#3 Taylor Martinez
Jr • QB • 6-1 • 205 lbs
| Hometown: | Corona, CA |
| Previous School: | Centennial |
| Recruited By: | Carl Pelini |
| Recruiting Class: | 2009 |
Is Russell Wilson Overrated?
With all of the hype surrounding North Carolina State quarterback Russell Wilson's transfer to Wisconsin, you'd think that the Badgers had just acquired some combination of Michael Vick and Peyton Manning. It's fair to say that he looks like an upgrade over the other Wisconsin signal callers. Still, does he …
Buckeyes Face Familiar Decision
<font size="2">A year ago Bo Pelini faced a decision. Should he start the season with the veteran Zac Lee or bet on the athleticism of the younger Taylor Martinez? Early on, it seemed that Nebraska had pretty clearly made the right decision. Then, injuries to Lee made the choice irrelevant. …
Five Great Players for 2011
Former Husker linebacker and Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez once shared his theory that to win a national championship you don't need 22 great players. You just need five and the rest just need to be really good. We've made it something of a tradition to look at Nebraska's roster …
On Cody Green
<span lang="">We were taken to task for not jumping on the story sooner, but the departure of Cody Green isn't something that was particularly surprising or concerning. It's a bit like seeing Joe Dailey transfer in 2005. Sure, all else equal it would be nice if he stayed. But he …
Don't Pencil In That Title Just Yet
Jim Tressel's resignation at Ohio State sparked the potential for turmoil amid the top of the Big Ten Conference this season. Among the favorite topics of discussion for the analysts since the weekend: whether Bo Pelini can lead the Huskers to a Big Ten Title. The theory goes, even in …
Husker Backs Will Compete In Big Ten
While watching college football, there will be those times when a fan is sitting and viewing a game in a favorite establishment. Enjoyment turns to annoyance when a neighboring table or stool indicates their bias - insisting that the Big Ten is just full of plodding running games and 11 …
No News Season
Signing day passed. Spring game done. Bo Pelini's new contract signed. Once the best of the graduating and leaving Huskers are drafted, the dead zone of news happens for about a month. Last year, there was the rumor and questions surrounding the conference stability and what Nebraska was going to …
A Fairly Clear Decision
Husker fans will spend the next four or five months wondering who the starting quarterback will be in the fall and who the starting signal caller should be. The two top candidates (in the eyes of fans anyway) are probably Taylor Martinez and Brion Carnes. The choice for Nebraska head …
Martinez Would Start Tomorrow. Duh.
This week, Nebraska Head Coach Bo Pelini went on ESPN's "College Football Live" program and discussed his team. Quarterback play was among the topics covered. Pelini indicated that Taylor Martinez would be the starter if NU played a game today. The fan and reaction to this rather obvious statement has me a …
Few Fan Concerns
In the springtime, there is little to discuss about the Fall prospects of the Huskers. Besides the glorified practice of the annual Red-White game, reports out of scrimmages and information gleaned from the odd press conference or two are the only sources. But discuss fans do, and the main concerns …
The Clamor for Carnes Begins
<font size="2">They say the most popular player on a football team with the fans is often the backup quarterback. This spring's contest might well make that true for redshirt freshman Brion Carnes. In a game where neither Taylor Martinez nor Cody Green played particularly well, Brion Carnes finished with a …
Handicapping the Spring Game
<span lang="">Since Bo Pelini returned to Nebraska, the spring game has become a competitive contest. By splitting the talent, Nebraska's head coach has kept things from becoming too one-sided. Even so, it's often been clear which team had an advantage. This season's contest might be the toughest to call yet.</span> …
What To Watch For Saturday
Tens of thousands of Nebraska fans will be watching the Husker's annual spring game this Saturday. While it won't be on television, scads more will listen on the radio and digest every bit of information they can from news reports. What should the fans inside Memorial stadium direct their attention? Well, other …
Spring Is In The Air
Last April, the Red White game at Memorial Stadium was expected to be a showcase of quarterback backups and what the defense would do without Suh on the field. Instead, fans at the game caught a glimpse of speed that an option spread attack could provide. Led by Taylor Martinez …
Is it Time for the Taylor Martinez Redemption Tour to Begin?
<font size="2">Taylor Martinez had quite a journey when it came to public perception a year ago. He went from obscurity, to Heisman hype, to the doghouse in the span of just a few short months. While some simply felt Martinez was still limited by injury, others assailed his character. History …
Little News is Good News
The Huskers are quietly preparing for their April 16th Spring Game. They are catching a break with a week off for spring break, leading to a lull in news out of Lincoln. Right now, the biggest piece of news from the Husker front seems to be questions about the ability …
Finish Strong
Funny the things you find in the depths of football winter. Like this stat, for example, from the always reliable cfbstats.com: Cam Newton was a perfect 19 of 19 passing on Auburn's opening drives in 2010 with a 284.73 passer rating. That's a pretty specific time frame but perfect is …
Heard It All Before
Tim Beck has now spoken and there is one similarity between him and Shawn Watson at the offensive coordinator position: it is all just talk. The difference being that there has yet to be a team led by Beck take the field. He still has the chance to back everything …
Shawn Watson's History With Huskers Over Without Impression
When the official word went out that Shawn Watson was moving on to Louisville, I went to my off season stand-by. I looked at numbers. During the four year tenure with Watson at the helm of the offensive coordinator position, the Husker offense could not reach the same level of …
Who Will Be QB in 2012?
