Adrian Martinez looks to join a very small group of Nebraska QBs.
Former Husker and Kansas State QB, Adrian Martinez will be the starting quarterback next month for the New Jersey Generals of the USFL.
When he takes the field on Saturday, April 15th at 6:30 p.m. (CDT) against the Birmingham Stallions, he will join that very select group of former Husker players. (BTW, the head coach of the Generals is Mike Riley. Yes-the same Mike Riley who was Nebraska's head football coach from 2015-2017,)
Who are the other former Husker QBs Adrian Martinez will be joining? Here's the list of the players and the pro teams they played for.
1.) Sam Vacanti (played for Nebraska in 1946)
Baltimore Colts and Chicago Rockets of the All American Football Conference
2.) Dennis Claridge ('61-'63)
Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons
3.) Jerry Tagge (1969-'71)
Green Bay Packers, San Antonia Wings (WFL) and BC Lions (CFL)
4.) Dave Humm ('72-'74)
Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts
5.) Vince Ferragamo ('74-'75)
LA Rams, Montreal Alouettes (CFL), Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers
Started at QB for the Rams in Super Bowl XVI
6.) Bruce Mathison ('81-'82)
San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks
Note: Former Husker QB and current head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, Zac Taylor, played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL, but performed only on their practice squad. Taylor played for Nebraska from 2005-2006.
It doesn't seem possible that in over 130 years of playing football, Nebraska has produced only six professional football quarterbacks.
Ask most Husker fans about Adrian Martinez and they'll tell you he is an exciting athlete who can make dazzling plays with his arm as well as with his feet. They'll add that he's great kid who gave it his all while playing for the Huskers. But fans will also point out Martinez's knack of fumbling and tossing game-losing INTs. All of that is true but still, I can't wait to see him play pro ball, even if it is in the USFL.
If he can stay healthy, Adrian is going to have a great career in that league. Who knows, maybe he can convince some NFL teams to give him a chance.
How Bout Them Huskers
In this week's episode, grandson Will and I talk a lot about this week's start of Husker spring football practice. We discuss our expectations of spring camp and share some of the questions we hope will be answered. Husker baseball and the run in the WNIT by the Husker women's basketball team are other topics we cover.
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