Miami Football: Should we be surprised that Tate Martell isn’t QB1?

After an interesting development on Monday, Tate Martell wasn’t named the starting quarterback for Miami football. Should we be surprised?

Tate Martell transferred to Miami with the hope of earning what he never could at Ohio State: the starting job.

Just days into summer camp and hope for a career turnaround after a quiet start, following a waiver approval for immediate eligibility, is gone — at least for now. Martell didn’t win the starting job for the Hurricanes and he could be as low as third-string when the season begins as redshirt freshman Jarren Williams beat out him and N’Kosi Perry.

Those two were projected to be the No. 1 and No. 2 quarterbacks heading into the season, though the order wasn’t yet decided, but that’s just how Martell’s career has gone to this point.

Should we be surprised that Martell didn’t win the starting job? Not really, considering he had a relatively lackluster spring and it seemed to carry over into the summer. He’s plenty talented, but it could be his run-first mentality that got him into trouble during the quarterback battle.

Indecisiveness got him into trouble at times while with Ohio State and there’s a reason Urban Meyer played him in running situations. Is his arm not what it’s cut out to be? Is his size a concern? Both seem like decent reasons to pick a redshirt freshman over him.

Maybe this isn’t about Martell at all. Maybe Williams is just that good and no one is talking about him being one of the nation’s rising stars.

Whatever the case may be, this decision shouldn’t surprise too many folks, but we will see Martell at some point as he’ll get his chance. But if he fails again when given the opportunity, will we see his name pop up in transfer rumors again?