The Redemption of Tate Martell - What's Next?

Tate Martell Enter Transfer Portal – What’s Next?

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Former Bishop Gorman star quarterback Tate Martell has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal and is looking for a new home after transferring to Miami from Ohio State in 2019.

 

One of the most decorated high school quarterbacks in the history of high school sports, Martell is now looking for his third college in three years after deciding to transfer from the Hurricanes in hopes to find a school that will allow him to thrive on the field. For Martell, his recruiting process has had a bunch of different storylines…dating back to when he was in junior high.

He was committed to Washington through then-head coach Steve Sarkisian when Martell was 13. Then Texas A&M was chosen as his future college home during his prep career at Gorman before finally deciding to attend Ohio State. But while at OSU things didn’t go as planned. Starter JT Barrett decided to stay an extra year, which meant Dwayne Haskins had to wait an additional year to start pushing back Martell’s original timeline to play. Then Urban Meyer decided to retire and Ryan Day took over and with that, another elite quarterback transferred into Ohio State; a young man named Justin Fields. A short time later Martell transferred to the Hurricaines.

But once he arrived in Miami their head coach Mark Richt retired and Manny Diaz took over, leaving many to question who will be the starting quarterback. Martell didn’t win the starting quarterback competition, losing out to redshirt freshman Jarren Williams which led to Martell changing positions to wide receiver just to get on the field and play. Martell played in five games for the Hurricanes in 2019 but was relegated to a limited role in Dan Enos’s offense and after the move to wide receiver, he returned back to play quarterback. He completed his only pass for seven yards, had seven carries for seven yards, and did not catch a pass.

Martell was one of four Hurricanes who opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

So what now for Martell? It starts with getting him right not just on the field, but off it.

 

Martell has been back in Las Vegas and is now training with former UNLV and Bishop Gorman Strength and Conditioning coach Sean Manuel at one of the premier training facilities on the west coast, The Institute of Human Performance. The Institute of Human Performance has everything that an athlete would want and need. Besides some of the best trainers led by “Manny,” they have the latest equipment, a pilates studio (Powered by Pilates), a wellness center (Project Wellbeing owned and operated by Sean and Heidi Freitas), who works with over 400 professional athletes and currently provide orthopedic sports therapy to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Institute of Human Performance also has a nutritional center and hosts former NBA and UNLV basketball star Marcus Banks MB3 Basketball Academy.

You can see why Martell chose to go there and reshape his game, his image and get his mind right. But having Manny there is critical. Manny is one of the best human beings and leaders of men I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He is a great communicator and knows Tate and how to relate to him. Some schools were (and remain) turned off by Martell due to his polarizing reputation on social media. Some schools question whether Martell is a starting quarterback at the Power-5 level since he has twice not been named the starting quarterback like many expected.

It’s about redemption for Martell. The undersized, big personality player with a boulder on his shoulder is now is the underdog. Unfairly he has been compared to former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel due to his brash, outspoken ways. But he isn’t that person anymore, Martell has matured and understands that he needs to prove himself just like he did under then head coach Tony Sanchez when he took over as the starting quarterback at Bishop Gorman his freshman year.

Martell is polarizing. He does talk trash and has been unapologetically cocky towards those who he feels slighted by. But he is still growing as a man. Think back to when you were in your late teens or early twenties and how you were compared to where you are now. Add to that you are THE STAR quarterback on the nation’s top high school football team, winning three straight high school national championships and being named a high school All-American. Sprinkle in social media to chronicle everything you do on and off the field and POW, you have an image that you created that got out of control.

Tate Martell has committed plenty of self-inflicted wounds to himself via social media, but he has realized that he needed to change and the past few years have humbled him. He made a huge decision not just to leave Miami, but to go back to basics working with Sean Manuel at The Institute of Human Performance and get himself right. We need to give Martell his flowers for that. Good for you young man, now go on out there and show why you were so highly recruited.

 

Where will Tate Martell end up?

 

Off the top, UNLV will be named as the favorite since he is a local legend and the Rebels quarterback position is up in the air. But I have spoken to sources who tell me that the Rebels are not pursuing Martell at this time. I was told this a month ago when Martell started working out at the Institute of Human Performance and was told this again on Wednesday afternoon. So I don’t expect Martell to end up in scarlet and grey.

I was told by sources close to the situation that there are at least five Power-5 schools already in contact with Martell with serious interest. Teams like Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Cal, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Washington all could have an interest in the former High School All-American.

Whatever school lands Martell they are getting a young man who now has a new perspective not just on the field, but on life. He is more mature, humbled, and will be focused and driven to prove everyone who has doubted him wrong. The days of choosing a college based on prestige and fame are gone. This is about finding the best opportunity to thrive on the field and redeeming himself both on and off of it.

Everyone loves a good redemption story. Martell’s should be no different.

 

 

Martell was a four-star recruit and the nation’s second-best dual-threat quarterback in the 2017 class according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. He was 43-0 as a starting quarterback at Bishop Gorman, throwing for 7,507 yards and 113 touchdowns with nine interceptions and rushing for 2,294 yards and 35 scores. He was the 2016 national player of the year by USA Today, Gatorade, and MaxPreps.

 

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