The internet rumors on Iowa’s quarterback attrition appear to be true, as backup signal-caller Tyler Wiegers announced today he’s heading to Ypsilanti, MI., to play for Eastern Michigan.
Football Announces Addition of Tyler Wiegers as Graduate Transfer #EMUFB #EMUEagles pic.twitter.com/5WsZdfdsS6
— EMU Athletics (@EMUAthletics) January 3, 2018
Wiegers is a graduate transfer, so he’s eligible to play immediately.
Wiegers had an interesting career as a Hawkeye. A member of Iowa’s 2014 recruiting class, the table seemed to be set for him to take over following C.J. Beathard in 2017.
He didn’t even win the backup QB battle in 2016, when true freshman Nate Stanley went in while Beathard got injured. This past offseason was an alleged deadlocked QB competition until the Wyoming game, according to the coaching staff, but that likely was just a canned response.
Stanley dazzled this year as a sophomore, leaving no room for Wiegers on the depth chart for his senior season.
Wiegers, a 3-star recruit from Detroit, attempted just 9 passes in three years for Iowa. He didn’t accumulate any stats in 2016. He threw for a touchdown this year against Illinois, the only score of his career.
Wiegers started classes at Eastern Michigan today, I believe. Also worth mentioning that he didn't have to stay with Iowa through the bowl game, but did in case anything happened to Stanley.
— Blair Sanderson (@BlairRIVALS) January 3, 2018
Eastern Michigan has been decent under former Drake coach under Chris Creighton. The Eagles went 4-4 in the MAC in 2016, earning a bid to the Bahamas Bowl, but failed to reach the postseason in 2017.
We wish Wiegers the best of luck on his college football journey. He very well could have been Iowa’s quarterback this year; unfortunately for him a generational talent came along to put those plans on pause.
In addition to Stanley, Iowa boasts sophomore Peyton Mansell, junior Ryan Schmidt, and incoming freshman Spencer Petras in its quarterback corral.