Interview: 3-Star 2021 QB Santino Marucci has Sights Set on a Florida State Title
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Florida high school football is extremely competitive at every level with amazing talents up and down given rosters year after year. The same holds true for The Benjamin School in Class 3A. The Buccaneers were one of the best in the Sunshine State last season led by Class of 2021 quarterback Santino Marucci. Marucci got time in on the field as a freshman completing four passes for 31 yards with two scores and then prepared for his first full-time varsity action, and he did not disappoint. The 6-1, 195-pound, talent proved his was a true-dual threat passing for 1,614 yards with 18 scores and ran past the competition for 546 more yards with seven trips into the end zone. The play on the field has garnered three-star recruiting status and five offers for the rising Jupiter area product.
With offers on the table, college camps completed, and a big season ahead, I sat down with Marucci for an in-depth one-on-one partnered with QB Hit List to learn more about his overall game.
*Click link for Santino Marucci’s QB Hit List profile page
Interview
Santino, you got some varsity snaps as a freshman with the Bucs in 2017. How did that experience help you during your sophomore season?
“The experience helped a lot, but more so was being on the sidelines that season. I got to watch Jordan Travis, who went to Louisville but is now at FSU. Watching him, how he took control of the offense and was making plays, that helped me just as much. I also got to see how he was a leader for the team and how he took the team far that season. He was the heart and soul of the team. Filling his shoes was tough, but he taught me a lot. I would thank him for his help. Watching how he took control of the offense helped as much as the game experience during my freshman season.”
What type of offense do you run for the Bucs?
“We run a Spread. We like to go two-by-two and three-by-one. About 70 percent of our offense will be audibles in 2019. We are going to a no-huddle fast offense like Oregon. We want to get the defense in a position they do not want to be and take advantage of them.”
You have the out route down regardless of the hash. What are some of the other throws you like to hit within the offense?
“I like the 10-yard out, the comeback, bang-8 – anything college coaches like to see a sophomore in high school throw.”
How would you describe your style of play as a quarterback?
“Some have me as a pro-style and some have me as a dual-threat. I can make every throw on the field and I can make plays with my feet. I can play street ball when things go wild on a broken play. I am trying to be the best player I can be and win games for my team.”
Your game had to grow by leaps and bounds with all the experience and time put in on the field in 2018. What were some of the main areas of growth as a quarterback that showed last season?
“I would say reading defenses pre- and post-snap. During my freshman year they would put me in there, it was so fast. Over the offseason I learned a lot and started catching up. After the first couple of games during the season it all started to slow down. I was seeing the holes and anticipating. Everything started clicking as a QB and player for me after those first couple of games.”
Entering the offseason, what did you feel were the overall strengths to your game?
“My toughness would be a big one. Even college and NFL guys, some of those guys cannot take those hits. Coming from Youngstown (OH), I wrestled and I played linebacker growing up. I can take hits and I can dish them out. I can handle it.”
What have you been working on throughout the spring and summer months?
“The important thing is my speed. My 40 is a 4.7, but I can get where I need to get to on the field. As a dual-threat, going side to side is most important, being able to plant off one foot and making people miss. Every day when we go out there, I have been throwing with those guys for three or four years now, all of that is muscle memory and second nature to me. That is almost perfected allowing me to look at other aspects of my game. Three times a week I sit with my head coach going over the playbook. Now that I am going into my junior year, my head coach is giving me the offense. I am showing I can handle everything asked of me and make the right calls on the field.”
This summer, did you get to go to any camps to display your skills?
“Yes. I went on a circuit in June to Wake Forest, N.C. State, Duke, UCF (Central Florida), North Carolina, Appalachian State, FAU (Florida Atlantic), and Miami. We also went to some universities on visits. We went to Nebraska a couple of weeks ago to check out their facilities. I wanted to hit up seven to eight schools this year so I could get a feel for what I want in college. Last year and this year are learning experiences for me. Now I want to see how I fit with coaches and with the town in the recruiting process.”
