Top recruit Tate Martell wanted to transfer early in Ohio State career

As J.T. Barrett has endured struggles as Ohio State’s starting quarterback this season, there have been calls for someone else to take his place.

Dwayne Haskins and Joe Burrow are next up on the Buckeyes’ depth chart, but there is also another intriguing option: Tate Martell.

Martell was a star player in high school and coveted recruit. He went 43-0 for Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, won Gatorade National Player of the Year, and his reputation precedes him. But he is still fourth on the depth chart and appears headed for a redshirt year.

Being buried on the depth chart has led to some serious questions about whether Martell will transfer or stick it in Columbus.

Cleveland.com’s Bill Landis wrote an in-depth piece on Martell that was published Friday. In the article, Landis says Martell wanted to transfer within his first few months of enrolling at Ohio State early this year

For the first time probably ever in his life, Martell was at the bottom. He wanted to transfer. The Buckeyes coaching staff made a pitch: Stay through the spring and summer and see where you’re at. The months that followed were still a bit rocky, but Martell remains a Buckeye.

The good news is Martell stuck it out. The bad news is he wanted to transfer very earlier in his career.

There are other signs that Martell might not last at Ohio State. His father is quoted as saying “you can’t be patient forever.” Landis even believes that in three years, Martell will either be Ohio State’s quarterback or with another program.

We have no doubt that Martell will be a special QB in college. He’s probably best off staying at Ohio State rather than playing the transfer game and ending up at an inferior program. But as we all know based on his high school decisions, Martell appears to be easily swayed.