Another Iowa Quarterback is Leaving the Hawkeyes

If it isn't a joke, it certainly is very close. Stop me if you've heard this one before. A quarterback at the University of Iowa has entered the transfer portal.

This isn't a joke or a reprint of a previous story. No, another quarterback for the Iowa Hawkeyes has seen enough and is going to enter the transfer portal. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that this time it is Marco Lainez. In his two years at Iowa, he appeared in just one game. He was 2 for 7 for four yards passing and had 51 yards rushing after replacing Deacon Hill in the Citrus Bowl. Then he then sat out most of the 2024 season with a hand injury that required surgery the Gazette reports.

The 6 foot 2 Lainez was a three-star recruit in Iowa's 2023 class. The Gazette reports that he had other offers from schools like Louisville, Maryland, Illinois, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, and West Virginia. He'll have three years of eligibility remaining.

In this day and age of the transfer portal, losing players is nothing new to a college program. But losing this number of quarterbacks is a serious indictment on a football program. Just how bad is it at Iowa? The Gazette reports that every scholarship-level high school quarterback who signed on to play at Iowa during Brian Ferentz's seven-year tenure as offensive coordinator has transferred or is currently in the portal. That includes Lainez, Cade McNamara, and James Resar just this year!

Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan and former walk-on Jackson Stratton are Iowa's quarterbacks heading into the Music City Bowl in Nashville, according to the Gazette. The Hawkeyes will no doubt be looking again to the transfer portal for QB help. Here's hoping Iowa's current offensive coordinator can get one to stay.

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