trj
Well-Known Member
My money is on Hecklinski being the starter in 2026 as well.
4-star QB decommits from Boise State after Iowa football visit
- Thread starter HawkeyeHypnosis
- Start date
My money is on Hecklinski being the starter in 2026 as well.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
DieHard, I agree with you on this take. And, I don't think you need to go as far for a comparison. The kid has a chance to be the next Drew Tate. Undersized, moxy, gun slinger.
Fry, I get your point on NFL QBs not being undersized with a few exceptions, like Drew Brees. But, Iowa has had what, 3 late round QB draft picks during the KF era? This despite running a pro style offense. KF is too conservative on offense to attract an NFL caliber QB. So, we gotta find flawed guys that overachieve. MG is NFL size, but he cannot throw real straight. Drew Tate was one of the most accurate passers Iowa has ever had, but he was 3 inches too short. Banks was under recruited and had a below average arm, but he just made plays at the college level (with the greatest OL and TE in school history). My point is that we have to target flawed QBs who can overcome their weaknesses. I don't much care if the weakness is size. I just want a playmaker back there. Heck seems to be that.
I think Hecklinski will win the job. Just based on what Lester has said about him, he seems pretty high on him. But he always says Brown is close though.
As for Brown transferring, he will have to decide in January as that is the only open time for the transfer portal now. So it gets a little more interesting because he will not get to go through spring practice to see if he can win the job. The bowl preparation time is probably when the coaches will evaluate and let both Heck and Brown know where they stand. I wouldn't rule out Brown transferring out of course but I could see him staying too. Maybe they are close and Lester convinces him to stick it out through spring practice.
As for Brown transferring, he will have to decide in January as that is the only open time for the transfer portal now. So it gets a little more interesting because he will not get to go through spring practice to see if he can win the job. The bowl preparation time is probably when the coaches will evaluate and let both Heck and Brown know where they stand. I wouldn't rule out Brown transferring out of course but I could see him staying too. Maybe they are close and Lester convinces him to stick it out through spring practice.
Fryowa
Administrator
I just think KF and TL are smart enough to know that when the portal opens they have to go look. Wouldn't be doing their homework if they didn't, it's just the way of the world now that if you find a gem like MG available you have to try and snap him up before someone else does. That's why if there's one available who has game experience we're going to see one get signed.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
Of course they will look. And if another Gron is available and wants to come to Iowa, of course you pull that trigger. But, as we have seen all to well, high profile transfer QBs are as big a crap shoot as anything else. A kid from Michigan with a Big10 Title under his belt flopped, while a lightly recruited transfer from SDSU is flourishing. So, we certainly cannot count on finding something better in the portal. So, with what we have coming back, I am putting my money on Heck. Brown just seems to be okay at everything, and not a playmaker. We have seen enough of the 6'4 kid with a good arm that doesn't move real well. No thanks. We win that Indiana game if he doesn't short arm that fucking screen pass.....
No insight on this at all but I've always had the hunch that he will end up on the defensive side of the ball. Linebacker or safety. Too smart and too good of an athlete and he won't end up seeing the field at QB.
I think you're right. I've never heard Iowa coaches rave about a Fr QB like they have Heck. (Other than Chuck Long, of course -- yes, I'm that old!) Players are saying Heck is 'surprising' and has the 'it' factor. Lester talked about his quick release and not having the need to have his feet set perfectly to make an accurate throw -- which every QB guru knows is the most important trait in a good QB.
You can almost hear the excitement in Lester's voice when he talks about Heck. I think he's already salivating at what he'll be able to do with Heck as a 3 yr starter beginning next season. I just hope they tailor Iowa's offense to his height -- move the pocket, get him on the move -- so he's not always sitting behind 6'5" Olinemen.
No idea if Hecklinski is the real deal, but regarding QB height, here is the distribution of heights for the NCAA QB among the top 50 in QBR:
The most common QB heights are 6'2" - 6'3"...you are much more likely to find a successful QB who is under 6'2" (18 instances among the top 50) than you are to find one who is greater than 6'3" (5 instances). That just stands to reason, there are a lot more people walking around who are under 6'2" than are 6'4"+...what are the odds you find someone who is both 99th percentile height AND has all of the necessary attributes to be a DI signal-caller? Tiny Venn diagram, there.
Regarding the last 2 NFL drafts, for the 22 QBs I could find combine info on, the median height was 6' 2.25", and 7 QBs were 6'2" and under, with 15 being over 6'2".
Hecklinski is listed as 5'11", so he would be a pretty extreme outlier to find success as a P5 QB, but not without precedent (Bryce Young and Kyler Murray are both under 6 feet). Currently, Utah, FSU, Washington, and Arizona have QBs who are under 6 feet.
The most common QB heights are 6'2" - 6'3"...you are much more likely to find a successful QB who is under 6'2" (18 instances among the top 50) than you are to find one who is greater than 6'3" (5 instances). That just stands to reason, there are a lot more people walking around who are under 6'2" than are 6'4"+...what are the odds you find someone who is both 99th percentile height AND has all of the necessary attributes to be a DI signal-caller? Tiny Venn diagram, there.
Regarding the last 2 NFL drafts, for the 22 QBs I could find combine info on, the median height was 6' 2.25", and 7 QBs were 6'2" and under, with 15 being over 6'2".
Hecklinski is listed as 5'11", so he would be a pretty extreme outlier to find success as a P5 QB, but not without precedent (Bryce Young and Kyler Murray are both under 6 feet). Currently, Utah, FSU, Washington, and Arizona have QBs who are under 6 feet.
HawkPowerlifter
Well-Known Member
I think it seems that in Lester's schemes, having a mobile quarterback is very beneficial. Hecklinski seems to have that ability and from what it seems, he's a bit of a gunslinger too. Maybe a bit like Drew Tate? I'm guessing he arm slotting will be important. Dylan Gabriel seemed to have measured success at least at the college level.
I like the idea of having someone to extend plays and potentially take off on a broken play or when receivers are not able to get in space. Knowing that we lose 3? O linemen to graduation, it could be a year where this might even be more beneficial.
I hope we have a "next man in" ability and we can continue to make our line on both sides a staple to our future.
I like the idea of having someone to extend plays and potentially take off on a broken play or when receivers are not able to get in space. Knowing that we lose 3? O linemen to graduation, it could be a year where this might even be more beneficial.
I hope we have a "next man in" ability and we can continue to make our line on both sides a staple to our future.
