Nine months since we last saw Iowa take the field (for a 21-0 shutout of Kentucky in the Music City Bowl), the Hawkeyes will finally be back in action on Saturday, hosting Utah State in the season opener (11:00 AM CT, FS1). What are we going to be paying attention to as Iowa takes on the Aggies? Here are the main things we'll be focused on Saturday.
Everything seems to be pointing toward McNamara suiting up on Saturday. That's certainly what all of Kirk Ferentz's recent public comments on the matter have suggested, most recently on his radio show on Wednesday night (see above). But how much McNamara plays and how effective he is remains to be seen. Iowa needs a healthy McNamara to achieve its goals this season, and Saturday should give us a better idea of what his health is and what he's able to provide for this Iowa offense.
MORE HERE: https://iowa.rivals.com/news/five-things-we-re-watching-iowa-vs-utah-state
THE CADE MCNAMARA OF IT ALL
This is a no-brainer, right? Everyone has been intrigued to see what the addition of a proven quarterback like Cade McNamara can do for the Iowa offense since he made the decision to transfer to Iowa City last December. That intrigue has been overshadowed in recent weeks by the non-contact injury that McNamara sustained at Iowa's Kids Day practice three weeks ago. Will McNamara play? How much will he play? How effective will he be?Everything seems to be pointing toward McNamara suiting up on Saturday. That's certainly what all of Kirk Ferentz's recent public comments on the matter have suggested, most recently on his radio show on Wednesday night (see above). But how much McNamara plays and how effective he is remains to be seen. Iowa needs a healthy McNamara to achieve its goals this season, and Saturday should give us a better idea of what his health is and what he's able to provide for this Iowa offense.
MORE HERE: https://iowa.rivals.com/news/five-things-we-re-watching-iowa-vs-utah-state