After all the camps you attended, which was your best camp performance?
“I would say the Wake Forest camp was my best. Coach (Warren) Ruggiero (OC/QB) had seen me throw in the spring when he came down to one of our practices. I had an offer from Wake Forest already, I was welcomed when I got there which made me feel comfortable. I was relaxed and had fun at that camp. That made my performance better. I was not tensing up as I saw with a lot of other quarterbacks at their camp.”
With all of the camps, what were some of the things you learned that will help you going forward?
“The camps were more so reassuring to me with the concepts, routes, and terms. It was reassuring that all of it is universal. My coach has made it so helpful the way he coaches us and how he brings things to the table. When I get to the next level, all that I have learned are the same concepts just different names and terminology.
“At the camps, I was paying attention to the coaches with their different styles and what I like and do not like. It was nice to see how the different coaches instruct and to see how they really are in that kind of environment working with players.”
How many offers do you have now?
“I have five offers.”
Santino’s Offer Sheet: Appalachian State, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Wake Forest
Outside of the schools that have offered, which schools are showing interest?
“Duke, UCF, and Central Michigan are showing interest but have not offered. I do stay in touch with all the coaches who have offered me.”
You mentioned the Nebraska visit, have you visited any other schools this offseason?
“Yes. I went to Wake Forest before their camp and the same when I went to Appalachian State.”
Since Wake Forest has offered you, how did that visit go?
“It was fantastic. The school academically is like my school, it would not be too bad of a transition with my academics. The facilities were great. I talked to the coaches and spent time with Coach Ruggiero. They made me feel like family when I was there. I got to see and talk to the players; it was nice to experience. You are not just one of the guys there, they take care of you over there.”
Circling back to Nebraska, tell me about that visit.
“It went really well. We flew out there about three weeks ago. That was my first time there – my first time in Nebraska and my first time going to the campus. Their facilities blew me away. I believe their stadium is the third biggest in the country. Their staff was welcoming. I talked to some of the players, guys like Adrian Martinez. They told me the ins and outs at Nebraska and what to expect if I committed to the Huskers. There were a lot of recruits there I knew.”
Do you have any planned visits ahead?
“We have training camp coming up, so none coming up immediately. I will go to some games during the season, fly out on the weekends when I can. It all depends on the recruiting process. If I can focus on my season I will or if it speeds up with recruiting, I will do what I have to do. I am focused on my team for now.”
Back to football. With the Bucs spring and summer workouts, how is the team looking preparing for the upcoming schedule?
“We are looking a lot better than last year even after losing (4-star DB) Kaiir Elam. He was a top name with a lot of attention given to him. I feel that the team has come a lot closer this offseason. Our talent level has grown. We have a lot of talented guys on the team like (3-star DB) Josh Pierre, Roshaune Downie (WR), and Daniel McCullon (DB) – we have a lot of talent on our team. There is no reason to not make the state championship game this year.”
Is there a game on the schedule you are already excited to play?
“I take it game by game – I am excited for all of them. But the two most important games for us this year are Gulliver Prep (Oct. 11), they have hype surrounding them with a lot of five- and four-star guys. I believe we host them on senior night. The other one is Kings Academy (Oct. 25). They beat us when were 9-0 last season on the last play of the game (22-21). It will be nice to take it to them this year.”
What personal goals have you set for the upcoming campaign?
“A lot of guys are focused on yards and touchdowns to pad the stats, but my main goal is to win every game and be the best leader I can be for my team. My goal is the state championship or bust; that is our team mindset. I will play the best that I can, and it will all take care of itself.”
Santino, it was great learning more about you and your talents on the field today. I appreciate your time and wish you success in fall camp and throughout the season.
“Thank you.”
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Photo credit: Marucci family; Santino Marucci at Nebraska and Wake Forest