Tay Martin to leave Washington State Cougars, enters transfer portal

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Aug 17, 2020
Washington State
Tay Martin, Washington State Cougars.

Washington State Cougars wide receiver Tay Martin entered the NCAA Transfer Portal on Monday.

The hits keep on coming for new Washington State football coach Nick Rolovich. The latest development happened on Monday when star wide receiver Davontavean “Tay” Martin entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. His loss is a significant blow to the Cougars program.

Martin burst on the Washington State scene as a true freshman in 2017. It isn’t easy for an 18-year old to learn the complicated Air Raid offense, but Martin seemed to pick it up quickly. He caught 31 passes for 366 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games.

Those numbers improved to 685 yards and eight TDs on 69 receptions as a sophomore. His junior year wasn’t as successful. It didn’t seem like he had the same connection with new quarterback Anthony Gordon in 2019 as he did with Gardner Minshew in 2018.

The 6-3, 185-pound wideout confirmed that he entered the portal, but didn’t give a reason why. As a borderline NFL draft pick, he likely didn’t think sitting out the 2020 fall season with the rest of the Pac-12 would help his chances of a selection next April or May.

The race is on

If he transfers to a school that is playing this fall, it will bring him closer to his home town of Houma, Louisiana. Martin has a one-year-old daughter back home. So there is a high likelihood of him receiving a waiver to play this season.

It will be interesting to see SEC, Big 12, and ACC schools jockeying for his services so close to the start of the season. He might even reunite with Leach at Mississippi State.

Big Hole

Martin’s loss will hurt the Washington State offense. He was the top active receiver on the roster and the last of 2019’s starting four still on the team. It’s now up to Renard Bell and Travell Harris to lead a young group of wideouts next season.

How do you feel about Tay Martin leaving the Washington State football program? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.

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