Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez has been named one of 32 first-year stars on the 18th annual Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team. He is one of two quarterbacks on the list, alongside Clemson starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Martinez impressed during his freshman season with Nebraska, making 11 starts for the Huskers and breaking several records along the way. He kicked it all off by making school history when he started in the season opener against Colorado, becoming the first true freshman quarterback for the Huskers to start a season opener. He was also just the second freshman quarterback — true or redshirt — to start a season opener for Nebraska.
By the end of the season, Martinez accounted for 3,246 yards of total offense, which was the fifth-highest total in Nebraska history. He also averaged the most yards of total offense per game in program history. He completed 64.6 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,617 yards, ranking second in school history in completion percentage and eighth in passing yards. He also was sixth in completions (224) and 10th in passing touchdowns (17). On the ground, Martinez rushed for 629 yards, which was the fourth-highest rushing total of any true freshman in Nebraska history. He added eight touchdowns on the ground as well.
Here’s a look at all the Nebraska records Martinez broke in 2018:
- Career 400-Yard Total Offense Games (3)
- Season Total Offensive Yards Per Game (295.1 in 2018)
- Season 400-Yard Total Offense Games (3 in 2018)
- Season 300-Yard Total Offense Games (7 in 2018)
- Game Completion Percentage [min. 20 att.] (86.2 vs. Minnesota in 2018)
- Freshman Completions (224 in 2018)
- Freshman Completion Percentage (64.6% in 2018)
- Freshman Passing Yards (2,617 in 2018)
- Freshman Total Offensive Yards (3,246)
- Freshman Passing Touchdowns (17)
- Freshman Total Touchdowns (25)
Martinez is joined by three other Big Ten athletes on the FWAA Freshman All-America Team: Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore, Penn State kick returner K.J. Hamler and Maryland running back Anthony McFarland. The SEC led the Freshman All-America Team with six total selections, the Big 12 followed with five and the big Ten next with four. All 10 FBS conferences and two independents are represented.
The FWAA Freshman All-America Team is selected by a 13-person panel of nationally-prominent college football experts who represented each of the FBS conferences along with independents in selecting the team. The panel considered both true freshman and redshirt freshman.
2018 FWAA Freshman All-America Team
Offense (13)
- QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (6-6, 215, Cartersville, Ga.)**
- QB Adrian Martinez, Nebraska (6-2, 220, Fresno, Calif.)**
- RB Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State (5-11, 211, Harbor City, Calif.)**
- RB Anthony McFarland, Maryland (5-8, 193, Hyattsville, Md.)
- WR Rondale Moore, Purdue (5-9, 175, New Albany, Ind.)**
- WR Jayden Reed, Western Michigan (6-0, 170, Aurora, Ill.)**
- WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama (5-10, 177, Houston, Texas)**
- OL Trace Clopton, Southern Miss (6-2, 290, Brookhaven, Miss.)**
- OL Keegan Cryder, Wyoming (6-4, 291, Littleton, Colo.)
- OL James Empy, BYU (6-4, 297, American Fork, Utah)
- OL Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma (6-5, 325, Shawnee, Okla.)
- OL Cade Mays, Georgia (6-6, 318, Knoxville, Tenn.)**
- OL Isaiah Wilson, Georgia (6-7, 340, Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Offense (14)
- DL Jordan Davis, Georgia (6-6, 320, Charlotte, N.C.)**
- DL Jamal Hines, Toledo (6-2, 216, Cincinnati, Ohio)**
- DL Juwuan Jones, WKU (6-3, 270, Sugar Hill, Ga.)
- DL Austin Lewis, Liberty (6-6, 230, Jonesborough, Tenn.)**
- LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa (6-4, 250, Hominy, Okla.)
- LB Carlton Martial, Troy (5-10, 216, Mobile, Ala).
- LB Merlin Robertson, Arizona State (6-3, 235, Gardena, Calif.)**
- LB Mike Rose, Iowa State (6-3, 228, Brecksville, Ohio)**
- DB Paulson Adebo, Stanford (6-1, 189, Mansfield, Texas)
- DB Andre Cisco, Syracuse (6-0, 199, Valley Stream, N.Y.)**
- DB Adrian Frye, Texas Tech (6-1, 175, Houston, Texas)
- DB Caden Sterns, Texas (6-1, 192, Cibolo, Texas)**
- DB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama (6-2, 202, Plantation, Fla.)**
- DB Bryce Thompson, Tennessee (5-11, 180, Irmo, S.C.)**
Specialists (5)
- P Clayton Howell, Appalachian State (6-0, 183, High Point, N.C.)
- K Andre Szmyt, Syracuse (6-1, 195, Vernon Hills, Ill.)
- KR K.J. Hamler, Penn State (5-9, 173, Pontiac, Mich.)
- PR Marcus Hayes, New Mexico (6-0, 199, Rockford, Ill.)
- AP Pooka Williams Jr., Kansas (5-10, 170, Marrero, La.)**
Head Coach
- Josh Heupel, UCF
** Denotes true freshman
Erin is the Deputy Editor and Digital Marketing Strategist for Hail Varsity. She has covered Nebraska athletics since 2012, which has included stops at Bleacher Report, Cox Media Group’s Land of 10, and even Hail Varsity (previously from 2012-2017). She has also been featured on the Big Ten Network, NET’s Big Red Wrap-Up, and a varsity of radio shows nationwide. When not covering the Huskers, Erin is probably at Chipotle.
