Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - FUTURE QB? Iowa LANDS a Quarterback for the Class of 2027 - What Does QB Look Like Going Forward?

Starting point is 00:00:00 Big news in Iowa City, Braden Santee Baines is in. Suddenly the future and quarterback for the Hawkeyes. Just got a whole lot more interesting. Is Iowa looking at something new going forward at the quarterback position? You are Locked on Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey, welcome in. I'm Trent Condon, and this is the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast.

Starting point is 00:00:33 your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. We're going to talk a little bit about the upcoming NBA draft. Bennett Sturts where he looks to go and the projections that are out there for him, a medical retirement for the Iowa football team and a guy that came in with a lot of intrigue, not going to happen for him. Injuries, unfortunately, have hit Tegan Davis. And, of course, we're going to talk a lot about the quarterback position, both for the here and now and towards the future as we look at the latest commitment.

Starting point is 00:01:00 And that's where our conversation begins today as Iowa's, got their quarterback for the class of 2007. It is Braden Santee Bayones, who makes his commitment, young man from Tennessee, that will be the quarterback for the class of 2027. We have seen

Starting point is 00:01:17 that this is something I think Iowa wants to do. We know the market for quarterbacks in the transfer portal. It can be incredibly fruitful. And as you look through the college football playoff a year ago, you certainly see some of the names that were out there. Carson Beck, obviously leading his team

Starting point is 00:01:33 for Miami after a disappointing career at Georgia to the national championship game. And of course, what Mendoza did at Indiana, those are certainly at the forefront of the conversation. But in Iowa City, it has been various levels here in the early going of the transfer portal. The disappointment of Cade McNamara and the way that his two-year run in Iowa City certainly went left some disappointment for a lot of Hawkeye fans. Last year, Mark Grinowski maybe never got to the highest of levels throwing the football.

Starting point is 00:02:03 But boy, what a competitor and what a runner he was in his one season in Iowa City. And you just wonder, you had a little bit more time coming off that injury, how different maybe it could have looked. But that aside, Iowa continues to do work at the high school level. Now, I'm sure there's going to be years and opportunities that I was going to look to invest in the transfer portal market, but it's an incredibly expensive one. And the high end of that position, talking about Brendan Sorsby, though he's got his own set of circumstances. right now that he is dealing with with Texas Tech and the gambling as he has gone into rehab for that, you're talking $5 million. And for some programs, that's not a big deal.

Starting point is 00:02:43 If you got Cody Campbell money, that is just year after year after year investing inside the program. Obviously, that is a different conversation than what's happening in Iowa City. Not that Iowa is cash poor for the football program and the athletic department. They're still in very good shape. But those upper levels and getting those type of quarterbacks, that is waters that It doesn't appear that Iowa certainly wants to swim in at this point in time. So it's going to be about development.

Starting point is 00:03:09 And with Santi Bayanez, this is a kid that is definitely a developmental pick. This is a guy that went to one of the regional elite 11 camps. One thing that jumped out is his athleticism. And it's something that we've talked about plenty here on lockdown Hawkeyes about getting that athletic quarterback, somebody that is the true dual threat. Dual threat and could do a couple of different things, not just throwing the ball, but not being that statuess guy in the pocket, somebody that can make plays with his feet.

Starting point is 00:03:39 And it started a couple of years ago when we saw Brennan Sullivan and what he was able to do. He was some of the other limitations that he had, having that guy that could run it. And of course, Gronowski took it to yet another level with his legs a year ago. And Santay Banez has that kind of ability. Now, he also was splitting time as a junior. He was not even the full-time quarterback for his high school team. 6-3, 205 pounds mentioned very good numbers coming out of his 40 time, his top in speed at that elite 11, a regional camp, I believe that was down in New Orleans, if memory serves me.

Starting point is 00:04:13 Maryland, K-State, North Carolina, those were amongst the finalists for his services. So other programs obviously saw some things as well. As a junior, Santa Bioness completed 67% of his passes, 1,661 yards, 18 touchdowns overall. he is a guy that most definitely is going to be developmental though. But when you're splitting time at high school, I believe the other quarterback is not even going on to play collegiate football. That says he something. But a skill set that you can build on.

