Ready to report: Marco Lainez
After an impressive prep career at The Hun School, quarterback Marco Lainez III is ready for the next chapter, which will take him to the University of Iowa this summer. We caught up with the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Lainez to discuss the upcoming move, his recent visit to spring practice, what he looks forward to in becoming a Hawkeye, and much more.
Q: Was was the experience like for you being at Iowa’s spring scrimmage now that you are so close to moving out there yourself?
LAINEZ: It was awesome. I can’t wait to get there. The team was very welcoming. It seems like we’ve got a lot of really talented guys and I can’t wait to suit up alongside them.
Q: Most of your recruiting class was there too right?
LAINEZ: Yeah, a bunch of them.
Q: Who are some of the guys you’ve gotten to know pretty well that you’re coming in with?
LAINEZ: I’m getting to know a lot of of them, but in particular John Nestor, Ayden Price, Ben Kueter, Leighton Jones, and Alex Mota. I’ve met them all recently and they’re all great guys. I can’t wait to surround myself with them because they’ll help me become a better player.
Q: What have you been up to since this fall? What do you do in the off-season?
LAINEZ: I’ve just been training a lot – throwing, running, and lifting. Then also just spending time with my family. This is the last time I’ll be able to see them for a little bit, so spending as much time as I can with them.
Q: When do you make the move out to Iowa?
LAINEZ: We report on June 11th.
Q: What is the feeling like as you sort of end one chapter and begin another?
LAINEZ: There’s definitely a lot of excitement and also a lot of gratitude towards this chapter of my life that I’m closing up because it made me who I am today. Now I’m looking forward to the next chapter and can’t wait to see how good I can become.
Q: Have you found out what number you are going to wear at Iowa?
LAINEZ: No, not yet.
Q: Any preference?
LAINEZ: It doesn’t matter. I’m just willing to do whatever it takes for the team.
Q: What are you coming in at height and weight wise your freshman year?
LAINEZ: Right now, I’m around 220 pounds and I’m 6-3.
Q: When you look back at the whole recruiting process with Iowa, a lot of changed in the quarterback room since you committed your junior year with a new position coach and new transfers in there. What’s it like visiting now versus the first time you were there?
LAINEZ: I think the feeling is still the same. I still think the coaches are great there. Whoever they bring into that building is going to be of great quality because of Kirk Ferentz. I couldn’t be happier that I’m going there.
Q: Did you get to meet Cade McNamara and Deacon Hill when you were there?
LAINEZ: Yeah, and Joe Labas. They’re all great guys and I look forward to being around them.
Q: When they were looking for a transfer, is that a deal where you follow things closely but also know there’s going to be competition regardless of who it is?
LAINEZ: Yeah, competition is part of playing college football. That’s just a reality you have to accept and I’m looking forward to it and also learning from those guys because they’ve been doing it longer than I have. They’ve been at that level longer than I have, so if I can learn from them, that’s going to be very beneficial for my development.
Q: What are you looking forward to most when you arrive in Iowa City in June?
LAINEZ: Just the process of getting better everyday. I’m really intrigued by that and the resources they have to help us get better.
Q: What has your contact been like with the coaches since signing day? Are you staying in touch with mostly Brian Ferentz or Jon Budmayr or who do you talk with?
LAINEZ: Mostly I communicate with Brian and Jon. We just communicate every so often. I know they’re busy, but when we get a chance we catch up.
Q: When you were out there, do they talk about the offense with you or is that more for this summer when you get there?
LAINEZ: We had some football talks and they walked me through some stuff, but other than it’s more or less when I get out there they’ll start building the foundation.
Q: Coming in your freshman year, obviously there is a lot to learn, but what do you feel are some of your strengths right now?
LAINEZ: I definitely think my work ethic is one of them. My devotion to the process and getting better. I always pride myself on just trying to be the best I can be. I think that’s a strength.
Q: What are one or two things you know you need to work on?
LAINEZ: Well, definitely getting the verbiage of the new playbook down. Obviously, the language of it and then also marrying the footwork with it and all that it requires.
Q: Does it help you coming in that you have actually taken snaps under center in high school? It’s kind of a rare thing anymore.
LAINEZ: Well, I think it will help me, but obviously we don’t know the future. But I think it’s going to help me because I know what it’s like back there, right under center with a defensive lineman one inch across from me.
Q: When you look back at your decision, it seems like a long time ago now, but what was it about Iowa that made you comfortable there and led to your commitment and then sticking with it all the way through to where you are now and ready to move out there?
LAINEZ: The culture was definitely a very important key factor. The way Coach Ferentz carries himself, I really respect him. Then it’s just an amazing place and being there and experiencing it all validated everything and they’ve got the track record to prove it.
A three-star prospect with an On3 Industry Ranking of 86.15, Lainez verbally committed to Iowa on December 13, 2021, choosing the Hawkeyes over scholarship offers from Michigan State, Illinois, Pittsburgh, Maryland, West Virginia, Louisville, Princeton, Penn, Massachusetts, and Old Dominion.
As a senior, Lainez had an impressive season, finishing the year 97/125 passing (77.6%) for 2,182 yards with 23 touchdowns and five interceptions and had 573 yards rushing and five touchdowns on the ground for Hun (9-0).
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