Redshirt freshman quarterback Tate Martell speaks during a media availability at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Dec. 30. Credit: Casey Cascaldo | Photo Editor
Redshirt freshman quarterback Tate Martell has entered his name in the NCAA transfer portal, according to reports by Jeremy Birmingham of Letterman Row and Kyle Rowland of the Toledo Blade.
By entering the name into the database, other schools are allowed to have free contact with Martell about playing for their program.
Martell is not guaranteed to transfer from Ohio State by entering the portal.
Martell was confident about his position with Ohio State when he was asked about it at Rose Bowl Media Day on Dec. 30, saying he would be the starter, even if then-Georgia freshman quarterback Justin Fields transferred to Ohio State.
Fields transferred to Ohio State on Jan. 4 and Dwayne Haskins announced he would enter the NFL Draft on Jan. 7.
“Why would I leave for someone who hasn’t put in a single second into this program?” Martell said. “To just run away from somebody who hasn’t put a single second into workouts anything like that and doesn’t know what the program is all about, there’s not a chance.”
Martell was a five-star quarterback prospect out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, and the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in his class according to 247Sports Composite Rankings.
The redshirt freshman quarterback said he was “100 percent sure” he would be the starting quarterback next fall if Haskins decided to enter the draft.
Martell completed 23-of-28 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown in 2018, while rushing for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
