MIAMI FOOTBALL NOTES

Martin encouraged by spring football competition

Transfers busy learning system, competing

By MIKE SMITH
Miami head football coach Chuck Martin takes a lot of pride in what his 2025 team accomplished under "some difficult circumstances." At the same time, he is really excited about the upcoming season. 

While the RedHawks lost several productive players to the portal, a wave of talented players have transferred into the program. According to Martin, the quantity and quality may be enough to give MU one of its deeper rosters

"We've got some . . . 

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. . . shoes to fill, but we've got plenty of guys to fill those shoes, Martin said after MU's Thursday practice -- the sixth of 15 scheduled spring practices. "We always talk about depth, I think (this) year we might have as good a depth as we're ever had. We have a lot of good MAC football players."

Scattered among the ranks are nearly three dozen "new" players who are trying to absorb the RedHawks "system" -- be that on defense or offense. So far, Martin said, the execution needs work, but the progress has been very encouraging. 

"We've got so many new guys, I've got to be more patient," he said. "Like everybody in this time; with so much turnover on your roster, it just takes a long time to get where you want to go."

Thomas Gotkowski picked up some game experience late last year. (MVSmith/MRO)

Martin continued, "So far, spring is going great. The off season has been amazing. We have all these new guys. Our team is blending together -- the old and the new. ... I love our togetherness. We've got 32 new guys. They play for each other and they care for each other. They work together. I love their willingness to be coached."

The blend of returnees and new talent is wide spread.  Martin sees that is a good thing.

|I know we made the MAC championship (last year), but it wasn't the level we expect here, so our goal was to bring in ... enough that created competition at every position. So you bring in some new guys that are wanting to fight for stating jobs. -- some of them are great. Some of them are just good, but it's created competition. ... We've got new guys in every single position room."

Miami football fans may want to carry a 2026 roster around with them as positional battles will likely go well into fall camp. Some, in fact, will still be playing out during non-conference play. 

Among the more high-profile positions under evaluation is at quarterback. Thomas Gotkowski is the only familiar name for fans. He was called upon late last year following Dequan Finn's sudden departure in the middle of MU's stretch run. "He saved our bacon last year and did some great things," Martin said of Gotkowski. "He was still a puppy as a freshman, but he got thrown in the fire.  We love his compete level. We love his confidence. We love his play-making ability, but he's young."

While he helped get MU to the MAC championship, the RedHawks also struggled at times and Gotkowski finished with a 44 percent completion percentage while throwing four TDs and one interception among 86 pass attempts. 

With the departure of Henry Hesson, Gotkowski is the only QB with at least some system familiarity and Miami game experience.

It was therefore absolutely no surprise that MU brought in a pair of transfers. Caleb Heavner played for Fort Hays State last year. Now a senior, he completed 56.7 percent of his throws, producing 1,590 yards and nine TDs. He was also intercepted nine times. 

Heaver also led the Tigers in rushing attempts (158), rushing yards (877) and rushing TDs (5). 

"Caleb has played in games, and he has won games," Martin said.  He's a coach's kid. We love having him here, and he"s doing good things." 

Miami's other transfer quarterback comes to MU after a year with the Kansas JayHhawks. 

"He can run," Martin said of David McComb. "He's got a quick release. ... He's really accurate and he's got a good touch. He's got good upside, but he's a freshman."

Both transfers are learning the Miami system and are progressing. "We put a lot on the quarterbacks' plates to manage a game and make good decisions. ... We're not just calling a play ... and hoping for the best," Martin said. Our system "may be a little harder, but we've never had kids not pick it up. We'll get there."

"We don't know how its going to shake out, but we feel good about the group," Martin said of his options atop the depth chart. "All three can throw it, for sure. ... They all get along. They all push (and) help each other. "

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