Iowa defensive end Drew Ott took a pass when asked Wednesday about the leadership qualities of quarterback Jake Rudock, who's leaving the Hawkeyes for Michigan this offseason.

"I don't know," the senior defensive end said on the Big Ten's spring teleconference of coaches and players. "You'd have to ask someone else."

Ott, actually, might have a good idea as a teammate to Rudock for the past three seasons. The Hawkeyes' top returning defensive lineman, Ott wasn't in much of a mood, though, to heap praise on Rudock, offering short answers to two reporters from Michigan who inquired about the QB.

Rudock started 25 games at Iowa over the past two seasons. He was demoted in January behind C.J. Beathard and opted to transfer for his final season.

"I thought he'd have a little more fight in him," Ott said when asked if he was surprised at Rudock's choice. "I guess maybe an opportunity arised over there at Michigan. I don't know too much about it."

Rudock, as a graduating student at Iowa this spring, will be eligible immediately in Ann Arbor and figures to contend for the starting job in August on coach Jim Harbaugh's first team at the school.

He threw for nearly 5,000 yards and 34 touchdowns at Iowa.

Ott, when pressed about Rudock, described him as "smart" and said the quarterback would "run the offense and know what to do."

Iowa and Michigan are not scheduled to play in 2015.