BTN Provides Update on Cade McNamara

Conference Network Visited Hawkeye Training Camp Friday

Iowa quarterbacks Cade McNamara (12) and Deacon Hill at Kids Day practice on Aug. 12, 2023 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Rob Howe/HawkeyeNation.com)

IOWA CITY, Iowa - The Big Ten Network (BTN) stopped here for its annual training camp visit with Iowa Football Friday. Hawkeye fans watched closely for an update on injured starting quarterback Cade McNamara. 

"Fortunately it's a tissue issue, so hopefully we'll be back sometime next week. I can't predict that. We'll take it week by week. But he'll be back. It's not like he broke his leg. That's good news," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz told BTN's Dave Revsine.  

McNamara was knocked out of last weekend's Kids Day practice at Kinnick Stadium with what Ferentz describe as a "muscle thing." The Michigan transfer still was sidelined on Friday. 

Backup quarterback Joe Labas, who started December's Music City Bowl, also was out of practice on Friday, according to BTN. Wisconsin transfer Deacon Hill took the bulk of the reps. True freshmen Marco Lainez and Tommy Poholsky were the other signal callers in camp. 

Obviously everyone wants to know about QB spot. They are hopeful that Cade McNamara will be back next week. Was walking around today. Joe Labas out today as well - so Deacon Hill got #1 reps. Up and down - here picked off by former 5-star Xavier Nwankpa pic.twitter.com/xx7bi1IHaU

— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 18, 2023

Shannon Back Practicing

Sixth-year defensive tackle Noah Shannon was back at practice after missing the first part of camp, including Kids Day. The Illinois native had offseason shoulder surgery. 

"The good news is he's back working now. This is his first week back. He had a pretty serious issue with his shoulder," Ferentz said. "He's worked through that, and it's been a long road for him." 

Shannon announced last month that he was part of an investigation into Iowa student-athletes gambling on sports. He's submitted his paperwork to the NCAA, but the governing body has not gotten back to him. 

"On the gambling issue, that whole thing is kind of curious to me, quite frankly, the origin of it all. But that's a whole separate discussion," Ferentz said. 

"The facts are he participated. We'll wait for the NCAA to make their ruling. Whatever they go with that's what we'll go with. We'll be eager to get Noah back. He's a valued team member."

Extra Points

Tight end Erick All, who also came from Michigan, shared the team's vision for '23 with BTN...In this clip, you can see the first-team offensive line as, from left to right, Mason Richman, Rusty Feth, Logan Jones, Connor Colby and Gennings Dunker...preseason conference defensive player of the year Cooper DeJean shared with BTN what he focused on for improvement from last season.