Can Oliver Martin have a big game on Friday?
Say what you want about the Nebraska football performance last week. It was pitiful. However, there was one particular bright spot at the wide receiver position. Oliver Martin played well all things considered, and he certainly made an impact on a unit that has been struggling so far this season.
Martin caught two passes for 30 yards. It was certainly good to see him get his feet wet and be able to get some playing time. Even though he may be an newcomer to Nebraska football, Martin does have a fair amount of college football experience. His best season statistically came in 2018. That year, he caught 11 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown, averaging 11.4 yards per reception.
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Those numbers are certainly not going to win him all-American accolades . Combined with his experience at Iowa in 2019, he has certainly seen a lot of the Big Ten.
Nebraska football was not even sure if Martin was going to get to play this year due to eligibility rules. Now, he is beginning to make an impact.
In speaking to the media on Wednesday, Nebraska football head coach Scott Frost indicated that Martin was making strides. Heading into a pivotal week against Iowa, he may see the ball thrown his way a little bit more. As a receiver, it’s all about building trust with the quarterbacks. It sounds like Martin is working hard to try to see the field. Frost seemed pleased with his progress.
"Frost credited Oliver Martin with learning a lot despite not knowing if he’d even be eligible this year. He had two catches for 30 yards last season, and now gets to play against his old team. “He’s done a good job in practice this week, and I think all our guys are motivated to play. I don’t think he’s any different.”"
I’ll be interested to see what Martin’s role is as the team begins play on Friday. My guess is that he will see the ball thrown his way a bit. Last week, it was all about easing him into the offense. This week, it would be ideal for him to see an ample amount of targets, as Nebraska football needs to focus on getting the ball to their playmakers.
In any event, this would be the perfect week for Martin to really show what he has and how he plays. Nebraska needs a spark, and he could be the guy to do it.