Why Kansas State makes sense as transfer destination for Nebraska QB Adrian Martinez
It didn’t take long for the speculation to begin.
Immediately after Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez announced that he was transferring from the Cornhuskers and looking for a new team on Thursday, Kansas State football fans started to wonder if he might take over for Skylar Thompson and lead the Wildcats on offense next season.
Why? Well, Martinez has an obvious reason to consider finishing out his college career in Manhattan.
He is dating a K-State soccer player and has made several visits to campus to watch her play over the past year.
Martinez was a four-year starter at Nebraska who played in 39 games with the Huskers. He has thrown for 8,495 yards and 45 touchdowns while also rushing for 2,288 yards and 35 touchdowns.
He has one year of eligibility remaining, and he could help the Wildcats next season as their future quarterback plans are murky. They may need a transfer to command the huddle if Will Howard, Jaren Lewis and Jake Rubley aren’t ready to start on a permanent basis.
There are obvious reasons why Martinez and K-State would make a good match. But it is unknown how interested Chris Klieman and his coaching staff are in the idea of Martinez.
His stats at Nebraska were eye-popping, but the Huskers never won more than five games in a season while he was there. He is also coming off a season-ending injury to his right shoulder that will require surgery.
How quickly can he adjust to a new offense, especially if he isn’t healthy enough to participate in spring practice?
Those are questions any coaching staff interested in Martinez will have to ponder.
For now, though, it seems like K-State is as likely a transfer destination as any.
This story was originally published December 3, 2021 at 10:13 AM with the headline "Why Kansas State makes sense as transfer destination for Nebraska QB Adrian Martinez."