This year's class has been touted by the major recruiting services as a strong one for Nebraska due to offensive line and secondary positions. But an important fact in the rankings is that the Huskers have offered scholarships to two of the top quarterbacks in the country. When Jamal Turner …
Taylor Martinez Declares His Intent to Remain at Nebraska
Putting an end to a lot of rumor and speculation, NU quarterback Taylor Martinez issued a statement that he will return to Nebraska rather than seek to transfer (as had been rumored). While Martinez has his critics, this is only good news for Nebraska.
The Names You'll Hear in the New Year
<font size="2">The long offseason begins and while there will be plenty of buzz about the stable of studs on defense, those fans who want to experience some measure of hope for the offense will likely focus on a few names. In fact, fans may spend as much time talking up …
Poor Quarterback Play, Penalties, Doom Nebraska
<span lang="">The Holiday Bowl rematch between Nebraska and Washington was thought to be an opportunity for redemption for the signal callers for each school. Jake Locker was trying to make amends for his poor passing day in the initial meeting. Taylor Martinez was trying to make up for his last …
All Eyes on Martinez
The Holiday Bowl provides a potential moment of redemption for Husker quarterback Taylor Martinez. The success he had against Washington the last time he faced the Huskies, the cloud of his last performance and his need to hold off potential competitors for the quarterback job are all factors in this …
How Much is Enough in the Holiday Bowl?
<font size="2">After the 56-21 shellacking of Washington in Seattle, the goal for Nebraska (at least in the eyes of NU fans) probably isn't simply to win a rematch on neutral field but to win comfortably. Which begs the question, how much is enough the second time around? </font> …
In Defense of Watson and Martinez
<font size="2">Two people have gotten more of the blame for the outcome of the Big 12 Championship from Joe the fan than anyone else - Shawn Watson and Taylor Martinez. It's my nature to be contrary, I suppose. I despise only hearing one side of the story. So while I'm …
One to grow on or go on?
On my flight back from Dallas on Sunday I was seated directly in front of an Auburn fan and surrounded by fellow Huskers. He was wearing his colors and happy and, well, we were wearing our colors. The talk, of course, immediately turned to football. "I heard ya'lls quarterback might …
All-Big 12 Selections Tell a Larger Story
The Big 12 announced it's all-conference team and it's annual award winners. Nebraska players hauled in a number of accolades - the most in more than a decade. These awards are another solid indicator that NU is indeed on an upswing as a program. They also underscore the reputation that coach …
3 ways Nebraska can win regardless of who plays QB
The least surprising news of the week came scrolling across ESPN’s bottom line around mid-day Monday: “Nebraska coach Bo Pelini will not disclose Taylor Martinez injury status prior to Saturday’s Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship Game (ABC, 8pm ET).” I don’t know who in Nebraska was waiting with baited breath …
Nebraska Pounds Colorado to Win Big 12 North Division
<font size="2">Going into a game that Nebraska desperately needed, the question was how would the Huskers generate offense. If you asked most NU fans, the name Rex Burkhead would have been a common answer. Burkhead started strong to stake the Big Red to a 17-3 halftime lead, rushing for one …
After the Magic is gone
Days before the A&M game I was already concerned that Nebraska, should they be in a must-win situation, could be facing a perfect storm against a rejuvenated Colorado squad. Now, with another CU win, another shaky offensive performance from the Huskers and whatever happened with the Martinez situation looming over …
Quotes from Bo Pelini's press conference
Bo Pelini covered a lot of ground in his weekly press conference today. He answered questions about officiating, his actions on the sideline, Carl Pelini's incident after the game, his message to the players and if the Big 12 is out to get Nebraska. Read on for highlights. …
Pelini and Huskers Still Have Work to Do
This weekend's mess against Texas A&M was genuinely one of the few times a game could be called a spectacle and not be hyperbole or exaggeration. From the officiating, to Bo Pelini's blow ups, and the sheer embarrassment of the offense's inability to perform when needed, there will be a …
12th Man Wears Zebra Stripes as Texas A&M Gets Win Over Nebraska
<font size="2">All year, Husker fans were left to wonder whether the Big 12 would allow Nebraska to win a conference championship in their final season. They may have gotten an answer to that question as they watched their team face the Aggies in College Station. Nebraska was flagged 16 times …
Aggies Provide Interesting Counter to Huskers
As the student section in College Station seems to grow larger by the minute, the anticipation as the Huskers prepare to face the Aggies grows with it. These two teams could prove to have one of the most interesting matches of the year as fans look over the stats sheets …
Martinez Starts as Huskers Down Kansas
<font size="2">Husker fans expecting to see someone other than Taylor Martinez taking snaps at quarterback for Nebraska this week got a welcome surprise as he made a nice return to the starting lineup. He did his damage through the air, staking Nebraska to a 14-0 halftime lead. The Blackshirts did their …
