Martell ready to roll at Ohio State

SAN ANTONIO -- Before Tate Martell enrolls at Ohio State on Monday, he hopes to do just a little bit more winning at the high school level. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound signal-caller is expected to get the start on Saturday for the West team at the Army All-American Bowl.

All-Star settings are always tough on the offense as 11 players who have never played together before try and build chemistry in just four practice days.

"I think we're going to be perfectly fine," said Martell. "We've been rolling all week. We picked it up really well on those last drives at the end of (Thursday's) practice. We're making a lot of plays and I'm excited to see what we're going to do."

Martell has taken practice seriously this week against a loaded West defense and is trying to use the time to help prepare him for life in Columbus, which begins in just a few days.

"Yeah I definitely feel like I can use this (build momentum heading to Ohio State)," he said. "I feel like I've been doing pretty good out here. I'm excited. It's definitely been really helpful to play against guys like this because this is the type of talent you're going to play against in college."

Being on the West team has also afforded Martell the chance to share a locker room with some of his future teammates at Ohio State. Wyatt Davis and Baron Browning are already committed. Jeff Okudah and Darnay Holmes decide on Saturday, and Jay Tufele is going to be a Signing Day decision. Commits Haskell Garrett, J.K. Dobbins, and Tyjon Lindsey are all on the West roster as well, though they are not participating this week due to injury.

"There's a ton of guys on our team that are going to Ohio State," Martell explained. "It's cool. We've been connecting really well and hanging out together."

During the week, news came out that Ohio State would be hiring a new quarterbacks coach as Tim Beck left to take the vacant offensive coordinator role at Texas. Martell says the news never made him think twice about his decision.

"Nothing changes for me," he said. "I'm not really worried about it. Coach Meyer said there is a chance that coaches are going to leave when you're here but that he is going to bring in the best guy (to replace those coaches) and that is what he has done so far with bringing in coach Day."

More news followed with the return of fifth year senior J.T. Barrett at quarterback. Martell said the news didn't catch him off-guard and doesn't change his preparation.

"I just want to go in there and compete," he said. "I really don't want to redshirt either way. I just want to go in there and do my thing. Obviously I would probably redshirt until I had to go in but obviously I want to play, I want to compete."

Martell is the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback prospect in the 2017 class according to Rivals.com.