Hawkeye football’s Nate Stanley won’t seek NFL feedback

Stanley said he talked with head coach Kirk Ferentz and quarterback coach Ken O’Keefe instead, and they gave him a list of areas to improve.

Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley prepares to throw a pass during the Iowa/Purdue game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. The Boilermakers defeated the Hawkeyes, 38-36.

Adam Hensley, Pregame Editor

On Monday, Hawkeye quarterback Nate Stanley discussed his NFL prospects.

The junior quarterback, which ESPN’s Mel Kiper listed as the No. 7 signal caller on his 2019 quarterback big board just weeks ago, said that he opted to not submit paperwork to the NFL Draft advisory board.

“Talking with coach [Ken] O’Keefe and coach [Kirk] Ferentz, they know a lot about that process,” Stanley said. “I just decided to take the feedback they had, because I don’t think it would have been much different from what they said to what the review board would have said. I just decided to take their advice and let it be, move on, and get back to work.”

Through 12 games, Stanley has completed 58.5 percent of his 366 passing attempts, throwing for 2,638 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. He has a passer efficiency rating of 134.8.

Stanley said that when talking with O’Keefe and Ferentz, they pointed out specific areas in which he’d need to improve on if he hopes to make it at the next level.

“Mobility in the pocket, ball placement, accuracy – just consistency with that – and getting through my reads quicker,” he said.

Stanley and Company take the field next on Jan. 1, 2019, squaring off with No. 18 Mississippi State in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida. If he throws at least two touchdowns against the Bulldogs, he’ll become the first quarterback in Hawkeye history to throw for at least 25 touchdowns in two separate seasons in a career.