JUST IN: Huskers name true freshman Adrian Martinez starting QB

By Matt Reynoldson

mreynoldson@klkntv.com

LINCOLN, Neb. – The last time a true freshman quarterback started a Nebraska football game, Cody Green walked out of Waco, Texas, a winner in 2009. 17 years earlier, true freshman Tommie Frazier began one of the most collegiate careers in history with a win at Missouri.

On September 1, true freshman Adrian Martinez will begin his career under center for the scarlet and cream.

The Huskers announced Sunday that Martinez will become the first true freshman quarterback to start a season-opener in program history. The news comes on the heels of a months-long quarterback battle between Martinez, redshirt freshman Tristan Gebbia and sophomore walk-on Andrew Bunch that turned into a two-horse race last week. Coaches repeated throughout fall camp that things were neck-and-neck between Martinez and Gebbia, with the two alternating reps and, seemingly, alternating better days.

In the end, it was the 6-foot-2, 218-pound dual-threat signal caller from Fresno (Calif.) Clovis West who seized the title of Nebraska starting quarterback.

A four-star recruit out of high school, Martinez was the 98th-ranked player in the 2018 class according to Rivals.com. He was originally committed to Tennessee before a coaching change, prompting Scott Frost to make him a top recruiting priority after taking the Nebraska job on December 2.

After Frost made multiple cross-country trips to Fresno during UCF bowl preparations in Orlando, Martinez committed to the Huskers on December 13, seven days before the start of the early signing period.

Martinez will make his first start in nearly two years when the Huskers take on Akron in the opener. After shoulder surgery sidelined him for his senior season, he rehabbed the injury enough to participate in the Under Armour All-America game in January. He enrolled at Nebraska a week later.

Fans caught a first-hand glimpse of the battle between Martinez and Gebbia in April’s Spring Game, when both dazzled a record crowd in the Red-White scrimmage. The competition persisted through most of fall practice before Martinez was finally named the starter with one week to spare.