Starting point is 00:04:43 And that's what you're looking to do. Reading through some of the scouting reports and watching a little bit of the tape on him too, I think that's something that definitely jump. This isn't anything close to a finished product. This is a guy that is going to need time, going to need development before he's going to be part of the conversation, and certainly in Iowa City. You couple that with obviously what is happening on the current form.

Starting point is 00:05:04 You have a guy with junior eligibility and Hank Brown. You got another one that'll be with Jeremy Hedklinsky with him, battling for that job at the top. That's going to be a sophomore. So you have two guys, obviously, that have in front of them still a lot of football and a couple of years of eligibility at minimum two, three years between those two guys. And that definitely also changes the perspective and the plane of the way that this is going to go. We've talked about it a ton.

Starting point is 00:05:28 you can go back and hear my thoughts, obviously at the quarterback spot. I think Hank Brown, if there was a gap there, definitely closed it during spring football, what we saw on the open practice Saturday and just the type of quarterback that he is. But Heklinski, with his mobility, his ability to move and escape inside the pocket. That gets me a little bit more excited even with his shorter stature, not your traditional quarterback, certainly. I'm still into Heklinski camp, but I don't get the choice. Kirk Farrants does, and I just have that feeling that Hank Brown very well could be

Starting point is 00:05:58 that guy. Look, we got a long summer in front of us and we'll be tackling this at all angles, anything that I hear. I'll definitely be passing along to you each and every day. Why, it's important to hit subscribe if you're watching on YouTube or give us a five-star review and hit subscribe on the podcast side. All that definitely helps us out. Back to the quarterback spot. And, you know, I found it interesting too is there's a lot of people talking about the incoming freshman for this season that's coming in for the class of 2026. And that is Trayden Bessinger. You know, Bessinger is a guy. You look at the accolades, they're very good.

Starting point is 00:06:30 He is a four-star from a couple of the recruiting services. When you're talking about a pure passer, is a guy that definitely pops on that right, but he's going to take a lot of time. I see some of the things on film that I look at, and I definitely see a guy that is going to take more time getting up to the speed that he's going to be playing with. I think that's something that is definitely going to stand out

Starting point is 00:06:53 coming from Utah High School football and jumping in to this situation. Now, the numbers are ridiculous. passing her over 1100 yards in his career, 11,000 yards in his career, passing 127 touchdowns in his career. But also remember, he wasn't here for spring practice. And though Jimmy Sullivan was the year previous, that is not the case here already behind the eight ball. Yes, we have seen true freshmen that have gone up there and become the number two quarterback going all the way back to Drew Tate. He did that. And maybe unfortunately, because there was not the four-game redshirt rule at that time.

Starting point is 00:07:28 And it would have been great to have another year of Drew Tate back behind center. We also saw the same thing with Nate Stanley. And think about having another season with Nate Stanley, even with the inconsistency at times and the frustration. Another year of him at the helm very well could have been a completely different season way back in 2020 if he would have come back for another year. Bessinger, though, not being in for spring football with what they already have. Obviously, feels like it very much a two-headed race.

Starting point is 00:07:55 I do not anticipate we are going to see him on the depth. chart. I don't believe that he's going to get into the top three right away by the time we get through August camp. Is that something that could happen during the fall camp, though, and during the season as it's playing out? I think that's a more realistic option. I do not see him as a guy that is going to come in and suddenly unseat one of the two, Hecklinski or Hank Brown, and with it at minimum become a backup. I just find that incredibly hard to envision the development time, what it's going to take. And some of the throws that he made, the time that he had in the pocket, those kind of things.

Starting point is 00:08:29 It's just a completely different ball game. The speed of the game, I think, is going to be the biggest issue early on for Bessinger, and why I don't believe he's going to be any part of the mix here for 2026. Back once again to Sentebias, and he is, talk about the athleticism. That's definitely big, and a big part of it, the ratings as well. So if you're thinking about another guy, oh, can he come in and push for playing time early on, back to the development apart? That's what this is.

