Herky dances in front of Western Michigan cheerleaders during a football game between Iowa and Western Michigan at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. Herky celebrated his 75th birthday during halftime.
The head coach of Iowa football ignited a talented player who was…
The Tennessee Volunteers easily defeated the Hawkeyes late in the game, and the three-stair recruit showed off his impressive mobility by taking the game’s lead in rush attempts after just three possessions.
Orlando, Florida — The starting quarterback Deacon Hill of the Iowa football team was benched in favor of Marco Lainez early in the fourth quarter of the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, with the Hawkeyes behind Tennessee by four scores. This move appeared to be one of the few bright spots for Hawkeye fans during the 35-0 rout.
Lainez finished the game with 51 rushing yards on six attempts and two of seven passing for four yards. During the postgame press conference, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said the coaching staff went into Monday’s game considering giving Lainez some reps.
“We started Deacon and played him the majority of the game [and] we thought he gave us our best chance to win, but at some point, we felt like making a change would be the best thing,” Ferentz said. “[Marco’s] a great young guy. He basically started in August [2023], so the improvement he’s made is impressive.
According to 247Sports, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Lainez was a three-star prospect right out of high school. As a starter, Lainez attracted offers from Illinois, Louisville, and Pittsburgh in addition to helping his high school win two state titles.
Hawkeye supporters have been talking a lot about Hill’s potential replacement at quarterback since Hill was started after former starter Cade McNamara sustained an injury that ended his season in Week 5 against Michigan State. Before the bowl game, the Wisconsin transfer had completed just 49% of his throws for five touchdowns against six interceptions.
Ferentz repeatedly stressed to the media during the first few games of the season that the coaching staff considered Hill to be the team’s best quarterback following McNamara’s injury, and that Lainez was regularly listed as Iowa’s backup quarterback behind sophomore Joe Labas, who transferred following the Big Ten championship game.
Third-string quarterbacks like Lainez struggle to get meaningful snaps in the middle of the season, according to Ferentz, who added that Lainez gained more practice repetitions as the season went on.
He remarked, “[Marco] still has a lot of learning to do, but he competed.” “He has some experience that he can use without depleting his eligibility for a year.”
As Lainez was playing quarterback for the scout team, Iowa’s starting defense received plenty of practice against him, according to linebacker Jay Higgins, who led the Hawkeyes in tackles during the game with 16. Higgins also mentioned that Lainez is a leader for the team’s younger players.
He said, “[Marco] still has a lot of learning to do, but he competed.” “He has some experience that he can use without depleting his eligibility for a year.”
Linebacker Jay Higgins, who led the Hawkeyes in tackles during the game with 16, said that Iowa’s starting defense got plenty of practice against Lainez while he was playing quarterback for the scout squad. Lainez serves as a mentor for the team’s younger players, according to Higgins as well.
He stated, “[Marco] still has a lot of learning to do, but he competed.” “He has some experience that he can use without depleting his eligibility for a year.”
While Lainez was playing quarterback for the scout squad, Iowa’s starting defense had plenty of practice against him, according to linebacker Jay Higgins, who led the Hawkeyes in tackles during the game with 16. Higgins also claims that Lainez acts as a mentor for the team’s younger players.
He continued, “[Marco] still has a lot of learning to do, but he competed.” “He has some experience that he can use without depleting his eligibility for a year.”
Iowa’s starting defense saw a lot of work against Lainez while he was playing quarterback for the scout squad, according to linebacker Jay Higgins, who led the Hawkeyes in tackles during the game with 16. According to Higgins, Lainez also acts as a mentor for the team’s younger players.
