College Football

JUCO LB cleared for immediate eligibility at Michigan State

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:14 p.m. ET

Marcus Hartman

Michigan State added another defensive talent to its 2015 active roster this week when junior-college transfer Drake Martinez was granted immediate eligibility by the Big Ten.

"Drake Martinez is an outstanding football player, who will have an opportunity to provide an immediate impact this season," MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said in a statement from the university. "This decision is very beneficial for Drake in terms of his personal development as a college football player in the Big Ten. We're very excited about having the opportunity to work with Drake when preseason camp opens in early August."

Martinez began his collegiate career at Nebraska, where his brother, Taylor, was a four-year starting quarterback.

The younger Martinez is a 6-foot-2, 215-pound outside linebacker who played at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., last year. As a senior at Laguna Beach (Calif.) High School, he was a three-star safety prospect according to Scout.com.

With veterans Darien Harris and Ed Davis returning as seniors and junior Riley Bullough expected to step into the open middle linebacker spot, linebacker is not a big area of need for the Spartans this fall.

However, Dantonio indicated on National Signing Day he saw Martinez as a potential difference maker.

"He's electric," Dantonio said. "He can run. He can tackle. He can catch the football and he's an athlete in all respects. He can wind up playing at any position."