Miami Hurricanes AD expected Tate Martell eligibility decision already

In a recent conversation with flagship station WQAM Miami Hurricanes. Athletic Director Blake James said that they expected a decision on Ohio State transfer QB Tate Martell would have been completed already by the NCAA.

Miami Hurricanes Athletic Director Blake James expected Quarterback Tate Martell’s eligibility for 2019 to have been determined already by the NCAA. Martell transferred to Miami in January from Ohio State.

Martell left Columbus primarily because the Buckeyes added Georgia transfer Justin Fields. Martell was the front runner to replace Dwayne Haskins as the Buckeyes starting QB in 2019 before Fields moved from Athens, Georgia to Columbus. Haskins finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 2018.

Fields gained near immediate eligibility with Ohio State. James and his staff have been waiting two months for the NCAA to make a decision if they will grant Martell a waiver to not have to sit out the 2019 season.

Williams was given a waiver because of an alleged racist incident at Georgia last year. A Georgia baseball player who has since been dismissed from the team used a racial slur against Fields who is African-American. Fields reportedly used that as his primary reason for wanting to leave Georgia. He was also part of the baseball team.

The questionable outcome is that Fields sister is still enrolled at Georgia and plays on the Bulldogs softball team. If it’s so bad why is she still there?

Martell’s plea for being granted the waiver likely hinges on his need to transfer following former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer’s decision to retire. Former Buckeyes QB coach Ryan Day was named Meyer’s successor.

Day is expected to run an offense not predicated as much on zone option read plays by the QB. That is Martell’s strength. Martell’s case will be that he left Ohio State to persue a coach that will help him further his career more than Day would have.

James discussed working with Ohio State on Martell’s eligibility when the NCAA could make a decision, how to read what the NCAA could do and what types of changes need to be made regarding transfers in the future.

"“We have been working with Ohio State and the NCAA, hope to bring this to closure sooner rather than later. When that’s going to happen, it’s hard to [know] an idea.I honestly thought we would have been to the finish line by now, but we’re not there. Hoping to have that decision from the NCAA soon. Tate will do spring ball either way, but hopefully a decision for Tate for next yearIt’s hard to decipher from the outside” why one transfer gets a waiver and another doesn’t…That’s something we as an association have to work on,” James said. “There’s not a clear understanding as to what criteria need to be there in order to determine if a young man is eligible or ineligible.”"

James is completely correct that the NCAA needs more conclusive definitions about what constitutes a player being granted immediate eligibility following a transfer. The decisions are far too arbitrary right now. Miami has eight transfers that will be on their roster in 2019.

Graduate transfers Tommy Kennedy at offensive tackle, defensive tackle Chigozie Nnoruka and wide receiver K.J. Osborn are eligibility immediately because they already graduated. They each have one season of eligibility remaining.

Defensive end Trevon Hill is on target to graduate from Virginia Tech in May and would also have one season to suit up for the Miami Hurricanes. The remaining transfers are a bit more complicated.

Defensive end/linebacker Jaelan Phillips is expected to sit out the 2019 season to recover from an ankle injury and recurring concussions. Running back Asa Martin is also expected to sit out the upcoming season after playing as a Freshman at Auburn in 2018.

Martin will have three seasons of eligibility remaining. Safety Bubba Bolden sat out at USC in 2018 and will have immediate eligibility with three seasons of eligibility at Miami.