Michigan Football News: Iowa coaches suspended for tampering with Michigan QB Cade McNamara

Two Iowa football coaches have been suspended due to allegations of tampering with Cade McNamara, a quarterback previously on the Michigan roster who later transferred to Iowa. This comes via a recent report in The Athletic .

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz and wide receivers coach Jon Budmayr will miss the season opener against Illinois State as part of an investigation into their recruitment of McNamara. McNamara played for Michigan from 2020 to 2022, where he helped lead the Wolverines to a Big Ten title and their first playoff appearance in 2021. However, he lost his starting position to J.J. McCarthy early in the 2022 season and suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the year.

After Michigan's successful regular season, McNamara announced his decision to transfer shortly after the team's victory over Ohio State. Reports indicate that Ferentz and Budmayr began recruiting him before the transfer portal officially opened. McNamara committed to Iowa on December 1, 2022, just days after the portal became available.

The suspension relates to an NCAA investigation, though it remains unclear whether the penalties came from the NCAA or the University of Iowa. If it was an NCAA decision, it highlights the ongoing scrutiny around recruitment practices in college football.

During his time at Iowa, McNamara faced challenges, including another injury that limited his play. In his first five games with the Hawkeyes, he completed just over half of his passes, a stark contrast to his previous performance at Michigan. However, he is currently competing for the starting quarterback position this offseason.