Pelini impressed with Martinez - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

Throwing for 2,089 yards and 13 touchdowns, Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez was under the microscope during the 2011 campaign.

Why?  His throwing mechanics.  Martinez finished last season completing 56.3 percent of his passes.  He also threw eight interceptions.

But in an effort to improve his completion percentage and mechanics, Martinez attended the Manning Passing Academy.

The junior quarterback's commitment to improving has earned him rave reviews from head coach Bo Pelini.

"I'm glad he's our quarterback," Pelini said during the Big Ten Media Days.  "He's worked his butt off.   In my experience when somebody works hard in the off-season, is willing to change, adapt, work on the things he needs to work on, usually, from my experience you see the guys reap the benefits.  And I know when that happens we'll reap the benefits as a team because he's one of the keys to our team."

The third year signal caller and the Huskers kick the season off Sept. 1, against Southern Miss.