Iowa Hawkeyes 2014 starting QB Rudock transferring
Somewhere in between the time the Iowa Hawkeyes wrapped up a 7-6 season with a 45-28 bowl game loss to the Tennessee Volunteers and a quick revaluation time for head coach Kirk Ferentz shortly thereafter, starting quarterback Jake Rudock was no longer deemed the team’s starting quarterback.
Rudock, 6’3”, 208 pounds, appeared in 12 of Iowa’s games in 2014 throwing for 2,435 yards with 16 touchdowns against five picks but was still not in the Hawkeyes’ plans for his senior season. A released to the public January depth chart showed C.J. Beathard had supplanted Rudock. Beathard threw for 645 yards playing in parts of nine games with five touchdowns tossed along with two interceptions.
The writing may have been on the wall during the Taxslayer Bowl when Beathard took over the Iowa offense completing 13 of 23 passes for 145 yards with two scores against one interception. Rudock finished with 32 yards on 2 of 8 passing.
Even though early in his career, Beathard appears to give the Hawkeyes an extra dimension on offense with his legs. Carrying the ball 28 times, the Franklin, Tennessee native sported a 5.6 yard per carry average netting 156 yards rushing. Rudock carried the ball 67 times netting 176 yards for a 2.6 yard per carry average but did score three touchdowns on the ground.
The 6’2”, 209 pound, Beathard also had 82 rushing yards against the Volunteers on eight carries with Rudock picking up 22 on two carries.
On Wednesday the two-year starter was given a release from his scholarship at Iowa allowing the two-year starter to transfer to another school to finish out his collegiate career. Ferentz is allowing Rudock to transfer to any school of his choice without limiting his options to other Big Ten programs.
Ferentz spoke about Rudock transferring stating, “He’s exploring some other options at this point, with our support. Not our encouragement but certainly our support.” Ferentz added, “The bottom line is, I want him (Rudock) to be happy about his opportunities in front of him. If Jake’s heart is not totally here, it’s probably best that he does go somewhere else.”
With Rudock gone the Hawkeyes are very inexperienced under center. Beathard is the only other quarterback on the Iowa roster that has attempted a collegiate pass. The remaining quarterbacks battling for the No. 2 spot include redshirt sophomore Tyler Wiegers and junior quarterback Justin Joyce.
Iowa opens their 2015 season in Iowa City against Illinois State on September 5. The following week the Hawkeyes travel to Ames to face in-state rival Iowa State.
Written by Ryan Wright
Photo credit: bleacherreport.com; No. 12 Jake Rudock drops back to pass for the Hawkeyes.