New UM QB Martell seeking 2019 eligibility

When ballyhooed quarterback Tate Martell announced late Tuesday night that he would transfer from Ohio State to Miami, the Canes knew they would be getting the program’s highest-rated quarterback since Kyle Wright 16 years ago. (Martell was rated by Rivals as the nation’s No. 39 overall prospect in 2017; Wright was fifth in 2003.)

What the Hurricanes don’t know is when he will be eligible. Ordinarily, a transfer like Martell would be required to sit out a year. But Martell has two possible avenues to avoid that.

The Columbus Dispatch reported last week that Martell is “believed to be on track to graduate in May, which would enable him to go to another program and be eligible immediately.”

Also, 247sports.com reported Wednesday that Martell is seeking a waiver from the NCAA to make him eligible to play at UM in 2019, noting that “early indications are that Martell will try to use Ohio State’s sudden coaching change as grounds to be immediately eligible.”

The NCAA has been more lenient in granting waivers recently, but Martell’s bid for one is a toss up at best.

Martell redshirted his freshman year (2017) and has three years of eligibility remaining.

If he’s not eligible in 2019, N’Kosi Perry, Jarren Williams and Cade Weldon would compete for UM’s starting job this coming season. The top grad transfer candidates came off the board in the past two days, with Alabama’s Jalen Hurts committing to Oklahoma, SMU’s Ben Hicks to Arkansas and Notre Dame’s Brandon Wimbush to UCF.

Williams’ father said Wednesday that Williams will remain with the Hurricanes and Martell’s decision doesn’t change that.

“He’s fine,’ Williams’ father said. “He’s committed to being there. It has never been an issue with competition with Jarren. The cream always rises to the top.”

Here was some of the feedback on Martell coming out of Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas in 2017, where he was 43-0: Rivals’ Adam Gorney: “Martell is phenomenal in games, with unique abilities to make the toughest throws look easy, to put the ball right on the money time and time again, to prolong plays with his athletic ability so receivers can come back and get open, and to always show up in the big moments.”

But Rivals’ Mike Farrell said: “He’ll have to be a very special player to overcome his lack of height [5-11]. The other concerns I have are his inability to handle criticism, which has been proven a few times on social media sensitivity, how well he will handle competing and possibly having to wait his turn.”

Martell is very good at the read option, has excellent mobility, a strong arm and has been highly accurate.

Martell completed 23 of 28 passes for 269 yards and one touchdown and ran 22 times for 128 yards and two touchdowns in limited playing time at Ohio State last season.

“Tate is an anxious and, to be honest, impatient person,” his father, Al Martell, told Cleveland.com last year. “The worst thing people can say about Tate is that he’s a cocky kid that’s too short and will never make it past the high school level. You’ll find people who think he’s a one-hit wonder. I think that’s what’s motivated him.”

Martell starred in his own reality TV series as a senior in high school. When his team went to Cedar Hill, Texas and won 44-14, Martell tweeted “Texas Who?” during the game but later insisted a friend did that from his phone. Martell then tweeted a map of Nevada superimposed over Texas after the game.

Martell has said: “One of my best attributes is that when plays break down, and stuff isn’t normal, I can make something happen”

Coach Urban Meyer, who installed a package for Martell to take advantage of his running ability, said in November: “He’s an elite competitor. He’s worked his you-know-what off.”

Martell, who had a large social media following since he committed to Washington in eighth grade, last year confirmed a New York Times report that he bought 2000 Twitter followers (costing about $38), when he was a freshman in high school, for an old account. He now has 142,000 followers on a new account (@TheTateMartell).

CHATTER

Even beyond Dion Waiters’ sharp complaints about playing time, Justise Winslow hinted at other issues this week, saying “it’s about guys buying in and being all into this team.” In Tuesday’s 38-point loss at Milwaukee, Winslow was irritated that “guys looked like we didn’t want to be here when we were down 20.”

Though Erik Spoelstra reiterated his preference for starting Rodney McGruder, players he’s guarding are shooting 46.7 percent, compared with 44.8 overall. And McGruder has 5, 3, 5, 3 and 4 points in his past five games.

New Dolphins and former St. Thomas Aquinas quarterback Jake Rudock — who was solid in preseason for Detroit last August (68 completion percentage, three TDs, 91.5 rating, 4.5 per carry) but still lost the backup job to Matt Cassel — ” is a really talented guy,” Lions coach Matt Patricia said. “Strong arm. Has an element to him of athleticism that’s a problem.”

Longtime South Florida talk show host Orlando Alzugaray, fired from WQAM in November for reasons never explained, was hired to do a 3 to 6 p.m. English language talk show beginning in March on WNMA-AM (1210).