Adrian Martinez #9 of the Birmingham Stallions passes the ball against the Memphis Showboats during the second quarter at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on May 04, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Wes Hale/UFL/Getty Images)
I have a confession to make: I’ve never been much of a fan of Birmingham Stallions QB Adrian Martinez.
Oh, it’s nothing personal. In the many games I’ve seen him play, I just haven’t been impressed with the totality of his skill set.
As a die-hard follower of the Wisconsin Badgers, I got to see Martinez up close and often. He began his career in the Big Ten with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, a heralded freshman starter that was expected to turn around the once-powerful program. He was talked up to such a degree that I had a bit of trepidation when he stepped onto the field against the Badgers.
Across four seasons though, I kept coming away underwhelmed with Martinez’s performances. Yes, he was dynamic, and yes he could run. But his throwing ability trailed so far behind. He was inaccurate and made poor decisions, a rough combination to say the least.
In his one season after transferring to Kansas State, I saw him again and noted improvement in those areas he was once deficient. They weren’t improvements that I thought would completely resuscitate his pro potential, however. I figured he’d get thrown into the pile as yet another over-hyped prospect that failed to live up to the billing.
In my personal notes after scouting Martinez before the 2023 NFL Draft, my final line was, “does not seem like a viable QB at the next level.” After an opportunity in training camp with the Detroit Lions, Martinez found no other takers, eventually latching on with the Stallions.
Looking at Birmingham’s QB depth chart, I expected Matt Corral and J’Mar Smith to battle for the starting job, with Martinez carrying the clipboard. Instead, Martinez has been one of the stars of the UFL this season. He has outperformed a former 3rd round NFL draft pick in Corral, as well as USFL Championship-winning QB in Smith, and in the process may have permanently secured the starting role for 6-0 Birmingham.
What seemed to happen is that Martinez got better at every stop. He was better at Kansas State than he was at Nebraska. And he’s better at Birmingham than he was at Kansas State. Stallions head coach Skip Holtz gets a lot of credit as a QB whisperer, but Martinez deserves a ton of credit for working hard on his passing skills as well.
So I’m here to say I was wrong. Adrian Martinez has won me over. He’s become one of the most exciting players in the UFL, something this league desperately needs. Martinez just as desperately wants to get back to the NFL. He likely will get an opportunity with a team in training camp. If nothing else, there will be a place for him in the UFL if he wants it.
Martinez has become what I didn’t believe he could be: A viable QB at the next level. And I’m more than happy to have been wrong about that.
