Brown's Past and Present
Brown was a 3-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class according to the 247Sports Composite. He initially committed to Liberty but followed head coach Hugh Freeze when he moved to Auburn. In his first season with the Tigers, he played in just one game, allowing him to maintain his redshirt status. He now comes to Iowa with three seasons of eligibility remaining and is listed at 6-foot-4 and 208 pounds.One of the first-year offensive coordinator Tim Lester's notable aspects is his extensive experience with quarterbacks. Lester was a prolific passer himself at Western Michigan and has mentored the position throughout his coaching career. However, Iowa's quarterback development has faced significant challenges in recent history. Since Nate Stanley's departure, the Hawkeyes' quarterback play has not reached the required level.
This season, quarterback play was arguably the biggest hindrance to Iowa's offense. Under Lester, the team made progress mainly due to running back Kaleb Johnson and the offensive line. Despite injuries, the passing game struggled. Lester himself admitted in November that the passing game was "not up to par" and "terrible," indicating that there is a long way to go in improving the position.
Brown's Career Highlights
The best game of Brown's career came against New Mexico this season. He completed 17 out of 25 passes for 235 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions in the 45-19 victory. But in his very next game, his second career start at Auburn, he threw three interceptions in the first half. This shows both his potential and the areas that need further development.Brown may not be the most flashy or experienced transfer portal addition, but he holds long-term potential. He gives Iowa depth at a position that is experiencing attrition. The Hawkeyes started three quarterbacks in 2024 and are now facing another situation at the position. Cade McNamara and Marco Lainez have entered the transfer portal, and Iowa also moved quarterback prospect James Resar to receiver. Currently, Iowa is likely to have just two players with quarterback as their primary position available for the upcoming Music City Bowl against Missouri - Brendan Sullivan and Jackson Stratton. Sullivan is the only scholarship quarterback left.
Iowa signed a pair of quarterbacks in its 2025 recruiting class - Jimmy Sullivan and Ryan Fitzgerald (preferred walk-on). Brendan Sullivan could still be a viable option to get Iowa's quarterback play on the right track, but the Hawkeyes didn't stop there and brought in Hank Brown to add more depth and potential.
Building a Foundation
Lester is laying a foundation in the quarterback room. With at least three quarterbacks on next season's roster having starting experience, including Brendan Sullivan who has started multiple games in the last three seasons, and Stratton and Brown with some starting experience this season, there is hope for improvement. The question now is whether Lester can build on this foundation and make it even better.