It seems Tate Martell had one foot out the door long before his eventual transfer following the 2018 season.
Last year, Martell was in the process of creating an in-season transfer request appeal, citing Urban Meyer's three-game suspension as a reason, according to Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports.
This came before the NCAA transfer portal opened on Oct. 15, which revolutionized college football transfer decisions and made the news much more public.
From Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports:
It is not believed Martell ultimately filed the appeal with the NCAA and may have been advised against it.