Miami Football: Tate Martell’s eligibility amps up pressure on Manny Diaz
Miami football received favorable news on the eligibility of quarterback Tate Martell as the pressure rises on new head coach Manny Diaz.
On the heels of Justin Fields‘ waiver to play at Ohio State the year immediately following his enrollment at Georgia, another highly touted quarterback has been granted eligibility. Fleeing Fields and Ohio State for a presumed starting opportunity of his own, Tate Martell has been granted immediate eligibility to play for the Hurricanes in 2019.
Martell appeared in six games with the Buckeyes in 2018, all in relief duty of prospective first round NFL Draft pick Dwayne Haskins. Despite the NCAA’s recent institution of a four-game redshirt, Martell will be allowed to supersede those new rules and play without sitting out next season.
Given the state of what is trending towards being a pseudo “free agency” in the college football transfer market, it’s not so surprising Martell will play without the year-long penalty. But his eligibility doesn’t come with no strings attached. Instead, it’s newly minted Miami head coach Manny Diaz who will feel the pressure.
Diaz has made waves on the Transfer Portal since he was rehired to Miami after a short hiatus as the head coach at Temple. The momentum he’s generated in a few short months has been tremendous. So tremendous that, when combined with the Miami brand, have already started the clock on winning big.
Miami plays in the ACC Coastal, a division won by a 7-7 Pitt team in 2018. They have the luxury of avoiding blue blood programs like Clemson and Florida State. Instead, their toughest annual challenge will come from the likes of Virginia Tech.
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Martell’s eligibility removes the quarterback excuse from the equation. Diaz has his guy. Now he has to win. Patience is not something found in abundance in Coral Gables.