Iowa Football: Top 10 Quarterbacks of All Time

No. 2 – Brad Banks

It’s really sad that we only got to see one full year of Brad Banks, and that was back in 2002.  Banks threw for 2,573 yards, 26 touchdowns, and just five interceptions.  He also ran for 423 yards and five touchdowns.  Leading Iowa to an 11-2 mark and an Orange Bowl berth was enough to net Banks AP Offensive Player of the Year.  He finished first in the Big Ten in passing yards per attempt, pass touchdowns, passing efficiency rating, total yards, and total touchdowns.  He dominated the Big Ten.

Just in case you were too young, like I nearly was, or you forgot what Banks looked like on the gridiron, we have this for you:

This video was put out to promote Banks’ Heisman trophy campaign, but he would later get second in the voting to USC’s Carson Palmer.  Many people feel Banks was robbed of the award, but if you look at Palmer’s numbers that year, they were pretty damn good too.

To go along with his AP Offensve PoY award, Banks was also named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, and won the Davey O’Brien Trophy, which goes to the best quarterback in the nation.  That last award going to Banks is why people feel he should’ve won the Heisman trophy.  So, he’s the best quarterback in the nation, but loses the Heisman vote to another quarterback? Makes sense.

Banks and the Hawkeyes would eventually go on to lose to Palmer and the USC Trojans in the Orange Bowl that year by a score of 38-17.  Banks was 15-36 for 204 yards and a touchdown in the game.

Banks finished his Hawkeye career with 3,155 yards passing, 30 passing touchdowns, and just seven interceptions.  He also ran for 574 yards and seven rushing touchdowns.

Banksy would’ve been my number one, but this next guy had a pretty decent career in a Hawkeye uniform.

Next: Number 1