Garrett Marino

Garrett Marino
No. 55     Michigan Panthers
Marino with the Michigan Panthers in 2024
Born: (1994-08-03) August 3, 1994 (age 30)
Mission Viejo, California, U.S.
Career information
StatusActive
Position(s)Defensive lineman
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight290 lb (130 kg)
CollegeUAB
High schoolMission Viejo (CA)
Career history
As player
2020Dallas Cowboys*
2021–2022Saskatchewan Roughriders
2023–presentMichigan Panthers
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-C-USA (2019)
  • 2× Honorable-mention All-CUSA (2017, 2018)
Career stats

Garrett Scott Marino (born August 3, 1994) is an American football defensive lineman for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Early years

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Marino attended Mission Viejo High School in Mission Viejo, California. As a senior, he was a starter at defensive end, tallying 40 tackles and 14 sacks. He received All-League, All-Pac 5 Division, All-CIF, All-Orange County and second-team All-State honors.

He also was named the MVP of both the Southern California All-Star Game and the Arizona vs. California All-Star Game.

College career

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Marino committed to play at Arizona State University on January 15, 2013. He did not qualify academically and sat out the season. In 2014, he decided to accept a football scholarship from Montana State University instead.[1] As a true freshman, he appeared in 6 games with 3 starts at defensive end, contributing with 8 tackles (one for a loss). On October 20, 2014, he was dismissed from the team for unspecified reasons.

He signed a letter of intent with the University of Alabama at Birmingham in August 2015, and was forced to wait 2 years for the Blazers' football program to be reinstated from its original termination.[2][3][4] He was redshirted in 2016.

As a sophomore in 2017, he appeared in 13 games with 6 starts in the final games. He tallied 33 tackles (8 for loss). He had 5 tackles against Alabama A&M University. He made 4 tackles and one fumble recovery against the University of Texas at San Antonio.

As a junior in 2018, he appeared in 13 games with 9 starts. He registered 19 tackles (6.5 for loss) and 3.5 sacks, while contributing to the team ranking ninth nationally in total defense. He had a 48-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Tulane University. He made 5 quarterback hurries and a safety against the University of North Texas.

As a senior in 2019, he appeared in 14 games with 13 starts, posting 43 tackles (13.5 for loss), 6 sacks, 7 pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick. He had 9 tackles against Alabama State University and received C-USA Defensive Player of the Week honors. He made 5 tackles (3 for loss) against the University of North Texas to help the team win the C-USA West Division title in the final game of the regular season. He was named first-team All-Conference USA, after receiving honorable mentions in each of the two previous seasons.

Marino played 40 games for the Blazers compiling 95 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 100 pass breakups, one forced fumble and 3 fumble recoveries. He also returned one fumble recovery for a 48-yard touchdown.

Professional career

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Dallas Cowboys

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At his pro day, Marino ran a 4.89 40-yard dash and put up 41 official reps on bench press. In preparation for the NFL draft, he played in the 2020 Shrine Bowl, making two tackles and one tackle for loss. There were also considerations about being undersized for his position and that he would turn 26 years old before the start of 2020 NFL regular season.

Marino was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2020 NFL draft on April 27, 2020.[5][6] He competed for a roster spot at defensive tackle and was released with a non-football illness before the start of the season on July 28.[7]

Saskatchewan Roughriders

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On January 14, 2021, he was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League, when the league resumed operations, following the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] In the Banjo Bowl against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, he was ejected from the game for throwing punches.[9] He concluded his first season in the CFL, having played in 7 games with 5 starts, making 13 tackles and 4 sacks.

