<p>COLUMBUS â€“ Forgive the ear-to-ear smile Tate Martell wore at the postgame podium if it was mistaken for anything other than sincerity.</p>
<p>For all the confidence often interpreted as cockiness, the grin was an honest expression for the oft-misunderstood redshirt freshman, a player that has piqued the interest at Ohio State since the former Gatorade National Player of the Year and three-time high school national champion from Las Vegas — announced his commitment June of 2016.</p>
<p>He had waited for moments like he provided in the 52-3 win over Rutgers on Saturday quietly and confidently, ready to make sure everyone knew he wasn’t going to <a href="https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state-football/tate-martell-ohio-state-buckeyes-quarterback-depth-chart/">just be a gadget</a> in Ohio State’s bag of tricks. He’s a quarterback, period, and he wants people to know that.</p>
<div style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; overflow: hidden;"><iframe loading="lazy" style="position: absolute;" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/qNl0Zh8w-6pZrgfJz.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
<p>“I’ve been waiting for quite some time now ever since, I think, really the end of my senior year, after redshirting last year,” Martell said Saturday. “It was just fun getting out there.”</p>
<p>Dwayne Haskins is the Buckeyes starter, undeniably. He’s a first-round NFL Draft pick waiting to happen, and there’s no quarterback controversy in Columbus. But Ohio State has made it a point in each of its fist two games to put Martell on the field with the first-team offense, because he may be a bigger part of the program’s future than Haskins.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s early. But it is already looking likelyÂ that Haskins bolts for the NFL next year as a professional prototype, fluid and effortless, firing the ball anywhere he wants with ease.</p>
<p>If what we’ve seen through two weeks isn’t just smoke and mirrors, then Martell needs to be ready to be the guy in Columbus come January. Martell avoided a couple of “gotcha” questions like he avoided Scarlet Knight defenders on Saturday, including one about Haskins’ NFL future, but his grin didn’t do a great job of hiding his feelings.</p>
<p>He believes in himself. He also believes he could be the full-time starter at Ohio State right now, but has bought into the program’s plans for his future. And that futureÂ could include three more seasons at the helm in Columbus after the final whistle blows on 2018.</p>
<p>“[Offensive coordinator Ryan] Day is going to put me in the best situation when I go out there,” Martell said. “And whenever that is, that’s really up to him. I feel they know how to use me and whatever they do is what they do.</p>
<p>“I just want to go out there and just play. That’s just how I go out there. I’ve improved a ton as a passer. And I want to be able to go out there and show that, and I just went out there and made plays with my legs when I had to. And obviously Dwayne is our starter. That’s how it is. And I’ll be there if something goes wrong. Whatever, whatever goes on with the coaches, whatever they want to do.”</p>
<p>Nothing went wrong on Saturday for Ohio State, Dwayne Haskins or Martell. There Martell was, completing 10-10 passes for 121 yards and a long touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin, <a href="https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state-football/tate-martell-dwayne-haskins-touchdown-pass-ohio-state-rutgers-highlights/">his first Buckeyes touchdown</a>. The book on Martell is that passing isn’t his strength, which is why he’s so quick about pointing out his improvements in that part of his game.</p>
<p>Martell was at his best when doubted in high school, particularly when it comes to being undersized. He’s also resilient when knocked down, like Rutgers did to him on Saturday, because he’s a next-level competitor trying to develop next-level talent. That’s why getting him on the field now is so important for his future and for Ohio State’s.</p>
<div>
<div style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; overflow: hidden;"><iframe loading="lazy" style="position: absolute;" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/cnoOkJXr-6pZrgfJz.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
</div>
<p>That’s why Ryan Day has given him the chance to prove himself in live situations, because that’s where a player like Martell is best.</p>
<p>“I thought you got a chance to see what Tate can do today, which is great,” Day said. “He’s 10 for 10, throwing the ball. And ran for I think 90-something yards. And he can beat you with his feet and beat you with his arm. And that’s what makes him a special player.</p>
<p>“He’s getting better as well. And so if we can just keep building, then we’re going to have something really good.”</p>
<p>College football is unique because coaches must win today while preparing for next year and the years to come. In Columbus, that means understanding how special Dwayne Haskins is now, while making sure Tate Martell gets chances to lead the Buckeyes into the future.</p>


