On3 Sports was the first to report on Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras’ entry into the transfer portal on Monday.

Petras hasn’t played a minute this season due to a shoulder injury he sustained in the Nebraska game last season. Rather, he has worked as a temporary professional employee of the football team while recovering in Iowa City. Due to COVID-19, he only has one year left of eligibility. He registered on the portal as a graduate transfer.

Graduate transfers are able to enter their names at any time during the season, even though the first transfer portal cycle isn’t open to undergraduates until December 4.

The first transfer portal cycle is from December 4 to January 3, and there is a second one from May 1 to May 15.

Petras’s leadership skills both on and off the pitch have been praised by his teammates. After starting quarterback Cade McNamara suffered an injury on September 30, quarterback Deacon Hill took over the offence. Hill gave Petras credit for staying in touch with him during the season. He continued by saying that Petras has kept him composed.

Petras, a native of San Rafael, California, finished his five years with the Hawkeyes with 5,199 yards, 24 touchdowns, 19 interceptions, and a 56.7% completion percentage.

Petras faced harsh criticism during his time as the Hawkeyes’ under centre, but he was also a part of one of the most memorable games ever played at Kinnick Stadium: No. 3 Iowa’s 2021 victory over No. 4 Penn State. With roughly six minutes left, Petras found wide receiver Nico Ragaini for a 44-yard touchdown that gave the game the lead.

Yes, Friday is exciting, but isn’t it the most unexpected play call ever, with Nico Ragaini running a double-move corner route into which Spencer Petras drops a pass so perfectly to give Iowa the lead over Penn State and blow Kinnick Stadium away?

Prior to the season, McNamara transferred from Michigan, and after tearing his left ACL against Michigan State, he revealed on Twitter and Instagram in October that he will play for Iowa again the following year. Petras wants to go somewhere where he has a better chance of playing in his final year, which is thought to be a major factor in his transfer.

On October 3, head coach Kirk Ferentz stated that the goal is for McNamara to be completely recovered by fall camp the following year.