Starting point is 00:08:59 He's ranked the number 151, the number 51 quarterback at rivals. 24-7 sports has him ranked number 73 out of quarterbacks. And I think that shows you what this is going to be. Kind of, I don't want to call it, throwing a dart up and hoping for the best. But this is one where you're going to have to put in the time. Can you take that athleticism? He's also very good changing arm angles when he throws. And that's something that he's done really good.

Starting point is 00:09:24 It's something that popped out in one of the scottery reports that I was reading from the elite 11. But overall, I was got their quarterback for the class of 27, and they continue to build up that room and getting back to the point that Tim Lester, the offensive coordinator wants. He said he loves to have six quarterbacks in the room. Boy, in this environment, that seems like a lot in the here now, that's what he's going to have as long as everybody sticks around. That might also be just a little bit far-fledged. The future of the quarterback position. We got more football coming up here for you on lockdown Hawkeyes, including a sad story, a medical retirement from the game.

Starting point is 00:10:00 We'll talk about that next as we continue. Stay right there. This is Locked-on Hawkeyes. Workplace chaos. Deadline stacking up. Inbox overflowing in the one position, you have to still, Phil, is sitting open. When the pressure's on and you need the right hire,

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Starting point is 00:11:29 Sponsored jobs. Trent kind of back with you once again on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for being with us and making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. Some sad news from the Iowa football world as there has been another medical retirement. And of course, we've heard these stories throughout the years, guys that physically for whatever reason, either injuries that they sustain at the collegiate level, a lot of times these don't even happen in games. So it's not something that we have a memory of, but guys that just physically can't do it anymore. And the latest is Tegan Davis, who had an injury in high school. Pretty devastating one.

Starting point is 00:12:07 I believe it was on the track as maybe he's doing the triple jump, something like that. But regardless, really, really gruesome injury. Now, had the opportunity still to come to Iowa City, still had the chance to do it. And he's still a guy that is going to be able to complete his degree, go through all that part of it, and remain a scholarship athlete. But there are times where just physically it doesn't happen. And he was a fun prospect. Boy, if you saw him in high school and the way that he was able to run around and make

Starting point is 00:12:33 plays. He had some of those thoughts of another guy in the defensive backfield, another one of those building blocks that Phil Parker was going to be able to put together and do some good things. But the body physically just couldn't handle it. And that happens from time to time. Certainly wish the best for him. And, you know, for any of us, whatever level that you played at for me, being a terrible two-way athlete in the North Iowa conference or played collegially all the way through the pros, whatever it is. Maybe it ended in Little League, whatever, there's always that glimmering. What could have been, what might have been a different break here or there, different opportunity. Those kind of things I think always linger and really feel bad for these

Starting point is 00:13:10 guys. For so many of them, they know that this is going to be maybe the ultimate for them, being able to be an Iowa Hawkeye, being able to run out onto the field at Kinnick Stadium. But when your body just does not go along with it, just leaves that lingering doubt in your mind and whatever level that you play at. And hopefully that Tegan Davis can go on. and find some closure the way that his football career had to come to an end because of those injuries. You know, we're talking quarterbacks a little bit earlier. And something that I haven't talked about a whole lot is the new quarterback coach for the Hawkeyes. And we've heard so much about Tim Lester, what he's done, the development here in his first two years as the offensive coordinator,

Starting point is 00:13:54 bringing different elements to it. We've seen definitely a change in what they're doing in the running game and a whole lot more. some of the outside plays that they've done and it's just not inside outside zone. There's been more elements. We've seen some more traps. We've seen some different things that they've done inside the running game. And now the hope of the evolution of this offense and getting it back to at minimum a competent level that's something that has fallen short,

Starting point is 00:14:17 certainly in the passing game here during his first couple of years, though an improvement of what we saw a couple of times with the previous offensive coordinator is now there's another ability for them with another set of eyes that's going to help out because Tim Lester, not just was the offensive coordinator, he was also the quarterback coach. And with the change in rules and the way that you can now structure your coaching staff

Starting point is 00:14:39 in the NCAA, Iowa now has an ability to have a dedicated quarterback coach. So they went out and got Billy Vanek, who comes into just help out at the quarterback room. Tim Lester and him, long time friends, a lot of connections, a lot of coaching connections throughout the years. And it's somebody that Tim Lester mentioned during his press conference here.

