Sophomore Quarterback Adrian Martinez Quotes - 8/26

Nebraska Football
Weekly Press Conference
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
Monday, Aug. 26, 2019
Pre-South Alabama

On finding out about being a captain and what it means.
“The Boneyard Bash. I found out the same time pretty much [when] everyone did. The students, the team and it’s an honor and something that means more than anything that’s happened so far in my career here. It’s  a huge deal to me and to be voted by your brothers as a captain is a big deal.”

On  being an underclassman co-captain
“I wouldn’t even look at it as me being an underclassman. I think the rest of my teammates don’t either. That’s something I appreciate a lot just my ability to step in and them accept me as a leader just by me being only a sophomore."

On his confidence levels going into his second year
“I would say so, yes, it’s night and day. Night and day difference. Last year was a lot different from this. [I’m] a lot more comfortable in what we’re doing on offense and just what I’m seeing out there on the defense, and it’s year two and I’m excited for this to get out there and show what we’ve been working on.”

What fans might get to see with this offense
“I’ll say this, you know at the beginning of last year I think we were a little bit limited just because of how much we knew as a team. I don’t think we were ready and I think this upcoming season the sky’s the limit with Coach Frost as the play-caller. I think he’s confident in us to execute a variety of different plays and formations and whatever else.”

On offensive lineman Cam Jurgens joining the line
“Cam’s a fighter. As well as the rest of that offensive line and that’s a spot I’m not worried about whatsoever. Coach G does a great job with those guys and whoever’s playing, no matter what, they’re going to get in there and fight for the team.  Will Farniok’s been doing a great job too, and Cam’s had to overcome a lot so I’m just real proud of those guys in there. He’ll be ready.”

On what the team can show Saturday and how the team’s evolved
“I think our goals on offense (are) pretty clear. We’re trying to be the best offense in the Big Ten. Best offense in the country and part of that is using tempo when we need it and sometimes slowing it down to get the right play, right formations, whatever it may be.  I think everyone’s just a lot more comfortable with what we’re running this year. I think we’ve made the coaches more confident in us as players because we know what we’re doing.”

On his transformation from last year to this year as a quarterback
“It’s kind of a tough question. Not something I spend too much time thinking about. In my mind that’s all, it’s all great and it’s all very humbling and it does mean a lot to me, but my work here’s not done, it’s not finished. I feel like I haven’t even reached the surface yet. There’s a lot more that we as a team want to accomplish, that I want to accomplish and I think that we’re going to do that, so when it’s all said and done here I think that’ll be the time for me to look back and reflect on those things. But, in the now, in the moment right now, I’m focused on this season. Just accomplishing what we can now.”

On if he’s on schedule for what he hopes to accomplish
“I would say one of my goals was just to start, become a leader and I’ve definitely marked some of those things off my checklist there, but there’s a lot more. We didn’t do as well as I wanted to last year, and I think that’s something that we still need to get after this year.”

On running back Maurice Washington’s development
“Very energetic. Has a lot of energy out there on the field. And he’s right, Maurice has brought it this fall camp and just practice so far. He’s been doing a great job.  A great job of just bringing it every day, learning the plays better, and just being a good teammate. I think the guys respect him for that coming to work every day and putting his all on the field.”

On last year and the slow-down tempos
“There was a point last year where I thought things started to slow down for me and then even this spring and this fall camp. It’s been a continued process. I think it’ll always be that way. Each year I’ll try and get a little bit better and have the game ‘slow down’ for me and really that’s just knowing what I’m doing on my side of the ball, being able to see the defensive structure a little bit better and just continuing to build on that.”

On freshman wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson
“He’s battled through a lot since he’s been here already. The guys respect him. They love him. Comes to work whenever he can and he’s a great route runner and very fast. I can’t say enough good things about him obviously. I’m excited to see him out there Saturday in front of 90,000.”

On his nteractions with Mario Verduzco on game days
“As you noticed, I’m always on the headset between series. We’re going over whether it might be the last plays, whether it might be the upcoming series, whatever’s happening in the game. It’s probably a little bit different than it is in practice. Our game day routine, he just kind of leaves us alone and lets us do our own thing before the game. It’s a little bit different, but he’s always just trying to make sure that we’re dialed in, the team's fired up, ready to go and we’re doing our job at the best we can.”

On if he would characterize Coach Verduzco as calm.
“Yeah, I would say so. On game days. Practice might be a little bit different at times.”

On the defense
“Well, they’re going to see a group that plays with passion. A group that’s confident and they’re going to fly around and get all that it has to the ball. I’m excited to see them, too. I’m really pumped up. I think we’re going to have a well-rounded team.”

On sophomore tight end Austin Allen
“Austin has done a great job this fall camp and has done a real good job just turning into the tight end that I think we all knew he could be. He’s a real tall guy and has a ton of potential. Real excited to see him too this year just continue to progress and be another option for us out there.”

On how the receiver group has changed
“I think it will be different this year. Like you said, our receiver room’s a little bit deeper this year. We have a ton of guys who can play, and I think that’s going to be good for them, too.  A part of that’s going to be on me as well. Last year I didn’t spread it around as much, maybe I should’ve. We have Jack Stoll kind of vibe. Ton of guys on the outside. Wan’Dale and JD (Spielman). We have a lot of weapons this year on offense, and it should be a different story as far as spreading the ball around."

On memories from last year's season opener
“It was interesting. We kicked it off, ran out there. Though we were going to score a touchdown on the first play. Felt great about it. Then had to go back into the locker room. I didn’t end up taking off my pads until probably 11 o’clock at night. I was still hoping that we were going to play. The real downer about that for me was just my family was there - only game that my entire family was there. My little brother, little sister. Knock on wood, they’re coming to this game, too. Hopefully I’ll get to play in front of my brother again. It’s been awhile. He saw me when I was a junior in high school was the last time.”

Do you ever think back to that game?
“No. It is what it is.”

Thoughts on South Alabama
“We’re excited. We’re really excited to play them. It’s going to be a fun game. They’re a good football team. They’re going to run around, fly to the ball. Get a lot of hats in. We’re excited to play them and it’s going to be a fun season opener.”

On whether there’s pressure as a quarterback and a captain
“I wouldn’t say pressure is the right word. I think all of us realize we don’t want the start we had last year and that isn't even something I think about right now in this moment because it was something that has been driving us all offseason. No one wants to go back to that.  And in my mind we won’t.  I know a lot of guys on this team won’t let that happen and that’s why we’re so excited for the start of this season. We get another chance to do things the right way.”

On defensive lineman and captain Darrion Daniels
“It was something you could probably figure out within months of him being there. In spring ball you could just tell there was a different feel, and I think he’s a huge part of that confidence that the defense has gained. They respect him a lot and there’s a reason. He always brings it. He’s a great vocal leader and he’s a good football player. I think it speaks volumes to the type of man he is and the type of player he’ll be this season.”

NU Athletic Communications