Elon, N.C.- Leading up to the start of the 2025 Elon football season, we will take a look at each position ahead of Elon's first game against Duke on August 28. Our first look will be at the quarterbacks coached by Doug Martin.
 
With the departure of two-year starter Matthew Downing this offseason, fall camp begins with a competition and a new scheme under new offensive coordinator Doug Martin. Downing helped lead the Phoenix to five wins in their last six games to finish the season with a 5-3 record in the CAA, Elon's fourth straight season with at least five wins in conference play.
 
Under the new offensive coordinator, two names have jumped to the front of the line in the battle to be QB1; redshirt-freshman Landen Clark and redshirt-sophomore, transfer, Marco Lainez. Both bring a level of athleticism to the position which had coach Martin complimenting both on their ability to not only throw but carry the ball.
 
"What I like about the quarterback position is athleticism, all of those guys can run, throw and keep plays alive," said Martin. "They're creative, and moving around in the pocket, I think that's going to help us be a little bit better."
 
Landen Clark enters camp having only attempted four rushes in his career at Elon and has not completed a pass.  But, during his senior year of high school, he delivered Radford High School their first state championship in 51 years after a 15-0 season in 2023. During their unbeaten season, Clark led the Bobcats with over 4,300 total yards and 71 total touchdowns. After a year behind Downing, Clark was complimentary of the former signal caller and his approach to the position.
 
"He (Downing) had a different mindset for the game, he looked at the game a whole lot differently than a lot of people," said Clark. "Just seeing how he operated, how he prepared, week in and week out was pretty inspiring."
 
After two seasons under Kirk Ferentz at the University of Iowa, Marco Lainez joined the Phoenix in the spring and has wasted no time getting adjusted to Elon. Coming from Iowa City, Lainez spoke highly of the Hawkeye program and how his two years there helped make him into the player he is now.
 
"That program, (Iowa), is known for their culture, and the way they carry themselves in the building, they don't let anything slip through the cracks," said Lainez. "They molded me for two years and that's just who I am now. You have a standard and you have to demand that of yourself."

Another name returning to the quarterback depth chart is William Lankford. Lankford was voted as one of three captains by his teammates in the offseason. Martin praised not only Lankford as a player for pushing both Clark and Lainez but also his unselfishness as a leader.
 
"What a great honor for your team to vote you as a team captain," Martin said. "In spring practice, we got down a couple of running backs and Will actually went and played running back for us for a while. That shows you the unselfishness that he has, and I think his teammates really respect him for that."
 
TJ Crews IV and Elijah Guttman join the quarterback room as well. Crews transferred in from Kansas while Guttman enters his first fall camp as a freshman with the maroon & gold.
 
Quarterback Personnel:
 
Landen Clark | R-Fr. | 6'0 | 186 | Radford, Va.
TJ Crews IV | R-So. | 6'0 | 205 | Lenexa, Kan.
Elijah Guttman | Fr. | 6'2 | 193 | Cincinnati, Oh.
Marco Lainez | R-So. | 6'2 | 225 | Belle Mead, N.J.
William Lankford | R-Jr. | 6'3 | 203 | Pelham, Ala.