Illinois Football: 5 transfer portal quarterbacks on my wish list for the Illini

Adrian Martinez – Nebraska – 5th Year

I am going to be honest, I am not completely bought into the idea of Adrian Martinez, but he would be the best option at quarterback if he picked the Illini.

Illinois fans are very familiar with Martinez from his four seasons with Nebraska. The great athlete is now looking for a new home after not getting traction with the new coaching staff in Lincoln.

Martinez was once the prized commitment for the Cornhuskers. He was a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 7 dual-threat quarterback in the 2018 class. Since then, things have been a little iffy for Martinez.

For his career, Martinez threw for 8,495 yards, 45 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions. His best season through the air was in 2018 when he threw for 2,617 yards, 17 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.

What would set Martinez apart from the rest would be his legs. He ran for 2,288 yards and 35 touchdowns during his Nebraska career. Those are impressive numbers.

It would be great to have someone come into the program with the amount of experience that Martinez brings to the table. He has also played in the Big Ten for four seasons, so he knows the defenses in the conference. That is another big bonus.

I wouldn’t mind having someone like Martinez come to Champaign. He would be fun to watch during the 2022 campaign. But there are reports that Martinez might be down to Kansas State and Cal for his decision. So, Illinois might not have a shot here.