Tag: Brad Banks

Iowa Hawkeyes’ Brad Banks cracks ESPN’s top 75 quarterbacks of the 2000s

Few wearing the Tigerhawk logo have been as electric as Brad Banks was. His performance has him as one of ESPN’s top 75 QBs of the 2000s.

The Iowa Hawkeyes have had their fair share of stars, nationally-known individuals, and electric performances. Right near the top of that list is former Iowa quarterback Brad Banks. He is one of the best quarterbacks to play at Iowa, although it was a much smaller sample size than many others.

Despite manning the position for just one season in 2002, Banks’ electrifying performance that year has landed him among ESPN’s top 75 quarterbacks of the 2000s.

Years: 2001-02
Stats: 3,155 passing yards, 58% completion rate, 30 TD, 7 INT, 7 rushing TD

A one-year wonder? Sure, but what a year it was. After winning 11 total games in Kirk Ferentz’s first three years as Iowa head coach, the Hawkeyes won 11 in 2002 and Banks went from relative unknown to Heisman runner-up to Carson Palmer. – Bill Connelly, ESPN.

While Banks doesn’t necessarily rank first in Iowa’s passing record books due to his one season, there is more than a fair foundation that he has the claim to the single most impressive season by any Iowa quarterback.

The top 10 quarterbacks of the 2000s were listed as follows:

  • No. 10: Robert Griffin III, Baylor, 2008-11
  • No. 9: Marcus Mariota, Oregon, 2012-14
  • No. 8: Lamar Jackson, Louisville, 2015-27
  • No. 7: Kyler Murray, Texas A&M/Oklahoma, 2015-28
  • No. 6: Deshaun Watson, Clemson, 2014-16
  • No. 5: Joe Burrow, Ohio State/LSU, 2016-19
  • No. 4: Tim Tebow, Florida, 2006-09
  • No. 3: Vince Young, Texas, 2003-05
  • No. 2: Cam Newton, Florida/Blinn/Auburn, 2007-10
  • No. 1: Baker Mayfield, Texas Tech/Oklahoma, 2013-17

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Riley on Twitter: @rileydonald7

Iowa Hawkeyes football all-time roster: Offensive starters and backups

See which legends made the cut in our all-time Iowa Hawkeyes football roster, starting with the offensive starters and backups.

The Iowa Hawkeyes have a rich history with some of the game’s titans suiting up in the black and gold. Hawkeyes Wire is taking a look back at Iowa’s finest offensive playmakers, defensive standouts, specialists and coaches from its entire history.

Who makes the cut on Iowa’s all-time offensive two-deep? Which quarterbacks define the Hawkeyes’ history books? How about the running back position? Who has stolen the show in Iowa’s backfield?

Along the skill positions, which wide receivers and tight ends make it among the Hawkeyes’ all-time two deep. Who has been paving the way on Iowa’s offensive line historically? Let’s take a look at the best offensive players in Hawkeyes history.

Check out our other College Wire all-time lineups: Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin

Top 25 passing seasons in Iowa Hawkeyes football history

What do the top 25 passing seasons in Hawkeyes history look like? Here’s the best passing seasons in Iowa’s black and gold.

While elite quarterback play and the University of Iowa might not be completely synonymous, the Hawkeyes have boasted some terrific signal-callers over their program history.

Chuck Long finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1985. Brad Banks did, too, back in 2002. Before those two, Randy Duncan had his own second-place Heisman Trophy finish in 1958 and Kenny Ploen earned the ninth-most votes in 1956.

During Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz’s tenure, Iowa’s quarterbacks haven’t always been asked or tasked to roll up big numbers in order to position the Hawkeyes for victories. Instead, the hallmark of great Hawkeye quarterback play under Ferentz has been ball security.

With that in mind, it doesn’t mean that some of the best performances under center still haven’t come over the last quarter century. In fact, some of the best quarterback seasons statistically have come during the Ferentz era.

What about Iowa’s entire history, though? Which quarterbacks have authored the best passing seasons in program history? Here’s a look at each of the top 25 Iowa single-season passing totals.

‘I just want to win’: Iowa Hawkeyes QB commit Marco Lainez III says he patterns game after Brad Banks

In an interview with From the Hawkeye of the Storm, Iowa quarterback commit Marco Lainez III said he patterns his game after Brad Banks.

Iowa fans should be excited about what the 2023 class has in store for the future. The Hawkeyes currently have 12 commits and the class is ranked No. 19 nationally by 247Sports.

Of course, one of the headliners in Iowa’s 2023 class is 6-foot-2, 220 pound quarterback Marco Lainez III out of the Hun School in Princeton, N.J. According to 247Sports, Lainez is a three-star commit, the nation’s No. 22 quarterback and the No. 7 player from New Jersey.

Rivals also ranks Lainez as a three-star commit, but the service grades him a little bit higher and as the No. 14 quarterback in the 2023 class. Lastly, On3 lists Lainez as a three-star commit, the nation’s No. 26 quarterback and the No. 6 player from New Jersey.

The senior-to-be committed to the Hawkeyes on Dec. 13, 2021, and has kept that pledge to Iowa following former quarterbacks coach Ken O’Keefe’s decision to step away in February.

Lainez joined the From the Hawkeye of the Storm podcast to discuss a wide-ranging list of topics. The future Hawkeye said that he’s actually looked to Iowa’s past for one of his game’s biggest influences, patterning himself after former Hawkeye great quarterback Brad Banks. That will no doubt have Iowa fans feeling some kind of way. Perhaps a bit nostalgic and equally electrified.

It’s an excellent interview with host Cory Brada and Hawkeye fans will want to sit down and watch the entirety of it. Here’s the full interview with Lainez and some of the items and quotes that caught our attention attached below.