Former Ohio State quarterback Tate Martell was ruled eligible to play the 2019 season by the NCAA.
The University of Miami announced the ruling Tuesday afternoon.
It’s not clear what grounds the NCAA used to grant Martell the waiver.
Miami’s statement references Ohio State’s “assistance and support throughout the waiver process.”
Back in December, Martell was seemingly poised to win the starting quarterback job in Columbus for 2019.
Just days before the Rose Bowl, Martell told reporters that he was “100 percent” confident that he would be the Buckeyes’ 2019 starter.
He scoffed at the notion that he would leave Columbus if Justin Fields transferred in.
“Why would I leave for somebody who hasn’t put a single second into this program yet?” he said at Rose Bowl media day. “I’ve put two years of working my ass off into something that I’ve been praying for and dreaming of my whole life. To just run from somebody that hasn’t put a single second into workouts or anything like that and doesn’t know what the program is all about, there’s not a chance.”
Less than two weeks later, he entered his name in the NCAA Transfer portal.
You can see Martell’s tweet announcing the decision and read the full release from Miami below.
we aren’t ready yet.. but we will be!
oh btw… I’M ELIGIBLE TO PLAY! pic.twitter.com/jSr9wmwiqi
— TATE MARTELL (@TheTateMartell) March 19, 2019
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami football program announced Tuesday that the National Collegiate Athletic Association has approved a waiver for quarterback Tate Martell, which makes him immediately eligible for competition.
“We are pleased with this ruling and appreciate the NCAA recognizing that this waiver met the criteria under the membership established guidelines,” Director of Athletics Blake James said. “We would like to thank the NCAA, as well as Ohio State University, for their assistance and support throughout the waiver process. We look forward to seeing Tate compete for the Hurricanes this season.”
Martell, a redshirt sophomore from Las Vegas, transferred to UM from Ohio State in January. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.