Senior left tackle Trevor Lauck, left, battles one of Roncalli’s defensive players during a preseason practice.
Rob Baker | For the Daily Journal
The jersey number doesn’t evoke images of a massive left tackle controlling his end of the line of scrimmage.
A guard, yes. A linebacker or even defensive end? Sure.
And yet for the past two seasons, Roncalli’s No. 59, senior Trevor Lauck, has been instrumental in helping the Royals’ offense carve out sizable chunks of yardage while rolling up a 25-2 record and a Class 4A state championship in 2020.
The 6-foot-6, 290-pound Lauck is verbally committed to play football at the University of Iowa.
First up, however, is the 54th season of football in Roncalli’s history, one in which 35-year old Eric Quintana steps up as the Royals’ fourth different head coach in seven years.
Quintana served as offensive line coach and offensive coordinator at rival Bishop Chatard the past five seasons, a stretch in which the Trojans were 52-16 with a pair of 3A titles.
He, better than most, appreciates how Lauck makes for a nice starting block — no pun intended.
“Being a former O-line coach, you want strength and long arms with your tackles,” Quintana said. “You want your guards to be a little bigger to handle bigger interior linemen, and your centers to be smart to be able to identify defenses.”
Lauck, the second of David and Kara Lauck’s four children, weighed 10 pounds, 10 ounces as a newborn. His father, a 1994 Roncalli graduate and the school’s athletic director, played football, as did his uncle Brian (RHS, ’95), now the Royals’ defensive coordinator.
Trevor Lauck anchors what’s likely to be one of the state’s premier offensive fronts, one that includes left guard Brady Neu, center Luke Skartvedt, right guard Luke Billerman and right tackle Jackson McNeeley.
That group will be responsible for giving senior quarterback Arik Moyers, successor to four-year starter Aidan Leffler, ample time in the pocket, and creating running lanes for Roncalli’s running backs, led by senior Luke Hansen.
Hansen rushed for 1,458 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.
“For my size, I think I have pretty good feet. I play physical and play fast,” Lauck said. “I’ve always been big for my grade, and I’ve always been a lineman.”
During the offseason, Lauck focused on increasing his strength. He now bench-presses as much as 295 pounds and can squat 500.
“Trevor can play any of the five positions on the offensive line,” Quintana said. “The big thing we need from him this season is to finish blocks and just being that physical leader. Our senior class is extremely talented, with a lot of guys who have won a lot of football games.”
Since committing to Iowa earlier this summer, Lauck and members of his family have been adding black and gold into their respective wardrobes. The mutual attraction requires little, if any, explanation.
Since 2010, Iowa has produced a total of 16 offensive linemen (including tight ends) who were selected in the National Football League draft.
“The people there were just on another level, and coach (Kirk) Ferentz had mapped out a good plan for me,” Lauck said. “He said I fit perfectly for what they’re trying to do.”
Quintana shares that opinion.
2022 SCHEDULE
Date;Opponent;Time
Aug. 19;at Southport;7 p.m.
Aug. 26;Franklin Central;7 p.m.
Sept. 2;Bishop Chatard;7 p.m.
Sept. 9;at Columbus North;7 p.m.
Sept. 16;Guerin Catholic;7 p.m.
Sept. 23;at Brebeuf Jesuit;7 p.m.
Sept. 30;Louisville Male;7 p.m.
Oct. 7;Cincinnati Elder;7 p.m.
Oct. 14;at East Central;7:30 p.m.
SCOUTING THE ROYALS
Coach: Eric Quintana
Last season: 12-1, lost to Mount Vernon in Class 4A regional
Key returnees: DB Andrew Baugh, RB Luke Hansen, OL Trevor Lauck, DB George Marten, OL/NG Brady Neu, OL Luke Skartvedt, DT Luke Swartz, LB Nolan Tunny and LB Joey Uberta, seniors; LB Ben Brandenburg, junior
Top newcomers: WR Dylan Koglin, DB Judson Lawrie, OL Jackson McNeeley and QB Arik Moyers, seniors; TE Charlie Elsner and DB Dylan Henry, juniors
Outlook: As has been the case countless times during Roncalli’s envied football past, the Royals will be a handful in the trenches on offense. That strength, combined with a first-year quarterback (Moyers) and the return of 1,000-yard rusher Hansen makes it possible — perhaps even likely — for first-year coach Quintana to favor the run, at least initially.
On defense, Swartz is back after making 72 tackles last season. Baugh (70 tackles, five interceptions) is also plenty experienced on that side of the line of scrimmage, as are Neu (53) and Tunny (45).
“The Xs and Os piece, it’s going to take care of itself. But the big thing with me is that I want our guys to be the most physical team on Friday night, and I want them to be in shape,” Quintana said. “I always knew the size was here, but when you get here and see the talent, it’s awesome. Overall, we have good, hard-working kids.”
