Georgia OT passes the eyeball test
LOVEJOY, Ga. - Talk about someone who passed the eyeball test.
At the Rivals.com Junior Day on Saturday at Lovejoy High School, Thomson (Ga.) offensive lineman Martrell Winfrey looked the part of a major college offensive line recruit, measuring in at 6 feet 6 and weighing in at a slender (low body fat) 330 pounds.
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Winfrey also has long arms and looks like a potential tackle prospect at the next level.
That wasn't always the projection on Winfrey. His father, Bobby Winfrey, told Rivals.com that his son grew three inches between his sophomore and junior season and has the potential to grow even more.
Martrell said that he benefited from Saturday's program.
"I learned a lot," he said. "I learned that I have to keep focus. I talk to a lot of coaches and they tell me that academics have to come first. Football comes second."
Winfrey plays for legendary coach Luther Welsh at Thomson High, located just outside of Augusta in East Georgia. Thomson has produced its share of top-level Division I-A talent, including linebacker Danny Verdun-Wheeler of Georgia.
Hoping to follow along in the footsteps of those Martrell has been getting early attention from a number of Division I-A programs.
"It's been a lot," Winfrey said. "Georgia, North Carolina, Auburn, Duke, Clemson."
Clemson, led by the efforts of assistant Billy Napier has been sending Winfrey text messages.
"I got a text message from Clemson a couple of days ago," Winfrey said. "They invited me up there just last night for one of their Junior Days and the camp."
According to Winfrey, the Tigers and Georgia are the two schools at the top of his list at this time.
Location and academics will play a key role in Winfrey's recruitment.
"I want to study sports medicine," he said. "So I will be taking a long look at that program. But location, that's No. 1."
Winfrey plans to make unofficial visits to Clemson and Auburn and potentially could camp at Georgia, Auburn, Clemson and Kansas State this summer.
He also plans to attend the Athens NIKE Camp April 29 on the campus of the University of Georgia.