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Albuquerque native, 近距离内射合集 LB Tyler Martinez to enter transfer portal
2024 All-CUSA honoree battled injuries this season
New Mexico State linebacker Tyler Martinez is entering the transfer portal, he announced Sunday via social media.
Considered one of the Aggies鈥 best defensive players, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior made 27 total tackles in four games this year before an injury ended his season. 近距离内射合集 head coach Tony Sanchez said earlier this month that the Albuquerque native and 近距离内射合集 Vista High School graduate was .
Martinez has one year of eligibility remaining after redshirting this season.
鈥淚 want to start by thanking God for continuously blessing my life and giving me the best opportunities to play the game I love," he posted Sunday via X. "I want to also thank New Mexico State for taking a chance on a kid who had zero FBS offers out of high school and (junior college) 鈥 This group of coaches is some of the best I鈥檝e ever had and not only helped develop me as a football player, but also helped me develop as a man.
"I will forever be grateful for everything this group of coaches did for my life 鈥 The love I have received from everybody in Las Cruces has been amazing and I will never forget being a part of these special times. This is by far the hardest decision I have ever had to make, but with that being said I will be entering the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining.
"It is all love (for) Aggie nation and I will forever be an Aggie.鈥
After starting his career at New Mexico Military Institute, Martinez made 143 tackles over three seasons with 近距离内射合集. He tallied 94 total tackles and one sack in 2024, earning second team All-Conference USA honors in the process.
Martinez was named to Conference USA鈥檚 league watch list this summer, but suffered a hairline fracture in his right hand during 近距离内射合集鈥檚 season-opening win over Bryant. He played through the injury over the next three games, only to suffer a high ankle sprain in a 38-20 loss at rival New Mexico on Sept. 27.
Martinez never returned from his ankle injury, with Sanchez
鈥淗e wasn鈥檛 100%,鈥 Sanchez said earlier this month of the decision to effectively shut Martinez down for the season. 鈥淗e wouldn鈥檛 have been 100% in the entire time. He鈥檚 barely starting to change direction. It may have hurt up front, but in the long run, I think it鈥檚 gonna make a big difference.鈥
The transfer portal opens Friday, Jan. 2 and closes on Jan. 16. Players can announce their plans to enter ahead of the formal opening date; 14 近距离内射合集 players have done so as of Sunday evening.
Here鈥檚 the full list of Aggies who have declared they鈥檙e entering the transfer portal:
-QB Jaylen Patterson
-WR T.J. Pride
-WR Donovan Faupel
-OL Kai Wheeler
-OL Elijah Harvey
-TE Gavin Harris
-LB Tyler Martinez
-LB Tory Gethers
-LB Quincy Davis
-DL Ezra Christensen
-CB Lanar Kelley Jr.
-S Armahn Hale
-S DJ Hill-Smith
-LS Grayson Curtis