Iowa has added two new signal-callers to its quarterbacks room heading into the 2025 college football season.
The Hawkeyes brought in former Auburn quarterback Hank Brown via the transfer portal and inked Jimmy Sullivan in their 2025 signing class.
Fortunately for Iowa, the Hawkeyes got an early look at those two during their bowl prep, too. Though they couldn’t play versus Missouri, both Brown and Sullivan joined Iowa for the team’s final bowl prep.
Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester didn’t wait to give its new pair of signal-callers opportunities in those final practices.
“I think the biggest thing with quarterbacks, you know, when they come to practice for bowls, I mean, they are spinning, right? Coach does a great job. We talk about being a development program. So we were able to get him and Jimmy, our two new quarterbacks.
“They can’t play in the game, but at the end of practice we always do a devo period, a development period. I just threw them in, both of them. They had literally been there 24, 48 hours, and I got them running the show,” Lester said.
Lester liked the early impressions from each.
“Those are invaluable for the next month before they actually show up where they’re at now compared to where they were six days ago. Such a huge opportunity for them. I’m excited for both of them. They both had ups and downs in their six days here, but they’ve definitely showed some promise.
“Smart, good feet. Hopefully just trying to build that room to have a bunch of competition in the room. It’s always the most important room to have good competition in, and I think we’re going to have that,” Lester said.
Brown joins the Hawkeyes after spending two years with Auburn. The 6-foot-4, 210 pound quarterback appeared in three games with the Tigers this season, completing 27-of-43 passes (62.7%) for 403 yards with six touchdowns against three interceptions.
Brown saw action against Alabama A&M, New Mexico and Arkansas during the 2024 season. The Nashville, Tenn., product also played in the Tigers’ bowl game to end the 2023 season versus Maryland.
Brown completed 7-of-9 passes for 132 yards against the Terps.
Out of Lipscomb Academy, Brown was a three-star signee per the 247Sports Composite rankings. Brown was ranked as the No. 60 quarterback and as the No. 34 player from Tennessee according to 247Sports in the class of 2023.
247Sports ranked Brown as a three-star transfer, as its No. 41 quarterback and as the 266th-ranked player nationally.
A three-star signee, Jimmy Sullivan arrives in Iowa out of Carroll High School in Indiana. Sullivan is ranked as the No. 64 quarterback and as the No. 21 player from Indiana per 247Sports in the 2025 signing class.
Iowa returns Brendan Sullivan who started the Hawkeyes’ bowl game versus the Tigers and two other games in the 2024 season. The Hawkeyes also bring back walk-on Jackson Stratton who started a pair of games in 2024.
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