Nebraska’s Adrian Martinez, a four-year starter at quarterback, won’t return for his fifth and final season, he announced Thursday.
He posted to social media that he will be entering the transfer portal.
“The University of Nebraska will always be a place I can call home,” he said. “It has been an honor and a privilege to represent the N for four years. … I will always be a Nebraska Cornhusker at heart and a proud alum.”
Martinez ends his Nebraska career with a 15-23 record as a starter but holds more than a dozen school records, including total offense (10,792 yards) and season completion percentage (71.5 in 2020).
Coach Scott Frost could turn himself to the transfer portal, which is starting to fill up with quarterbacks, to find a replacement for Martinez. Or, he could look to his roster, which includes Logan Smothers, who will be a redshirt sophomore this fall. Smothers appeared in six games in 2021, starting one, and completed 23 of 31 passes for 317 yards with an interception. He also ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns.
Martinez passed for 2,863 yards, 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 11 games this season and added team bests of 525 yards and 13 scores on the ground for the Cornhuskers (3-9).
Martinez leaves Nebraska as the only three-time captain in school history. His teammates and coaches praised him repeatedly for his team leadership and physical toughness in playing through injuries.
