on was a 5.6 3 star who turned down full rides to walk on to Iowa because the Father who is now the MSU HC wanted His Kid in Kirks program and working under Lester . Kid is good , He was running the Scout Team because He is more mobile than Sullivan to mimic Pavia