5-Star QB Tate Martell: Urban Meyer Compares Me To Chris Leak


Five-star quarterback Tate Martell spoke with Campus Insiders about his Ohio State commitment and how Urban Meyer compares him to Chris Leak. 


If there’s one thing Urban Meyer knows — aside from how to win national titles — it’s how to coach quarterbacks.

Well before he was leading Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones in Columbus, the Ohio State coach had built a solid resume at Florida, and before that Utah. Meyer worked with the likes of No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick Alex Smith, and Heisman winners Tim Tebow and Cam Newton.

But when it comes to his incoming freshman quarterback, Tate Martell, he doesn’t compare any of them to the 5-star recruit.

When the nation’s No. 2 quarterback spoke with Campus Insiders, he said Meyer compares his game to a different one of his title-winning quarterbacks.

“The one that [Coach Meyer] says I remind him of — because of my size — is Chris Leak,” Martell said. “He says that, ‘It doesn’t matter what size quarterback you are, we [coaches] just have to adjust to it.’ He said, ‘I’ve seen you play. I know what you’re capable of, and I know you’re a good quarterback.'”

When Leak signed with the Florida Gators, he was the No. 3 quarterback and No. 6 overall player in the 2003 recruiting class. He went on to win a national championship under Meyer in 2006, and left Florida as the program’s all-time leader in passing yards (11,213) and No. 2 in passing touchdowns (88).

Given Leak’s success at Florida on the field and as a captain of a championship team, the comparison is very impressive. Both are similar in stature. Leak was listed at 6-foot, 210 lbs when he arrived in Gainesville. Martell is listed as 5-foot-10.5, 203 lbs. And, like Leak, Martell is mobile and possesses a strong command of the huddle. However, the Las Vegas prospect is more consistent and accurate than Leak was coming out of high school.

If Martell can progress like Leak did, the next comparison could very well be his standing next to Meyer on national TV, celebrating a national title.

Note: Scout rankings and ratings used in this article.

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