QB Tate Martell suspended for Miami opener against UAB; two offensive linemen opt out
Tate Martell was listed as “unavailable” for the Miami Hurricanes prior to their season-opener against the UAB Blazers on Thursday. After the 31-14 victory, Manny Diaz said the quarterback was suspended for the game.
“Tate was just suspended for this game, team matter, and will be back after this game,” the coach said.
Martell joined the Hurricanes as a highly touted transfer quarterback before last season, but only appeared as a quarterback in one game. Instead, he spent time at wide receiver and even spent time away from the team for personal reasons.
Martell was one of three players the Hurricanes listed as unavailable prior to kickoff, along with offensive lineman Issiah Walker Jr. and backup punter Matias Gasc. Reasons were not given for the other two’s absences.
The Hurricanes did not disclose reasons for players’ absences and have not disclosed COVID-19 testing numbers at all throughout the offseason. The Herald reported three players tested positive for the virus in July, forcing preseason workouts to briefly shut down.
Walker, a freshman, joined the team in May as a transfer from the Florida Gators. The offensive lineman was a four-star prospect at Miami Norland and picked Florida over the Hurricanes last year, but transferred to Miami before ever playing a game in Gainesville. Last month, Diaz said the school was still waiting to hear whether Walker would be eligible this season.
Miami also announced offensive linemen Kai-Leon Herbert and Zalon’tae Hillery are out for the season. Although both have been contributors in the past, neither was part of Miami’s two-deep depth chart. The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reported the two have opted out of the season.
UAB is missing “a couple” players Thursday, Bill Clark told WBRC in Birmingham, Alabama, on Wednesday. The Blazers are testing players three times a week, the UAB coach said, and multiple players tested positive before the team left for South Florida. He said the entire team would be tested again once the Blazers arrived in Florida.
None of the players were starters, WBRC reported.
“We’re testing now three times a week ourselves and we’re testing when we get there with the ACC. We’re testing more than probably anybody in the country right now — extra safe, extra cautious,” Clark said. “We’ll have masks on on the bus, on the plane. We’re doing everything we can.”
Atlantic Coast Conference protocols require teams to test 72 hours prior to a game, 24 hours before the game and then the day after the game. The conference also requires nonconference teams to follow the same protocols the week they face ACC opponents.
Players identified as having close contact with anyone who tests positive must quarantine for at least 14 days, even if the close contact tests negative for the virus.
Positive test results for any player, coach or support staff who came into close contact with any member of the opposing team played during the preceding 48 hours must be shared “as quickly as possible and no later than 24 hours following receipt of the test result, to any such opponent,’’ according to the ACC.
If a player tests positive after a game played during the previous 48 hours, the infected individual’s role on the team must be reported to the opponent, as well as a summary of their interactions with the opposing team.
This story was originally published September 10, 2020 at 7:12 PM.