Starting point is 00:14:58 What was that now? about a week and a half ago, that it's somebody that he respects and they see things very similar. And that's a good thing, where it's not just getting your own set of eyes, somebody that you can really trust to evaluate, to message,

Starting point is 00:15:13 to send the right messages to your quarterbacks and do those kind of things, I think is definitely a help. Offensive coordinator's got a lot to do. And it's not just when Saturday comes around and calling the plays. I mean, there is so much those little details that go into.

Starting point is 00:15:29 it and just giving him a little bit of space, giving him a little bit of rest. But I think definitely is going to go a long, long ways. And we talk about the future of this position at the quarterback and building things up. You got to get it going. The hope is that, obviously, the wide receivers are going to take a big step forward this year. And after the spring practice of Tony Diaz and even Evan James, though not at the level of Tony Diaz, you get excited for that. Can Reese Vandersi put it all together for a season?

Starting point is 00:15:56 The tight end room looks absolutely stacked this. season. And speaking of wide receiver, that is a position when I was going through my depth chart the other day and my post spring depth chart going into the off season. I just skipped over wide receiver. So we will do that on tomorrow's show. I promise you I will get to that. Bad work out of me. Come on. That happens from time to time as you're scrolling through your notes and trying to get to everything throughout the course of a show. But I'm back again to this passing game and what it can be. You know, we will see about the run game, really feel good about the running back room and what they have.

Starting point is 00:16:31 Molten coming back for another year. Obviously, Phillips coming in out of the portal, coupled with the depth that they have at the running back position. With this offensive line, though, and the new pieces that are going to be there, I think at minimum, they're going to be pretty solid against in-pass blocking, pass protection, those kind of things. It feels like that they have, obviously, a left tackle. That goes a long ways when you have a guy like Trevor Lauk.

Starting point is 00:16:54 He is going to be an absolute stud out there. People are at the center position and all the experience that he already has. in the course of his career. Leighton Jones, we've heard so many good things about him. And then over on the other side with Dotsler and whoever takes over at the right guard position, be it Michael Mislinski, Lucas Algeyer, somebody else, that I think past protection is going to be good, solid. What are they going to do in the run game?

Starting point is 00:17:18 Because if they can get back to what they had a couple of years ago with the dominant running game, that was also aided by an incredibly special talent, obviously, in Caleb Johnson. but with the depth of the running back room, what they can do up front with that blocking scheme? How much more is that going to open up the offense? And then in turn, what they can do in the passing game. One of those lingering things that come out of spring football. And is this the year that Iowa football actually takes that step forward?

Starting point is 00:17:47 Sometimes easier said than done, certainly in the passing game because we've seen a lot of bad ones throughout the years. Coming back, wrapping up on the other side, let's talk point guard. the point guard of this past season, Bennett starts where he's going to go in the NBA draft. We'll take a peek at that. Plus, what is the future of the point guard position, including what I was going to do this season in the backcourt? We'll do that as we continue.

Starting point is 00:18:11 Stay right there. This is Locked on Hawk Eyes. Back with you one final time on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for being with us and making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. If you are with us each and every day, we got something for you. It's called the Everydayer Club. This is a chance for you to listen to the show that you do every day already, but do it ad-free.

Starting point is 00:18:39 Go to Lockdownhawkeyes. Supercast.com. That's where you can sign up and help support what we're doing for you each and every day. Lockdownhawkeyes. Dot supercast.com along with your subscription and getting every episode ad-free. Also, you're going to get access to our Discord. Lockdown Hawkeyes Discord there, along with all the lockdown channels. You can jump in with any questions that you have, anything that is bandied about.

Starting point is 00:19:02 you can jump aboard and we can dive a little bit deeper into the Hawkeyes. One final time, locked on Hawkeyes. That supercast.com is where you can go and sign up for the Everydayer Club. Bennett Sturts is going to be selected at some point in the NBA draft. We know that. The anticipation is he's going to be a first round pick. And going through and taking a peek at the way that it is currently structured. So here's five mock drafts that are out there.

