University of Iowa Hawkeye quarterback Cade McNamara has been named the Celebrity Grand Marshal for the 2024 Solon Beef Days.
McNamara grew up in Reno, Nevada and graduated from Damonte Ranch High School in Reno where he passed for 12,804 yards and 146 touchdown passes to set state records. McNamara was also named the Gatorade Player of the Year for Nevada in 2017 and 2018. His college career began at Michigan in 2019 and in 2021 he earned All-Big Ten honors while clinching a BIG Ten Championship (in a 42-3 win over Iowa). He was named team captain in 2022 and transferred to the University of Iowa last year. The son of Gary and Nicole McNamara (of Tucson, Arizona), he has two younger brothers (Kyle and Jake) who are both student athletes at New Mexico State.
“My favorite Beef Days tradition is the Hay Bale Toss,” he said. “Specifically in 2023 watching (teammate) Gennings Dunker break the all-time record!”