The Big Ten seems to be digging in on transfer rules in college football, and on Tuesday perhaps showed some leniency in making a ruling on one player’s situation. Michigan State linebacker Drake Martinez received word from the Big Ten offices his appeal to be ruled eligible to play this fall has been approved.
The former Nebraska player, the younger brother of former Huskers quarterback Taylor Martinez, would have had to sit out a season under Big Ten transfer rules after starting his collegiate career in Lincoln. The younger Martinez signed to play at Michigan State on signing day this year and waited to hear whether or not he would be eligible to play right away or if he would have to miss a year in the transfer process.
After starting his collegiate career at Nebraska in 2013, Martinez transferred to Saddleback College in California for the 2014 season. Under normal NCAA transfer rules Martinez would be eligible to play without question in 2015. But the Big Ten has a rule stipulating a player must sit out a season when making a move to another Big Ten program, regardless of the timeline. Fortunately, somebody in the Big Ten offices has at least half a brain to realize Martinez has already been out of FBS and Big ten action for a year, so the appeal should have been an easy call to make.@iamdrak0 Congrats on winning the appeal! 3 for 3! Special thanks to MSU Compliance and BIG10 office #LookWhoseCominToDinner!
— Mark Dantonio (@DantonioMark) May 19, 2015