Former Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez is transferring to the Kansas State football program, he announced on Twitter Thursday night. Martinez entered the NCAA Transfer Portal on Dec. 2 after four years as the Huskers’ starting quarterback.
Martinez, who posted about the decision to leave Nebraska shortly after his entry into the portal, has one year of eligibility remaining. Martinez finished the 2021 season passing for 2,863 yards and 14 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. For his Nebraska career, Martinez threw for 8,491 yards and 45 touchdowns against 30 interceptions, and rushed for 2,301 yards and 35 touchdowns.
“I have made the decision to put my name in the transfer portal,” a portion of Martinez’s statement on Dec. 2 read. “I am excited for the next opportunity ahead! I will always be a Nebraska Cornhusker at heart and a proud alum. Go Big Red and God Bless.”
Martinez signed with Nebraska as a 4-star recruit in the Huskers’ 2018 class. Out of Fresno (Calif.) Clovis West, he was ranked the No. 7 dual-threat quarterback prospect in the country, per the 247Sports Composite Player Rankings.
Nebraska finished last season 3-9 in a year that was marred by one-score losses for the Huskers. Nebraska has yet to post a winning record under head coach Scott Frost through four seasons, though it was announced earlier in the season that Frost will be back in 2022 as head coach.
Frost thanked Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts for the support and sent a message about Nebraska’s future.
“I appreciate the confidence Trev Alberts has shown in me to continue to lead this program,” Frost said in a statement. “I love this state, this football program and am honored and humbled for the opportunity to serve as the head coach at my alma mater. Our immediate focus is on the two games ahead against Wisconsin and Iowa, and the opportunity in front of us to build momentum heading into the offseason and 2022. I understand we have not won at a high enough level, but I am confident our football program will continue to take steps forward.”
The NCAA introduced the transfer portal on Oct. 15, 2018, providing athletes a path to explore their options. Players do not need to ask permission from their coaching staff in order to transfer. They merely need to request that compliance enter their name. Usually, it takes 24-48 hours for a player to appear following their request. Schools are free to contact a player without restriction once their name appears in the portal.
While a player entering their name in the transfer portal means they intend to explore their options, it does not necessarily mean they will leave. A player is free to withdraw his name at any time. However, schools are under no obligation to keep a player on scholarship once they enter the portal.
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There were 2,646 FBS players to enter the transfer portal during the 2020-21 transfer cycle, sources said. That is up from 1,692 in 2019-20 and 1,717 in 2018-19.
Dean Straka contributed to this report.
