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Iowa City native Oliver Martin entered the NCAA transfer portal Friday morning, per the internet.
2017 4-star WR Oliver Martin, who transferred to #Hawkeyes from #GoBlue, is in the transfer portal. He totaled 5 rec for 28 yds and 1 TD in 2019 @rivalsmike @RivalsWoody @BlairRIVALS https://t.co/mYOpSc9wf5
— NCAA Transfer Portal (@RivalsPortal) August 7, 2020
Iowa receiver Oliver Martin reportedly enters transfer portal https://t.co/S0tGIqw45j
— Tyler Devine (@devine_tyler) August 7, 2020
I’m sure you’re all well-aware of Martin’s history by now: a four-star recruit out of Iowa City West, Martin committed to Michigan and played sparingly for the Wolverines in 2018 after redshirting the year prior. Iowa had Nate Stanley while Michigan didn’t, so Martin transferred back home and found out he was eligible to play in 2019 just a week before the season kicked off.
Martin caught 2 passes for 14 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against Miami The Lesser, and caught 2 passes for 10 yards the following week against Rutgers. After that, he was put in the drawer for the season aside from 1 catch for 4 yards against Middle Tennessee.
Alas, Martin found himself lost within the most talented receiver group Iowa’s ever had since DJK and Marvin McNutt were on the roster. I don’t think anyone can really argue in earnest that Martin deserved playing time over Brandon Smith, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Nico Ragaini and Tyrone Tracy.
All those guys are still on the roster, so seeing serious field time was still probably out of reach for at least one more year for Martin.
It might be something other than playing time, however. I seriously doubt Martin will be granted immediate eligibility on a new team again, unless the NCAA is sort of allowing that willy nilly due to COVID, which would be understandable. So he might be looking at a year on the bench anywhere. So why not stay at Iowa?
His entering the portal isn’t necessarily a death knell though. If you recall, Daviyon Nixon entered the portal two years ago only to see that grass was in fact not greener on the other side. Martin’s timing is a little curious since camp started today and he had all summer to make this decision. But these are humans after all, and we’re a fickle beast.
Martin got his name dragged by some around this time last year. I suppose that will happen again. I hope Martin makes the best decision for himself. If that means if he’s staying in Iowa City, great. If not, also great.