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Nebraska football: 5 reasons to be excited for the future

By Shayne Nissen

LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 14: Head coach Scott Frost of the Nebraska Cornhuskers leads the team on the field against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Memorial Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 14: Head coach Scott Frost of the Nebraska Cornhuskers leads the team on the field against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Memorial Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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LINCOLN, NE – SEPTEMBER 14: Quarterback Adrian Martinez #2 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers passes in the first half against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Memorial Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – SEPTEMBER 14: Quarterback Adrian Martinez #2 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers passes in the first half against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Memorial Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

2. Adrian Martinez

What can you say about a player like Martinez? He is one of the least known great quarterbacks in the country and his numbers as a true freshman showcase that. In 11 games with the Cornhuskers, he threw for 2,617 yards, 17 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions. His arm isn’t the only thing that is a threat either, he also ran for 629 yards and eight touchdowns as well.

Those are pretty eye-popping numbers for a freshman and his talent has already been on display this season as well. Through three games, he is throwing at a 60% completion rate while also gaining 725 yards of passing and four touchdowns. On the ground this season he has 116 yards and three touchdowns. If Martinez can stay healthy, he has the chance to throw for 3,000 yards and start to approach 1,000 yards rushing. Numbers that are Heisman-like as only six players have ever done it.

With Martinez having a minimum of two years left to play in a Cornhusker uniform, he affects both their short-term future as well as their long-term future as well. The short-term is quite obvious, just watch a Nebraska football game and you will see why this kid is special and has the chance to help change the culture in Lincoln.

The long-term is more complicated, but still just as important. Future four and five-star quarterbacks will look at Martinez after he is drafted in the NFL and understand that there is an individual future at Nebraska. When elite quarterbacks flood into programs, so to do the other skill positions as well. They want to build something special at the university as well as benefiting their future. This is how the Nick Saban’s and Urban Meyer’s of the world build elite programs, and it’s how Frost will do the same.

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