As was done before the 2023 season, the Iowa Hawkeyes have brought in another Big 10-to-Big 10 quarterback transfer. Last year, it was Cade McNamara from Michigan. This year, Brendan Sullivan comes to Iowa from Northwestern.
Sullivan’s Road to Iowa City
Out of Davison High School in Michigan, Sullivan was considered a three-star quarterback and 23rd-best overall player in the state. He chose Northwestern over a host of MAC programs and Indiana. The former three-sport athlete went to the Wildcats and did not appear in any action as a true freshman in 2021.
In 2022, Sullivan got his opportunity to lead the Wildcats’ offense. He appeared in five games with four starts, all losses. In those five games, Sullivan threw for 589 yards and four touchdowns with a trio of interceptions. Sullivan completed 74% of his passes. Additionally, he showed his dual-threat ability, rushing 54 times for 97 yards and a touchdown.
Heading into the 2023 season, Sullivan battled with Ben Bryant for the starting job and ultimately lost. He ended up having his number called yet again with an injury to Bryant. In eight appearances and four starts, Sullivan added 714 yards and six touchdowns through the air with just two interceptions. This time around, he completed 63.6% of his passes while adding 160 yards and two scores off of 75 rushes.
Sullivan brings with him two years of eligibility remaining.
@HawkeyeFootball let’s work 🤝🏼 pic.twitter.com/Y8kz4br2uF
— Brendan Sullivan (@bsully02) May 8, 2024
The New Iowa Quarterback Room
The Iowa offense has been less-than-stellar as of late and the play of the quarterbacks is at the root. The Hawkeyes lost three quarterbacks over the offseason. Additionally, the presumed starter, McNamara, is coming off his second season-ending injury in as many years. To make it worse, he is still rehabbing and was limited during Spring practices.
Sullivan will come in and compete to lead an Iowa offense that ranked 132nd out of 133 offenses in scoring. The Hawkeyes’ passing offense was the worst from a non-service academy program and the program was dead last in total offense.
