From an outside perspective, the Iowa football team should carry some added motivation when they take on Illinois State for the 2024 season opener. That contest against the Redbirds will be head coach Kirk Ferentz’s first missed game in his 26 years at the helm in Iowa City. Yet, similar to how Ferentz addressed the media last week, the Hawkeyes are more than ready to move on.
“Obviously, it’s going to be different, but Coach is still going to be there with us in spirit,” defensive lineman Deontae Craig said of Ferentz’s absence. “He’s doing a great job to put together a game plan for this week, so it’s business as usual … We’ve got a game to win.”
Ferentz, alongside wide receivers coach Jon Budmayr, will sit out as part of a self-imposed punishment for an alleged NCAA recruiting violation. Starting quarterback Cade McNamara is rumored to be the recruited player in question, but did not offer a comment due to the NCAA’s ongoing investigation.
“This team loves Coach Ferentz and we’re going to rally for him,” McNamara said.
Craig said he learned the news of Feretnz’s one-game suspension from social media.
“I don’t think it was a secret to anybody in the building, because I woke up, and my alerts were flooded with notifications from Twitter and Bleacher Report,” Craig said.
Craig explained that the day after the news broke, Ferentz spoke before the team, and lauded his head coach for his selflessness.
“He’s a real stand-up guy, you know, he took it on the chin, took it like a great head coach would. He’s only concerned about us, he’s not worried about himself right now, and that’s something we all appreciate.”
With associate head coach Seth Wallace taking the reigns on Saturday, the Hawkeyes will have a more vocal leader donning the headset as they take on an Illinois State team with a prowess for running the ball. And unlike their opponent, Iowa will have a clear QB1 as McNamara sits atop the depth chart.
‘He gets it done’
Before his promotion to associate head coach this offseason, Wallace served as linebackers coach and assistant defensive coordinator, positions he still holds today. But the 45-year-old isn’t just known for defense, having served as offensive coordinator and special teams coach at Lake Forest College for two seasons. Back in his playing days at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Wallace twice earned all-conference honors at wide receiver.
Defensive lineman Jeremiah Pittman said Wallace was the first Iowa coach to recruit him coming out of St. Viator High School in Illinois. While he’s not as laid back as Ferentz, Wallace commands the same attention from his players.
“He’s extreme, put it that way,” Pittman said. “He’s a character, everybody loves him. He’s one of the more outspoken coaches on the team, but everybody respects him and he can be the way he is because he gets it done.”
As for Budmayr’s replacement, Ferentz said he doesn’t have a definitive replacement yet. Hawkeye receiver Jacob Gill added that offensive coordinator Tim Lester and graduate assistant Tanner Krueger would most likely help coach the receivers on Saturday.
QB Comparison
While many of the Hawkeye faithful fretted over Iowa’s apparent lack of a starting quarterback after its annual open practice in August, they can breathe knowing the Hawkeye’s QB situation is settled ahead of Week 1. For McNamara, the starting nod presents an opportunity to leave an injury-ridden past behind him.
“This is the best my body has felt, and I’m fully confident in that,” he said, denying that he had any lingering pain from an ACL tear in September. “The only thing is, just like any quarterback in the offseason, the only thing we haven’t done is gotten hit. I’m excited to play some real football and not just stand there.”
While the Hawkeyes have a definite answer under center, the Redbirds have yet to name a starting quarterback. Third-year Tommy Rittenhouse returns after appearing in eight games, starting the final two contests. The 5-foot-11, 205-pounder completed 46 of 69 passes for 467 yards and three touchdowns, as well as 140 yards and a score on the ground.
Competing with Rittenhouse is Kansas State transfer Jake Rubley. Hailing from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Rubley played sparingly in his two seasons in Manhattan, completing five passes for 47 yards.
Illinois State head coach Brock Spack told Prarie State Pigskin in June that the Redbirds would be relying on a two-quarterback system this season, an offensive feature he’s never coached before.
“But I feel really strongly that each guy has some part of his game that brings something different. I think this is an opportunity to do that,” he said.
Battle of the Running Backs
Even though Iowa and Illinois State have contrasting quarterback scenarios, each features a clear strength in their ground games. For the Redbirds, their rushing attack derives from senior Mason King, who transferred from Northern Illinois after the 2022 season.
Standing at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, King made the most of his debut season in Normal, earning Missouri Valley Conference’s Newcomer of the Year Award as well as a first-team all-conference nod. King led the team with 150 carries, 983 rushing yards, and 14 scores. His 6.6 yards per carry ranked 17th in the FCS in 2023.
“[Illinois State] can run and pass the ball both the same, but obviously, this guy is one of the more productive backs,” Pittman said of King. “As far as the defensive line goes, that’s going to be one of the biggest priorities is making sure that he doesn’t have another breakout game.”
King’s Iowa counterpart will be redshirt freshman Kamari Moulton, who surprised fans when his name appeared at the top of Iowa’s depth chart. Last season, Moulton flashed his potential in the Hawkeyes’ third game of the season against Western Michigan, tallying 50 yards and two touchdowns.
Ferentz said he was impressed by Moulton’s growth in the offseason, noting an increase in size and confidence, but also a natural ability to stand out among other running backs.
“He’s got a tremendous attitude, but he’s got a real good vision, a good ability to see things that maybe other guys can’t see, and that’s been pretty consistent,” Ferentz said.
Injuries and Depth Chart
Ferentz mentioned that part of Moulton’s promotion to RB1 was in part due to a “nagging injury” to Leshon Williams, who sits at the RB2 spot. Williams, who led the Hawkeyes in carries and yards last season, has been out of most of fall camp and has only been available for about the past 10 days.
As for the punt and kick return duties, Ferentz said wide receiver Kaden Wetjen would be handling punts while third-string running back Kaleb Johnson would take care of kickoffs.