Martell transfers
OSU quarterback is enrolling at University of Miami.
Tate Martell is transCOLUMBUS — ferring to the University of Miami, the former Ohio State quarterback announced on Twitter early Wednesday morning.
Martell put his name in the NCAA transfer portal last week following the enrollment at Ohio State of Georgia transfer Justin Fields, the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2018 recruiting class.
That represented a change of heart for Martell. At Rose Bowl media day on Dec. 30, he said he would not transfer even if Fields enrolled as was expected and would beat him out in a Buckeyes quarterback competition if Fields did come.
Based on a post on his Insta
gram account, Martell visited West Virginia University before
continued from C1 heading to Miami.
Martell, a two-time Gatorade national high school player of the year, was Dwayne Haskins Jr.’s backup last year. The redshirt freshman was used at times in goal-line situations after the Buckeyes had trouble in the red zone.
Martell completed 23 of 28 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown. He also ran 22 times for 128 yards and two scores.
Martell’s departure leaves the Buckeyes thin at quarterback. Fields must get a waiver from the NCAA to avoid having to sit out a year as a transfer. Experts, including his attorney, believe that is likely, but it is not a sure thing.
Ohio State’s only other two scholarship quarterbacks are Matthew Baldwin and Chris Chugunov. Baldwin did not play as a true freshman last year while he rehabbed from ACL surgery. He did impress during bowl practice and comes from an elite program, Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas, which has produced a series of star quarterbacks, including Baker Mayfield.
Chugunov was a late addition to the 2018 team as a graduate transfer from West Virginia. He played in only one game last year, against Rutgers, and did not throw a pass.
Martell will be headed to a program that, like Ohio State, has a new coach. Manny Diaz takes over for the retired Mark Richt. Diaz was the Hurricanes’ defensive coordinator the last three years. He was hired as Temple’s coach on Dec. 13, but stayed in Philadelphia for only 17 days before his hiring as Miami coach following Richt’s surprising exit.