four-star prospect<\/a> in the 2022 recruiting class, Martin hasn\u2019t had the college career he thought he would have so far. After starting just one game in three years at UCLA, he was sidelined for the season before throwing a single pass as Maryland\u2019s No. 2 quarterback last year. But Martin hasn\u2019t given up on chasing his NFL dream, believing the adversity he\u2019s faced over the last four years has helped him grow as both a quarterback and a person.\n<\/p>\n\n\t\u201cMy college journey definitely wasn’t what I expected it to be. Just with injuries and having to sit behind future NFL quarterbacks and everything, it wasn’t what I expected it to be,\u201d Martin said. \u201cBut I do feel like all the experiences that I went through prepared me for life. Because life never gets easier. And with the things I want to do, the profession I want to be in and the position I want to play, I think it’s the hardest position in sports, so I don’t think you can do this without tough skin and a little bit of adversity behind you. So I’m definitely grateful for the times that I’ve had in college, and I still have a long way to go.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI know if I’m able to get coached by the best coaches in the country, especially when dealing with quarterbacks, I could really go as far as I want with football.\u201d\u2013 Justyn Martin on his decision to transfer to Ohio State\n<\/p>\n
\n\tMartin, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound quarterback who completed 24 of 35 passing attempts for 179 yards and one touchdown for UCLA in 2024, believes the experience he\u2019s gained from playing at two other Big Ten schools has prepared him well for playing at Ohio State.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI’ve seen these teams (that Ohio State will play) a bunch of times, so I bring that experience to the room. And I’ve learned plenty of offenses in the past, so learning this one and just being able to grasp the situation will be something that I bring to the room,\u201d Martin said. \u201cAnd I’m excited to work with all the guys and be around a great group of quarterbacks and really just soak everything in.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n\tWhere exactly Martin will fit in on Ohio State\u2019s 2026 depth chart is to be determined. Redshirt freshman Tavien St. Clair was a five-star prospect in the 2025 class, so he\u2019ll get his shot to establish himself as Ohio State\u2019s No. 2 quarterback this offseason \u2013 and to be the Buckeyes\u2019 starting quarterback next season \u2013\u00a0after sitting third behind Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz last year. Ohio State also has an incoming freshman quarterback in Luke Fahey.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThat said, Martin is looking forward to the challenge of competing with Ohio State\u2019s other quarterbacks. He\u2019s approached every practice of his college career as an opportunity to prove himself and set himself up for the future, and his approach at OSU will be no different.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI feel like every day of college has been an audition for something. And you never know what can happen,\u201d Martin said. \u201cSo I just plan on coming in and giving it my all every single day and letting the chips fall where they fall.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n\tMartin is also ready to embrace his role as a veteran mentor in the quarterback room, though his goal is to earn the chance to play significant snaps of his own.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cWhatever role I come in, I’m going to do my best every single day,\u201d Martin said. \u201cObviously, I want to play, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes, so it’s exciting to have that opportunity.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n\tOff the field, Martin is eager to involve himself in the Columbus community, both in terms of pursuing future career opportunities \u2013 he wants to be a sports broadcaster after his playing career is over \u2013 and practicing his faith.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI do want to see what the city has to offer as far as internships and getting really inclined with the city, but I also want to get acclimated with a church and do things with the church, because religion, that\u2019s the most important thing to me,\u201d Martin said. \u201cSo getting involved in that aspect is big for me, and I definitely want to do a lot of things outside of football in Columbus.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n\tRELATED New Long Snapper Dalton Riggs Brings National Championship Expectations, Team-First Mindset to Ohio State<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\tMartin didn\u2019t expect to land an opportunity to play for Ohio State when he entered the transfer portal. While he received what he described as \u201cslight interest\u201d from Ohio State as a high school recruit, he didn\u2019t receive an offer from the Buckeyes back then, with Ohio State ultimately taking Devin Brown as its quarterback in his recruiting class. But he\u2019s thrilled to have the chance to be a Buckeye now.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cHonestly, this is surreal when you think about it,\u201d Martin said of becoming a Buckeye. \u201cI’m just thankful that they gave me an opportunity to be a part of the team. I can’t thank them enough, and I’m really appreciative.\u201d\n<\/p>\n