Fact or Fiction: Adrian Martinez would be a great fit at UCLA
In today’s Fact or Fiction national columnist Mike Farrell looks at three big recent topics in college football and decides whether each statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.
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1. Adrian Martinez would be a great fit at UCLA.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Martinez has struggled at Nebraska, but his skillset is perfect for what Bruins coach Chip Kelly wants to do on offense. Martinez – who has entered the transfer portal – is mobile, he can get the ball out fast and he’d be excellent in a consistent high-tempo offense. The question is this: Could he win the job or would he better off stepping down to a Group of Five program at a Fresno State or someplace else?
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2. Brent Venables should be the choice at Oklahoma.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Go with what you know, and while Dan Lanning has done a great job as defensive coordinator at Georgia, Venables deserves his chance and knows the OU landscape well. If the Sooners are going to go in a defensive coach direction – which personally I wouldn’t do with their amazing offensive reputation – Venables should be the guy. I’m not sure how successful he’ll be, but he should be the choice if they focus on that side of the ball.
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3. Brian Kelly will get to the playoff before Lincoln Riley.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. Not a chance. While LSU has a great recruiting advantage the Tigers also have Nick Saban to get through in the SEC West. And Riley? He will recruit like crazy, has a great home-state advantage and not a ton of resistance in the West. He could easily run the table quicker at USC than Kelly at LSU.