Advertisement

Ohio State QB Tate Martell announces transfer to Miami

Tate Martell will join new head coach Manny Diaz in Miami. (Getty)
Tate Martell will join new head coach Manny Diaz in Miami. (Getty)

Ohio State quarterback Tate Martell announced Tuesday night that he is transferring to Miami.

Fox 5 Vegas reporter Vince Sapienza initially broke the news shortly before Martell made his announcement on Twitter.

Martell bolts Columbus with arrival of Justin Fields

The 20-year-old played sparingly behind Heisman Trophy finalist and top NFL prospect Dwayne Haskins in 2018 and looked like the heir apparent to the Buckeyes job before former five-star prospect Justin Fields transferred from Georgia.

Martell entered the transfer portal after Fields arrived at Ohio State. Fields is seeking eligibility for the 2019 season in Columbus.

Martell in December: ‘Why would I leave?’

Martell told media at the Rose Bowl that he did not intend to transfer, echoing a statement he gave to The Athletic just days earlier.

“Why would I leave for someone who hasn’t put a single second into this program?” Martell told The Athletic. “I have put two years of literally working my ass off into something that I’ve been waiting for and a dream I’ve had my whole life.”

He also tweeted a cryptic message in December that has since been deleted and appeared aimed at Fields.

“Word of advice…..don’t swing and miss….especially for a second time.”

He obviously had a change of heart.

What this means for Ohio State

The move will leave Ohio State leaning on rising redshirt freshman Matthew Baldwin and graduate transfer Chris Chuguno — a pair of quarterbacks with no real college experience — if Fields isn’t ruled eligible.

What this means for Miami

For Miami, it’s a big get for new head coach Manny Diaz.

Martell arrived at Ohio State as a four-star prospect and Rivals’ No. 2-ranked dual threat quarterback in 2017. He chose Ohio State over Alabama, Auburn, Michigan and several other prominent suitors. Bovada listed him as a top-10 Heisman candidate in its initial odds for 2019 prior to the news that Fields was transferring to the Buckeyes.

Miami fielded a top-five defense last season, but finished a disappointing 7-5 in Mark Richt’s final year with an offense that struggled to put up points.

The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman reports that Martell is expected to sit the 2019 season before gaining eligibility, meaning Hurricanes fans will have temper their excitement over their new coach-quarterback combination.

More from Yahoo Sports:
’96 World Series MVP charged with child sex abuse
‘I was wrong’: Elway regrets hiring Joseph
Clemson QB denies White House meal remark
Wetzel: Bill Belichick — the anti-millennial motivator