With the implementation of the USFL and XFL’s upcoming seasons, it has given more opportunities for quarterbacks to get their chance to be the main shot caller and showcase their abilities.
Whether it be veterans looking for a second chance, or young guns looking for a way to prove their doubters wrong. These two leagues are always a fun alternative to watch during the hiatus of the NFL offseason.
Of the five rookie QBs drafted in the 2023 USFL Draft, Adrian Martinez was surprisingly the second to last pick in the draft even though he had seen much more action during his college career than those drafted before him.
Most recently, Martinez was the captain of the 2022 Kansas State Wildcats (NCAA Division-I) team that was the ninth ranked team in the NCAA with a record of 10-4.
While Martinez was sidelined for the entire latter half of the of the season, he laid down the groundwork leading the Wildcats to a 5-1 record to start off the season with a key victory against the #6 ranked Oklahoma Sooners.
Through six games, Martinez threw for 900 yards and four touchdowns with zero interceptions. He also used his legs to find the endzone nine times with 546 yards on the ground.
Before his time in the Big-12, Martinez spent four seasons in the Big-10 with the Nebraska Cornhuskers (NCAA Division-I). Being one of the more competitive conferences in college football, the team’s product did not reflect Martinez’s performance through his 39 games with the Cornhuskers.
On a weekly basis, Martinez was seeing some of the best teams in college football including, the Ohio State Buckeyes, Michigan Wolverines, Penn State Nittany Lions and many more. Even though he was on a team that was constantly in the lower half of the conference standings, it did not stop him from putting up impressive numbers.
Martinez would leave the University of Nebraska passing for 8,491 yards with 45 touchdowns. On the ground, he rushed for 2,301 yards and 31 scores. He finished with over 10,000 all-purpose yards and 76 total touchdowns.
Given his dual-threat ability and hunger after missing more than half of his final college season. Martinez will definitely be a spotlight player to watch for the upcoming USFL season; providing that he wins the starting job in for the Generals.