Tate Martell’s Eligibility Makes Him a Heisman Longshot at Miami
By Chris Amberley in College Football
Updated: April 3, 2020 at 8:42 am EDTPublished:
- Tate Martell has announced his transfer to the University of Miami.
- Martell will need the NCAA to grant him eligibility in order to play in 2019.
- Are Martell’s long Heisman Trophy odds worth considering?
College football’s transfer season is in full swing, and Ohio State’s Tate Martell is the latest big name to swap schools.
Breaking: Former Ohio State QB Tate Martell announced his intention to transfer to Miami via Twitter. pic.twitter.com/jpGRlDpPq2
— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) January 16, 2019
Martell, a four-star recruit in 2017, was prompted to find a new team after the transfer of Georgia quarterback Justin Fields to the Buckeyes just three days prior.
With Justin Fields transferring to Ohio State, the last 4 No. 1 QBs in the ESPN 300 have transferred from their original school. pic.twitter.com/lmmPlseneV
— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) January 11, 2019
Martell may not even be eligible to play for Miami this year (more on that later), and his Heisman Trophy odds have taken a massive hit as a result.
Odds to Win 2019 Heisman Trophy
| Player | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Trevor Lawrence | Clemson | +200 |
| Tua Tagovailoa | Alabama | +400 |
| Jake Fromm | Georgia | +1000 |
| Justin Fields | Ohio State | +1000 |
| Travis Etienne | Clemson | +1200 |
| D’Andre Swift | Georgia | +1400 |
| Jonathan Taylor | Wisconsin | +1400 |
| Justin Herbert | Oregon | +1400 |
| Sam Ehlinger | Texas | +1400 |
| Ian Book | Notre Dame | +1800 |
| Austin Kendall | Oklahoma | +2200 |
| Jerry Jeudy | Alabama | +2500 |
| Najee Harris | Alabama | +2500 |
| Shea Patterson | Michigan | +2500 |
| Tee Higgins | Clemson | +2500 |
| Rondale Moore | Purdue | +3300 |
| Adrian Martinez | Nebraska | +4000 |
| KJ Costello | Stanford | +4000 |
| Tate Martell | Miami | +4000 |
Just seven days ago, his average odds to win the award were +1300, which raises the question: Is now the time to invest in Tate Martell?
Martell’s Eligibility is not the Only Concern
The biggest obstacle Martell faces is whether or not he’ll be able to obtain a waiver from the NCAA to play immediately rather than sit out the mandatory one year.
Lawyer up! Tate Martell to seek waiver for immediate eligibility https://t.co/MfmYuyIUvC
— CollegeFootballTalk (@CFTalk) January 16, 2019
However, even if he’s granted eligibility, he’s joining a program that recently lost its head coach Mark Richt, and was a mess offensively in 2018. The Hurricanes ranked 13th in the ACC in total offense, 12th in passing yards, and 9th in points scored. Their leading rusher, Travis Homer, is turning pro, and they’ll need to rely heavily on Martell if they have any hopes of challenging conference rivals Florida State and Clemson.
Miami welcomes @TheTateMartell pic.twitter.com/jfXIi1RTDM
— Footballville Nation (@FOOTBALLVILLETV) January 16, 2019
Make Tate Great Again
Fortunately for Canes fans, Martell has a pedigree that suggests he might be able to restore their relevance.
Martell was 43-0 as a starter in high school, throwing for over 7,500 yards and 113 touchdowns, while adding 35 more scores as a rusher.
He played only sparingly at Ohio State, but shined while he was on the field. Martell completed 23 of 28 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 128 yards and two more scores.
Tate Martell, college touchdown thrower, has logged on pic.twitter.com/UStXJWcdAl
— Land-Grant Holy Land (@Landgrant33) September 8, 2018
He’ll have the luxury of throwing to his high-school teammate Brevin Jordan and Jeff Thomas, Miami’s leading receiver last season, who is returning to the team after being dismissed in November.
?????? #TNM pic.twitter.com/I7FwYLweUB
— Manny Diaz (@Coach_MannyDiaz) January 16, 2019
But this is a less talented team than the Buckeyes and he’ll have to learn a whole new offense, under a new head coach.
Is a Martell Wager Worth the Money?
There’s a reason why Martell’s odds were so much shorter last week. He’s an unbelievable dual-threat talent, but there’s so much uncertainty surrounding his situation at Miami.
If word leaks that he’s eligible to play this season and his odds are still this long, then he’s definitely worthy of consideration. Until then, I’d rather invest in a more proven commodity that I know will be on the field.
Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