In a game against the Ottawa Redblacks in 2022, Marino hit quarterback Jeremiah Masoli with a low tackle. Masoli was predicted to be out for 10–12 weeks after having surgery to repair the damage in his leg that was caused by the hit. Marino celebrated the hit and injury to the dismay of the Ottawa players. Following the game, Marino was summoned for a disciplinary hearing and he was subsequently suspended for 4 games as a result of his actions.[10] Reasons for his suspension were listed by Commissioner Randy Ambrosie as: two games for a low and dangerous hit and then celebrating the hit; another game for an illegal and reckless tackle on an offensive lineman on an earlier play; and a fourth game for "verbal comments made about Masoli's heritage during the game".[11] He returned to action for the Riders' Week 11 match against the BC Lions.[12] Following his first game back from a suspension, Marino was fined by the league for unnecessary roughness.[13] The following week, Marino was involved in another controversial play in which he leveled the Winnipeg Blue Bombers starting quarterback Zach Collaros, while the ball was not in the vicinity of either player.[14] He was released by the Riders two days later on September 6, 2022.[15][16] He appeared in 8 games with 6 starts, making 7 defensive tackles and one sack. There were reports after Marino was released by Saskatchewan that CFL commissioner Ambrosie had issued a memo to the teams saying if any team signed Marino, the former could refuse to register the contract due to player safety reasons.[17]

Michigan Panthers

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On September 18, 2022, Marino announced on Twitter that he had signed a contract with the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League (USFL).[18][19] On October 6, the team announced the official signing.[20]

On May 18, 2023, he was placed on the inactive list. On May 26, he was activated. He appeared in nine games with nine starts, making 25 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Marino re-signed with the Panthers on August 12, 2024.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Montana State Lands 'Big' Recruiting Class". msubobcats.com. February 5, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  2. ^ "One-time Pac-12 recruit Garrett Marino signs with UAB football". AL.com. August 15, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  3. ^ "UAB to reinstate football for 2017 season". ESPN.com. July 21, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  4. ^ Gray, Jeremy (December 3, 2014). "It's official: UAB kills football program". al. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  5. ^ Martin, Brian (March 6, 2020). "UAB DT Garrett Marino Could be Another Undrafted Gem for Cowboys". Inside The Star. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  6. ^ "UDFA Profile: High Motor Drives UAB's Marino". www.dallascowboys.com. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  7. ^ Phillips, Rob (July 28, 2020). "Cowboys Sign Antwaun Woods, Waive Two Players". Dallascowboys.com. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  8. ^ "RIDERS TRANSACTIONS – JANUARY 14TH". Riderville.com. January 14, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  9. ^ "Riders AJ Hendy and Garrett Marino ejected from Banjo Bowl". 3DownNation.com. September 11, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  10. ^ "Masoli: It is clear Garrett Marino cannot control himself - TSN.ca". TSN. July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  11. ^ The Canadian Press (July 12, 2022). "CFL hits Roughriders' Marino with several suspensions". CBC Sports.
  12. ^ TSN ca Staff (August 16, 2022). "Roughriders WR Moore cleared to practice; Marino set to return from suspension - TSN.ca". TSN. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  13. ^ "CFL fines Roughriders' Garrett Marino for unnecessary roughness". MSN. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  14. ^ "Roughriders' Marino back in spotlight after controversial hit on Blue Bombers' Collaros". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  15. ^ "Roughriders release DL Garrett Marino after another controversial hit". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  16. ^ "Roughriders release controversial defensive lineman Marino - TSN.ca". TSN. The Canadian Press. September 6, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  17. ^ "CFL issues memo warning teams against signing former Riders DL Garrett Marino". September 7, 2022.
  18. ^ TSN ca Staff (September 18, 2022). "Marino says he signed a USFL contract - TSN.ca". TSN. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  19. ^ 3Down Staff (September 19, 2022). "Former Riders' defensive tackle Garrett Marino signs with USFL". 3DownNation. Retrieved September 19, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ @USFLPanthers (October 6, 2022). "Free Agent Signing" (Tweet). Retrieved October 6, 2022 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ @UFL_PR (August 12, 2024). "The #UFL has announced the following transactions" (Tweet). Retrieved August 12, 2024 – via Twitter.
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