tate-martell-by-birm

Lettermen Row

Tate Martell is Ohio State's future, but he can still help right now

team image

Big Ten Conference

Ohio State Buckeyes

Organization Logo

Ohio State

Lettermen Lounge

News

Lobby

Ohio High School Football

Forums

News Feed

Roster

Schedule

Transfer Portal Ranking

Transfer Portal

Ohio State Draft History

[site-team] Draft History

Football

Search

Commitments

Transfers

Team Rankings

Player Rankings

Industry Comparison

Offers

Visits

Recruiting Prediction Machine

FB Recruiting

Basketball

BB Recruiting

About

Staff

Lettermen Row On3+ Subscription

[site-name] On3+ Subscription

Contact

Podcasts and Shows

Team Store

Women's Basketball

Softball

Baseball

Message Boards

Transfer Portal {{ hot }}

Transfer Portal Player Rankings

MegaBoard

Rivals300

Alabama

Arizona State

Arizona

Arkansas

Auburn

Baylor

Boston College

California

Removed

Clemson

Colorado

Duke

Florida

Florida State

Georgia

Georgia Tech

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Iowa State

Kansas

Kansas State

Kentucky

Louisville

Maryland

Miami

Michigan State

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi State

Missouri

NC State

Nebraska

North Carolina

Northwestern

Notre Dame

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

Ole Miss

The Main Board

Oregon

Oregon State

Penn State

Pittsburgh

Purdue

Rutgers

South Carolina

Stanford

Syracuse

Tennessee

Texas A&M

Texas

Texas Tech

UCLA

Utah

Vanderbilt

Virginia

Virginia Tech

Wake Forest

Washington

Washington State

West Virginia

Wisconsin

BamaOnLine

BOL Round Table

Inside Texas

IT Members Only

DawgsHQ

Dawg Walk

Scoop Duck

Recruiting & Sports

AuburnSports

The Corner

WeAreSC

GarryP's Trojan Huddle

The Wolverine

The Fort

The Lions Den

The Wolfpacker

The Wolves’ Den

GatorsOnline

Swamp Talk

Alabama A&M

Alabama State

Albany

Alcorn State

Abilene Christian

Appalachian State

Akron

Army

Austin Peay

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Arkansas-Little Rock

Arkansas State

Air Force

Ball State

American

Wofford

Winthrop

Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Wisconsin-Green Bay

Wichita State

Western Carolina

Volleyball

Gymnastics

Men's Lacrosse

Women's Lacrosse

Men's Soccer

Women's Soccer

Women's Track

Men's Golf

Women's Golf

Men's Hockey

Women's Hockey

Men's Swimming

Women's Swimming

Wrestling

Men's Tennis

Women's Tennis

Annual $1

Annual Premium

Annual $1 

Monthly

Annual

Unlimited Access to This and All Articles.

Article (On3 Plus Rivals)

Forum (On3 Plus Rivals)

Intro

Join

College scoop, experts, and community - all in one.

Winback

Grading Buckeyes offensive additions in transfer portal

Offensive Report card

Profile for Ohio State offensive coordinator more clear than candidate list

What does OSU want at OC?

Grading Buckeyes defensive additions in transfer portal

Defensive Report card

Ohio State offseason so far signals confidence in offensive line, Tyler Bowen

Big season coming for Bowen

Grading Buckeyes special teams additions in transfer portal

Special teams Report card

Top 25 shakeup on deck

AP Poll Prediction

Punishing players' wallets

Deion Sanders

New No. 1 overall seed

Bracketology update

Buckeyes hire ex-NFL HC

OSU hires OC

Most impactful transfers

Instant Impact