2023 four-star New Jersey QB commits to Iowa
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Wednesday will mark the first of two national signing days in football for the 2022 senior class, but the Iowa coaches also are working to fill spots in the 2023 class.
Iowa filled a big spot on Monday with a commitment from four-star New Jersey quarterback Marco Lainez, who is ranked as the 13 best pro-style quarterback in the 2023 class by Rivals.
Lainez visited Iowa in November and was impressed with the atmosphere within the Iowa program, and with how Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz develops his players.
“The fact coach (Kirk Ferentz) looks to develop his players and his team stood out to me,” Lainez said to Hawk Fanatic after the visit. “I liked how all the players I spoke to talked about the family atmosphere. And everyone just wants to win. No one is caught up in hype BS or their own individual success. It’s all about the team.”
Lainez, who attends The Hun School in New Jersey, caught up with Hawkeye quarterback Spencer Petras during his campus visit. They worked out together this past summer with quarterback coach Tony Racioppi, who also was in Iowa City when Lainez was on campus.
Former Iowa and current Minnesota Viking quarterback Nate Stanley, who Raccioppi has coached, was in town, too.
“Being there with those guys and spending time with them was great,” Lainez said. “I was able to ask a lot of questions about their experiences.”
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Lainez completed 93 of 116 passes (80.2 percent) for 1,761 yards and 21 touchdowns against just two interceptions this season for a 9-0 squad. The junior rushed 41 times for 451 yards and two scores.
He had at least 10 scholarship offers from schools that included Michigan State, Illinois and Maryland.
Lainez is the third player to commit to Iowa’s 2023 class. The others are Iowa City High linebacker Ben Keuter and Norwalk defensive tackle Maddux Borcherding-Johnson.