The Bruins got another quarterback of the future as Justyn Martin officially signs with UCLA. The Inglewood quarterback had been a Cal commit, and considered Ole Miss at one point, but committed to UCLA in October and has held steadfast since then. He is ranked as the #20 overall quarterback in the country.
At 6-4, 210 pounds, he still has untapped upside, and a big arm. He had a Covid shortened junior season with just four games in the Spring. He had a huge Fall season, including 13 touchdown passes in the well-documented 106-0 win over Morningside.
The Decision
Staying closer to home was a big part of the determination for Martin. “It’s a dream come true just to be able to play for my city and play where I’m from,” Martin told Sports Illustrated’s, Max Torres. “It’s a great opportunity and I’m glad I get to do it.”
Playing for Chip Kelly was also a big part of the final determination per Martin. “He really puts his players in a position to be successful,” Martin said. “He knows how to run an offense. That’s what I’m there for and that’s what I like. His track record shows he’s successful with it.” He also credited quarterback coach Ryan Gunderson for being influential in the recruiting process.
UCLA Quarterback Status
UCLA is likely to lose three quarterbacks off the 2020 roster. Dorian Thompson-Robinson will probably be leaving after his fourth year leading the team. Redshirt freshman Parker McQuarrie and freshman Kajiya Hollawayne have both gone to the transfer portal in the last couple of weeks. That only leaves current backup Ethan Garbers and potentially Chase Griffin, if he opts to return for a fourth year as a backup.
Martin addressed the quarterback status in his interview with SI. “Dorian’s been pretty successful against high-level teams,” he said. “That’s pretty much all I need to see is that the quarterback in that system is successful. He’s projected to be gone next year so there’s gonna be a competition.”
Going into signing day, UCLA has a class that is ranked 40th in the country and fourth in the conference. They are expected to lose upwards of 80% of the 2021 starters.
