Honestly, if you follow Big Ten football or keep an eye on the transfer portal, you’ve definitely heard the name Brendan Sullivan. Most people know him as the guy who jumped from Northwestern to Iowa and then eventually landed at Tulane. But to really understand why coaches like Tim Lester or Sherrone Moore keep calling him, you have to look back at what happened with Brendan Sullivan at the high school level.
He wasn't just some random recruit from Michigan.
Sullivan was the engine behind a Davison High School program that basically took over the state for a couple of years. He finished his high school career with a 21-2 record as a starter. That’s not a typo. Two losses in two years of elite Michigan 6A/Division 1 football. It’s the kind of winning pedigree that scouts obsess over because it suggests a kid knows how to handle pressure before he even steps onto a college campus.
The Davison Dynasty: Brendan Sullivan High School Legend
Growing up in Davison, Michigan, Sullivan wasn't always the "guy." Interestingly enough, his MaxPreps profile from his younger years shows him playing various positions, including wide receiver. He even played nose guard in middle school! Can you imagine a 6’4” Big Ten quarterback lining up at nose guard?
By the time he hit his stride as a junior and senior, he had transformed into a 6’3”, 210-pound dual-threat weapon.
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His junior year (2019) was the stuff of local legend. He led the Davison Cardinals to a Michigan Division 1 State Championship, capped off by a dominant performance at Ford Field. In that title game, Sullivan went 14-of-19 for 290 yards and a touchdown. It wasn't just about the stats, though. It was the way he commanded the field. He finished his high school career with 3,044 passing yards and 33 touchdowns.
What the Scouts Saw (And What They Missed)
Recruiting is a weird business. For a long time, Sullivan was mostly a MAC (Mid-American Conference) target. Schools like Toledo, Buffalo, and Western Michigan were all over him. In fact, Tim Lester—who would later become the Iowa offensive coordinator—was the head coach at Western Michigan at the time and was one of the first guys to really push for him.
Sullivan was a three-star recruit. He was ranked as the No. 23 player in Michigan and the No. 28 pro-style quarterback in the country by some outlets.
But here’s the thing:
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- He was an Academic All-State athlete in three sports: football, basketball, and track.
- He had a 10 out of 5 "strength" rating on some scouting reports (which is basically scout-speak for "this kid is a tank").
- He was a Player of the Year finalist in Michigan.
Northwestern eventually came calling in June 2020. He committed early and stayed firm, even when other Power Five schools started sniffing around later in the cycle.
The Dual-Threat Reality
If you watched Brendan Sullivan at high school, you knew he wasn't a "statue" quarterback. While he was labeled "pro-style," his ability to tuck the ball and run was always there. This eventually became his calling card in college. At Iowa, for instance, he became a red-zone specialist because of his legs.
During his senior year at Davison, he helped the Cardinals to an 11-1 record. Their only loss that year? A heartbreaker in the playoffs. But the foundation was set. He was a winner.
Beyond the Field: The Academic Profile
It’s kinda rare to find a quarterback who is as decorated in the classroom as he is on the turf. Sullivan wasn't just a "football guy." He was an honor roll student who prioritized his grades just as much as his completion percentage. This academic discipline is likely why he was such a good fit for a school like Northwestern initially.
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It’s also why he’s been able to navigate the complexity of multiple offensive systems as a graduate transfer.
Why His High School Career Matters Now
When you look at Brendan Sullivan today, playing in the American Athletic Conference for Tulane or reflecting on his time in the Big Ten, you see the same traits he showed at Davison. He’s efficient. He doesn't turn the ball over much (only 8 interceptions in over 240 college attempts through 2024). He’s a "hustle" guy—literally winning the Team Hustle Award at Iowa.
Most people get wrong that he’s just a "backup" or a "portal traveler."
In reality, he’s a championship-winning quarterback who has consistently performed when given the keys. The poise he showed at Ford Field in 2019 is the same poise he showed leading Iowa to 79 points in his first two extended appearances under center.
Actionable Insights for Recruits and Fans
- Multisport Participation: Sullivan’s background in track and basketball made him a more fluid athlete. If you’re a high schooler, don’t specialize too early.
- Winning Matters: College coaches value a "21-2" record more than they value 5,000 passing yards on a losing team.
- Academic Leverage: Being an Academic All-State selection opened doors at Northwestern that might have been closed to a player with lower grades.
- Film Evaluation: If you go back and watch his Davison tape, look at his "off-platform" throws. He was doing the "modern QB" stuff before it was a buzzword.
To see how Brendan's game has evolved since his days in Davison, you can check out his latest stats and highlights on the Tulane Athletics or ESPN player profiles. Keeping an eye on his red-zone efficiency is usually the best way to see his high school dual-threat roots in action.