Texas Tech Provides Breathing Room for Nebraska
<font size="2">It goes without saying that Nebraska's win at Iowa State was important if the Huskers are going to win the Big 12 North. But Missouri's loss at Texas Tech may prove to be almost equally helpful. The Huskers enter the final quarter of the regular season with a fair …
Nebraska Beats Missouri 31-17 Behind Roy Helu's Record Day
This was going to be a great win, no matter how it came. But Roy Helu made the game and himself an unforgettable part of Husker History. By toting the ball for over 300 yards (on fewer than 30 carries), he nearly single-handedly delivered victory. Though that would deny credit …
2010 Nebraska vs Missouri Game Day Pocket Guide
http://bigrednetwork.com/assets/stories/gary-pinkel.jpg Are you prepared for the de-facto Big 12 North Division Championship Game this weekend? How does Missouri's defense compare to the Blackshirts? What NCAA record is Taylor Martinez on track for? Do you have the roster memorized? Anyone? Bueller? Anyone? OK. Don't get your visor twisted. Just print this …
Defense Struggles in Husker Win
<font size="3">You'd take any win in a road game against an undefeated team, be it 10-9 or 71-70. But that painful familiar feeling returned for Husker fans that they hadn't had since 2008 or 2007. That is, the helpless feeling of watching your opponent drive the length of the field, …
Two QB System a Viable Option
Bo Pelini appeared to question his decision to pull Redshirt Freshman QB Taylor Martinez in the third quarter against Texas last weekend. Senior Zac Lee came in with a "calming influence" to settle the team down. While not the explosive play maker Martinez has shown at times this season, Lee …
Huskers Drop
Yes, various Husker players dropped the ball on Saturday. Drop. Yes, the Husker team dropped their chance to try and get one more up on the lop-sided Big 12 history with Texas. Drop. And yes, they were punished (rightfully) in the polls with a 10-position slide. Drop.
Comedy of Errors Dooms Nebraska Against Texas
<font size="2">You never have to recover from a good start, the old adage goes. The converse of that, of course is that it can be difficult to recover from a bad start. And the Huskers came out very badly against Texas. The officials had an off second-half themselves.</font> …
Too Soon for Martinez Heisman Talk
Let me just say this right now and get it out of the way. I think Taylor Martinez is great. He is absolutely amazing to watch. He is the biggest storyline of a great (so far) Husker season. He's the straw that stirs the Husker drink. He is not, however, …
Weekend Excitement Leads to Rankings Boost
After Nebraska's impressive victory against Kansas State in front of the nation on a Thursday night, Husker nation had another weekend to sit back and relax. When the week six college football games all finished up, Nebraska ended up with a ranking the fans haven't seen very much in the …
Huskers Trounce Cats in Series Finale
<font size="3">The jersey said number three, but you'd swear it was a seven as Taylor Martinez did his best Eric Crouch impression in the last meeting with Kansas State for the Huskers. Or maybe it was Scott Frost? Nebraska rolled up 450 rushing yards and 136 passing yards on their …
Shaking Off South Dakota State
It's hard to put any kind of positive spin on Nebraska's 17-3 win over lowly South Dakota State. It's never a good idea for a coach to announce he doesn't want to play a game. When Tom Osborne essentially did that in regards to the Oklahoma rematch in 1978 and …
Local Media Down on NU, Huskers Nationally Ignored
The most telling result of this last week's game is not anywhere to be found in the stat column or by reviewing game film. Just look at the polls. In a week where Texas lost to an unranked UCLA Bruins team and OU's fought a close game against a mostly …
Close win likely better than a blowout
Turns out it's not just like the old days quite yet. That was the talk after the first three games of the season. The running game was humming, the Huskers flat out out-muscled Washington on their home field and now they were going to crush a cupcake with a score …
Huskers Sluggish in 17-3 Win over South Dakota State
Nebraska won on the scoreboard Saturday night against South Dakota State, but never has a won felt so much like a loss. Beating a FCS subdivision team 17-3 – even a salty one like the Jackrabbits – is not in the realm of acceptable for a top-10 rated squad. …
- First-Team Freshman All-American (Rivals.com)
- Second-Team Freshman All-American (CollegeFootballNews.com)
- Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (Coaches, Rivals.com)
- Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year (AP, Dallas Morning News, Kansas City Star, San Antonio News-Express, Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
- Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 (Coaches, AP)
- Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Semifinalist (1 of 16)
- Maxwell Award Semifinalist (1 of 16)
- Manning Award Midseason Watch List Addition
- Walter Camp National Player of the Week (Oct. 23 at Oklahoma State)
- Four-Time Rivals.com National Freshman of the Week (WKU, UW, KSU, OSU)
- Two-Time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week (at Kansas State, at Oklahoma State)
- School Record Single-Game Rushing Yards by a Quarterback (241 at Kansas St., Oct. 7)