Kirk Ferentz: Jackson Stratton likely to start at QB for Iowa vs. Maryland

Jackson Stratton is expected to start at QB for Iowa Saturday against Maryland, according to head coach Kirk Ferentz.

With Brendan Sullivan reportedly out for the season, Stratton will step in. However, Cade McNamara, who missed the last few weeks, could be in line to resume starting duties.

However, he’s not quite there yet but has a chance.

“Jackson is gonna, I assume Jackson, he’ll start,” Ferentz said. “I think we’ll start t he way we finished is probably the best way I can put it. He finished out in California, so that’s kind of where I sit. Yeah, absolutely. And then we’ll see who can do what, but yeah, if we’re playing tomorrow, that’s how it’d be. Everybody else has a chance outside of Brendan, he for sure is not playing this week.”

Stratton started his career at Colorado State but hasn’t thrown many passes over the last three seasons. Overall, he is seven-of-23 passing for 106 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

As a member of the Class of 2022, Stratton was a three-star recruit out of La Jolla (Calif.) High, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 66 overall prospect in the state, the No. 50 quarterback in the class and the No. 936 overall prospect in the class.

At this point, Stratton made Ferentz much more comfortable throughout the course of the season.

“A hell of a lot more comfortable,” Ferentz said. “If you knew what we knew about the last time, just because of the lack of, I’m not saying this in a negative way towards Jackson at all … He hadn’t gotten any reps. Once we started, you know, doing game prep. Two guys get the reps. And that was, you know, obviously the first two guys. So even Marco was watching, you know, he’s holding a clipboard and watching, and Jackson’s working on the Scott team, so I thought, you know, he did some really good things out in that last ball game. He’s got talent. He can throw the football. 

“You guys saw that. Thank goodness we had a bye week and we got a chance to get him more comfortable in school, and if he ends up being our guy, we’ll try and put a plan together.”