Returning to Texas to Finish Career, Martin Says UW ‘Exceeded My Wishes by Miles’

Jeremiah Martin started his school soccer profession in Texas and he’ll end up there.

Heading into the Alamo Bowl in opposition to the Texas Longhorns on Dec. 29 in San Antonio, the College of Washington edge rusher will return to the Lone Star state the place he spent three seasons at Texas A&M earlier than becoming a member of the Huskies for the previous two.

The 6-foot-4, 267-pound Martin needed to expertise three totally different school teaching staffs earlier than maximizing his skills this previous season and changing into an NFL prospect.

Give the departed Jimmy Lake credit score for bringing this highly effective participant to Seattle by way of the switch portal; nevertheless, Kalen DeBoer’s workers will get to take a sweeping bow for unleashing Martin and his soccer skills at full bore and serving to flip him right into a first-team, All-Pac-12 choice.

“It has exceeded my needs by miles, man,” Martin mentioned of adjusting faculties. “I actually love the purple and gold. I will bleed purple and gold the remainder of my life.”

From San Bernardino, California, Martin was the one who almost got here to the UW out of highschool, listening to the recruiting overtures of Chris Petersen and his running-backs coach Keith Bhonapha, however Martin determined he needed to pattern the SEC, plus his grandmother wasn’t eager on the scholar dorms in Seattle.

Whereas he performed instantly and performed usually for the Aggies, showing in 32 video games over three seasons, he was by no means a starter, getting on the sphere solely as a reserve edge rusher and a special-teams participant.

“I used to be too younger, I used to be young-minded,” Martin mentioned of getting caught on the A&M depth chart. “I put within the work, however I used to be young-minded. When you grow old, you perceive much more. Trying again on the previous, I do not dwell on it, however I attempt to hold going and continue to grow as an individual, as a father and as a public determine.”

Martin did not begin on the faculty stage till the 2021 Apple Cup in opposition to Washington State and he hasn’t come out of the opening lineup since. 

He completed the common season with 38 tackles, together with 11 for misplaced yardage and eight.5 sacks — the latter quantity rating him third within the convention. He additionally pressured two fumbles, broke up a go and had 5 quarterback hurries.

Martin felt every little thing start to come back to an finish for him as a university soccer participant with the UW-Colorado outing, which was his remaining Husky Stadium sport look and honored him and the opposite graduating gamers. 

As soon as on the Alamo Bowl, he’ll discover himself simply 170 miles away from Faculty Station, the place he confirmed as much as hit folks as a teen. He is 60 kilos heavier now. He is way more worldly as a participant. He is a 22-year-old man, father of two boys, together with one born this previous season, and an NFL prospect. 

“I see my coaches get emotional and I used to be like, rattling, that is the final time I am taking part in in school, not less than at Husky Stadium,” Martin mentioned. “It is such a surreal expertise.”

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