Report: Tate Martell hires lawyer in attempt to obtain eligibility waiver

Tate Martell announced on Tuesday that he is transferring from Ohio State to Miami, and the quarterback is hoping he will not have to sit out a season before helping his new team.

Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.com reports that Martell has hired a lawyer as he seeks to obtain an eligibility waiver to be able to play immediately at Miami. Martell redshirted his freshman year at Ohio State and then served as Dwayne Haskins’ backup this past season, so he has two years of eligibility remaining. Undergraduates who transfer typically have to sit out a year, but Martell is reportedly going to argue that Urban Meyer’s sudden retirement is reason enough for him to be immediately eligible.

While the odds of Martell winning that argument seem slim, a source close to his family told Wiltfong the 19-year-old “has a better shot than you’d think.”

One other way Martell would be able to gain eligibility is by graduating early from Ohio State, though it would be difficult for him to earn his degree by May.

Unless Martell has some sort of unique argument to present to the NCAA, it’s doubtful Meyer’s sudden retirement will be enough to grant him a waiver. That would give dozens of other players at Ohio State and across the country precedent to transfer and obtain waivers based on coaching changes.

Martell, a former five-star recruit, has decided to leave Ohio State because former Georgia quarterback is transferring to Columbus, and Fields seems like he has a much better shot at being granted a waiver.