Head coach Kirk Ferentz makes announcement through UI Department of Athletics' Twitter account
Friday, August 23, 2013
Written by: Aaron Blau

When the University of Iowa football team takes the field for the first time this season on Aug. 31 against Northern Illinois, sophomore Jake Rudock will be under center for the Hawkeyes.

Jake Rudock throwing a pass during practice.
Sophomore Jake Rudock (No. 15) has been named the starting quarterback for Iowa's season-opener against Northern Illinois. Photo by Darren Miller.

Head coach Kirk Ferentz made the announcement through the UI Department of Athletics’ Twitter account (@TheIowaHawkeyes) on Friday. Three quarterbacks—Rudock, redshirt freshman C.J. Beathard, and junior Cody Sokol—had been battling to earn the starting job since spring practice.

“We plan to start Jake in our season opener, and we are all confident he will do a quality job” Ferentz said via@TheIowaHawkeyes. “All 3 returning QBs have competed well and improved in each phase of our preseason camp.”

Rudock is from Weston, Fla. and attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School. He was a coveted recruit out of high school, setting numerous school records and earning multiple awards, including the Old Spice USA Player of the Year by USA Today and Offensive Player of the Year by the Miami Herald.

Rudock redshirted in 2011 and did not see any action last season.