New Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara named to 2023 Maxwell Award 'watch list'

University of Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara has been named to the 2023 Maxwell Award "watch list" before he's even taken a snap for the Hawkeyes. McNamara, a transfer from Michigan, was included on the Maxwell Football Club's preseason list of 85 candidates for most outstanding college football player. This season's watch list, released Monday, has 11 players from the Big Ten on it, including McNamara. The Reno, Nevada, native has two years of eligibility remaining. The Hawkeyes open this season on Sept. 2 at home against Utah State. The Maxwell Award has been given to the most outstanding player in college football since 1937. Two Hawkeyes have won the award — Chuck Long in 1985 and Nile Kinnick in 1939. McNamara was a third-team all-Big Ten pick in 2021 when he started all 14 games for the Wolverines and guided them to a conference title. He completed 210-of-327 passes for 2,576 yards that season, with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. He lost the starting job to J.J. McCarthy after the 2022 season opener. McNamara appeared in the second and third games last season, taking a total of 16 snaps, and didn’t play again after he injured his knee.He was 13-3 at Michigan as a starter. Information from the Associated Press was used in this article.