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North Dakota transfer Cade Borud discusses decision to commit to Iowa
Iowa’s reputation for producing NFL offensive linemen among factors to sway Borud during transfer portal recruitment
John Steppe
Apr. 23, 2024 4:43 pm, Updated: Apr. 23, 2024 5:06 pm
IOWA CITY — Growing up in the Des Moines area, Cade Borud might wear an Iowa shirt, but it would be “underneath my Iowa State shirt.”
“Both my parents are alums from Iowa State, but I kind of secretly was a Hawkeye fan behind their back,” Borud said.
Borud’s fondness for the Hawkeyes is anything but a secret now after the 6-foot-2 offensive lineman committed there via the transfer portal over the weekend after playing two seasons at North Dakota.
Borud — who chose North Dakota over other FCS offers such as South Dakota State, Western Illinois and Southeast Missouri State as a recruit from Southeast Polk High School — started 12 games at center as a redshirt freshman last year.
He had a pass blocking efficiency of 98.6 in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus, which was higher than any Hawkeye with 20-plus pass-blocking snaps last year.
Borud’s addition gives Iowa more depth at center, where its top two options (Logan Jones and Tyler Elsbury) are centers. He also could free up Elsbury to compete for an opportunity at guard.
The opportunity to learn from head coach Kirk Ferentz — his reputation for developing offensive linemen is obvious, with 19 drafted since 2003 — is “a huge reason why I ended up making this decision,” Borud said.
“They’ve sent a lot of dudes like myself on the offensive line to the league and developing them well, too. They still develop as a good human and, obviously, a hell of a football player.”
The former Southeast Polk standout’s portal recruitment was a fast one.
Borud entered the portal on the morning of April 16 and my “phone was blowing up.” Major-conference teams such as UCF, South Carolina and Utah reached out.
Borud was “waiting for that one,” though. Then came the one — Borud’s beloved home-state Hawkeyes — as football recruiting director Tyler Barnes called on Wednesday morning.
Borud visited Iowa on April 20 and saw the Hawkeyes’ spring open practice at Kinnick Stadium. He had a chance to catch up with current Hawkeye and former Southeast Polk teammate Xavier Nwankpa, which helped to “educate myself a little bit more on the program.”
“It was a great environment,” Borud said. “The coaching staff, all the staff they have around that place, they give off a really good vibe.”
The highlight of the day seemed to be his time with Ferentz.
“Getting to talk with him for about 25, 30 minutes in his office was pretty spectacular,” Borud said.
Borud will not be taking up a scholarship spot, which is quite the bonus for the Hawkeyes considering they are (after Tuesday’s departures) two spots over the scholarship limit.
The staff was “upfront” about the tight scholarship situation, Borud said.
“I appreciate them being honest with me,” said Borud, who was under scholarship at North Dakota. “So after that phone call, I had a 20-minute conversation with my parents and came to the conclusion that’s what I wanted to do.”
Now, his Cyclone-rooted parents are becoming Hawkeye people.
“They already stopped at the Black and Gold Shop,” Borud said.
Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com
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