Reports: Ohio State QB Tate Martell is in NCAA transfer database

So much for bringing it on.

In the midst of all of the Justin Fields-to-Ohio State speculation, Tate Martell, the presumptive heir to Dwayne Haskins’ quarterback throne in Columbus, scoffed at speculation that he would transfer if Fields joined the Buckeyes.

Why would I leave for someone who hasn’t put a single second into this program? I have put two years of literally working my ass into something that I’ve been waiting for and a dream I’ve had my whole life. To just run away from somebody who hasn’t put in a single second in at winter workouts and doesn’t know what the program is all about? There’s not a chance.

Saturday, it was confirmed that Fields had transferred from Georgia to OSU. Five days later, Martell has kicked off the process of high-tailing it out of Columbus to avoid what would’ve been a high-profile competition for the starting job, provided Fields is granted immediate eligibility as expected.

Can confirm: Tate Martell is in the NCAA transfer portal. Allows him the opportunity to speak to another school about a possible transfer from Ohio State.

— Kyle Rowland (@KyleRowland) January 10, 2019

Can confirm that Tate Martell is now in the NCAA transfer portal. He’ll begin to explore options outside of Ohio State — believe Miami and West Virginia are two schools that are worth watching.

— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) January 10, 2019

The fact that Martell’s name appears in the NCAA transfer database doesn’t necessarily mean that he will definitely leave the Buckeyes -- he can always pull his name from the portal and stay in Columbus -- but it’s certainly a first step that normally means a move on. It does, though, mean that other programs can contact Martell without receiving permission from OSU.

Martell was a four-star member of OSU’s 2017 recruiting class, rated as the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the country. After redshirting as a true freshman, Martell threw for 269 yards and a touchdown on 23-of-28 passing this past season while also running for another 128 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.