Cade McNamara is looking for a third school to continue his college football career.
The former Michigan and Iowa QB announced Wednesday that he entered the transfer portal after two seasons with the Hawkeyes. He has one season of eligibility remaining thanks to an extra year of eligibility in the COVID-affected 2020 season and a redshirt for playing fewer than four games two seasons later.
“I look forward to this offseason being the healthiest I have been in years and continuing my growth as a player, leader and person,” McNamara wrote. “I’m excited to see where God takes my next football journey.”
McNamara opened the 2023 season as Iowa’s starting quarterback but suffered a season-ending ACL tear five games into the season. He recovered in time to be Iowa’s starter again in Week 1, but suffered a concussion on October 26 against Northwestern. He hasn’t played for the Hawkeyes since Brendan Sullivan – a transfer from Northwestern – took over as Iowa’s top quarterback.
McNamara came to Iowa after three seasons with the Wolverines. After appearing in 14 games in 2021, McNamara appeared in three games in 2022 when he lost his starting job to JJ McCarthy.
That 2021 season was McNamara’s best during his five seasons of college football. He was 210 of 327 passing for 2,576 yards and 15 TDs with just six interceptions. In 13 games at Iowa, McNamara was 150 of 262 passing for 1,522 yards and 10 TDs with eight interceptions. His final pass with the Hawkeyes was a pick-6 and he committed three turnovers in Iowa’s loss to Ohio State with an interception and two fumbles.
It was a disappointing two years for both McNamara and Iowa after the school violated NCAA rules during his recruitment. Kirk Ferentz and an assistant coach both served self-imposed one-game suspensions at the start of the 2024 season for inappropriately contacting McNamara while he was at Michigan before the transfer portal had opened.
