Iowa football QB Jeremy Hecklinski drawing Drew Tate comparisons

The longer spring ball goes on for the Iowa Hawkeyes, the more rumblings are coming out about quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski. Teammates are applauding Hecklinski’s confidence and ability to attack defense with downfield throws.

The swagger and moxie Hecklisnki carries himself with is reminiscent of a former Iowa star, Drew Tate, who Hecklisnki is already beginning to draw comparisons to with his gunslinger mentality. With the media, head coach Kirk Ferentz talked about those comparisons.

“Yeah, there’s no position more challenging, probably, than playing quarterback, mainly because they have their hands on the ball every play. So a lot of responsibility with that.

“I’m always reluctant or hesitant sometimes to throw out the terms of comparing a guy to a former player. But there are some parallels, personality-wise there, and just the way he plays the game. And then also the gunslinger term can connote recklessness or whatever. And I’m not trying to suggest that.

“But he’s not afraid to throw it and throw it in there. And part of that, though, is knowing when and how. And as things change, game circumstances, all that kind of stuff, transition to another guy.

“C.J. Beathard had a good feel for that. He’d try to throw it in some tight windows, but he knew when to do it. And when he did it, he usually was confident he could do it. I think part of that’s learned a little bit. Not that I’m a quarterback expert, but I think part of that’s learned and there’s a time to do it.

“That all being said, yeah, Jeremy’s got a good attitude. And he and Hank are different players in terms of statistically but also personality-wise. I think if you learn one thing in football — whether it’s pro, college, it doesn’t matter — there’s no set way to do things. It’s about playing within yourself, who you are, and maximizing what it is that you bring to the game and both those guys are working really hard at it,” Ferentz said of Jeremy Hecklinski.

As Iowa is just in spring ball, and has the entirety of summer plus fall camp, there has been no decision as to who will be the starting quarterback between Jeremy Hecklinski or Hank Brown, as both are splitting reps during spring ball, something Kirk Ferentz confirmed with the media.

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire : Iowa football QB Jeremy Hecklinski drawing Drew Tate comparisons