Starting point is 00:19:29 ESPNs has him going 21st overall. 17th to CBS Sports. A couple of different guys that they have at CBS Sports, and both of them have him going a 17th overall. NBA, excuse me, draft room has him also going 21st. Like that, that's what it is currently. Do wonder when he goes, gets measured, you know, what exactly his size is.

Starting point is 00:19:52 Is he going to be a true 6 foot 4? We always wonder about that part when they're measuring the guys. And so many times at the collegiate level, definitely the changes in the size. but definitely looks on the court every part of 6'4 and how different he's going to look at compared to the Iowa system, you know, an ability for things to be a little bit more free flowing in what they're looking to do. Ball dominant, of course, this past season. And, you know, it leads to Bennett Sturts and what this can do potentially for the future.

Starting point is 00:20:20 I was involved in a couple of huge prospects for the class of 2007 at the point card position. And that's something they definitely want to be able to tackle something that is incredibly important. and Ben McCollum is putting a ton of work in to get a top-level high school point guard to come in. Tyree Coleman comes in out of the Porter from Illinois State, really like him, him in the pick and roll game, excited about what that's going to look like, coupled with the veteran then in Kale Combs. And we really saw some good things in the back part of the season, maybe the back quarter of the year. Outta Coleman had that great game in Lincoln in the regular season finale when Iowa nearly nabbed a big-time victory in that one. had a couple of the bright spots throughout the course of the year.

Starting point is 00:21:01 We know what he can do on the defensive end of the floor too. We saw that definitely in the Ohio State game during the regular season there towards the end of the year and the way that he was absolutely able to lock up Bruce Thornton, one of the more talented scores in the Big Ten. He can do it with defense. Now more consistency in the three-point shot. That definitely is up there. If he can be a consistent shooter, 36, 37 percent, something like that from behind the arc,

Starting point is 00:21:27 tighten up the handles a little bit more. And also remember, I mean, if you've been watching throughout the course of the season, you saw how many times this was not just Bennett Sturts all the time with the basketball. There were so many times that Kale Combs initiated the offense this year and just having that veteran, a guy that's been in the battles, a guy that helped be part of a team that went to the elite eight. I think that's going to go a long way. And then him coupled with Coleman in the back court is going to be fun. If you're listed yesterday, you heard my radio partner, Ken Miller, I'll bring up, you know, who's going to be the more impactful player for now? next season between Tate Sage, who was great at the end of the year, and of course, what we saw out of Cooper Cotch.

Starting point is 00:22:06 And it's difficult. I thought it was an incredibly difficult schedule to question to answer because I think both of those guys still have more ascension. There's still going to be more building out of both of them and excited about both of their futures. I landed on Cooper Cotch. I want to see him off the bounce a little bit more, not going to be in the post a ton, but still just adding some more dimensions to his game.

Starting point is 00:22:27 what he was able to do yet I think Tate Sage is going to be great too where does he fit is he a guy that is your two guard a bunch is it going to be a lot more Coleman and Coleman and Colmes playing together in the back court

Starting point is 00:22:43 and that means Tate Sage when he's out there as more of a small forward type looking play it all and if he can defend it all even better love his link love his bounce love his toughness a lot to like about both of those guys and the future continues to be bright, certainly for Iowa basketball.

Starting point is 00:23:00 That'll do it for today. Thanks for being with us and making Lockdown Hawkeyes, your first listen every day. Coming up on tomorrow's show, Tom Kekert will join us from hawkeye report.com as we kick off the month of May with a conversation with Tom. We'll get his perspective, what he saw at the spring open practice over in Iowa City last weekend. We'll talk some basketball.

Starting point is 00:23:19 And we'll talk a little bit of recruiting coming up with Tom Kekert on tomorrow's program. Thanks for being with us once again, lockdown hawkeyes. dot supercast.com. You want to get each and every episode here of Lockdown Hawkeyes ad-free. That is a spot to go. Lockedon Hawkeyes. dot supercast.com.

Starting point is 00:23:36 We'll talk to you again tomorrow. Until then, go Hawks.

Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - FUTURE QB? Iowa LANDS a Quarterback for the Class of 2027 - What Does QB Look Like Going Forward?

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