Before his team departs to Nashville, Tenn., for the TransPerfect Music City Bowl against Missouri (9-3, 5-3 SEC), Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz met with reporters and shared his first remarks on new Hawkeye quarterback Hank Brown.
“It’s like anything you do in the portal. If you go to the portal, you’re trying to improve your depth, trying to improve the level of competition at any given position. Obviously, we’re a little thin at that spot right now body-wise. Need some guys that we think have a chance to really develop and grow.
“I know Tim has been really thorough with his evaluations on everybody, including high school film. That was a big part of the evaluation, going back and watching all the prospects that we look at in high school, following it to whatever college tape may be there. I think the things that Tim is looking for, he found that with Hank,” Ferentz said of Brown.
A transfer from Auburn, Brown joins Iowa with three seasons of eligibility remaining.
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 where Brown completed 7-of-9 passes for 132 yards against the Terps.
“The other key component is what is it going to be like when we meet the prospect, his family, how we feel they’re going to fit in the program. Vice versa, it has to be a mutual deal. Felt really good about it. We’re excited about it,” Ferentz said.
Brown joins an Iowa quarterback room that features Brendan Sullivan, Jackson Stratton and class of 2025 signee Jimmy Sullivan.
Brown is already with Iowa and he and Sullivan are joining the Hawkeyes for their final bowl practices. Neither can play in the bowl game, but it’s an early jump for the Iowa staff to see those two in action.
“It’s new for us, yeah. At least we’ll get eyes on these guys, get them out there. Tim will have them totally confused by Monday. They can travel with us to the bowl game but they can’t play,” Ferentz said.
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.
Iowa (8-4, 6-3 Big Ten) battles Missouri in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 at 1:30 p.m. CT from Nissan Stadium to close its 2024 season.
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