Martin interested in ISU opportunity

Harper Woods (Mich.) Chandler Park Academy three-star wide receiver Jalen Martin committed to Toledo head coach Matt Campbell in October. When Campbell took over the head job at Iowa State, one of the first calls he made was to Martin to extend him a scholarship.

"First of all, I am very blessed to have that Power Five offer. As of right now I am committed to Toledo. I will be taking an official visit to Iowa State sometime soon, I'm not really sure (when).

"It was crazy when Coach took that job at Iowa State. There were a lot of thoughts and a lot of wonders, but at the end of the day it is a business and I wasn't mad at anyone. You just have to realize at the end of the day you're doing what's best for your family."

The three primary assistant coaches who were recruiting Martin for Toledo were John Kuceyeski, D.K. McDonald and Derek Sage. Kuceyeski and McDonald followed Campbell to Iowa State, while Sage remained at Toledo with Jason Candle's new staff.

"I still feel strong about Toledo," Martin said. "I have been recruited by Toledo since I was in the 10th grade. You build relationships with coaches and building relationships is most important when picking a school. I've built a relationship with Coach Candle and Coach Sage (at Toledo) and also Coach Campbell, Coach K. and Coach McDonald (at Iowa State)."

Martin will not be able to officially visit the Iowa State this upcoming weekend because he is traveling to Louisville with family to see his brother, an Eastern Michigan basketball player, take on the Cardinals. The official visit to Ames is likely to take place in January, then.

"They've thrown out dates and told me to come in on the 15th (of January) or the 22nd," Martin said. "Being a two-sport athlete, it is kind of tough to juggle in (visits)."

Martin was unfamiliar with the Iowa State program prior to his offer, but in the weeks since they started recruiting him the three-star wide receiver has been doing his homework.

"I did do a little research and it is different," Martin said. "It is a different culture and a different lifestyle than where I'm from. It's a different brand of football, a different type of surroundings. In Iowa you don't have any professional teams, so Iowa State and Iowa are the only major sports and they just have an incredible fan base.

"I have to do more research to see if they have my major or if they have my alternative major. Research is going to play a big role in my decision."

Martin is looking to major in either Exercise Science or Communications at the college level. Which school he pursues that degree at, though, is not clear in his mind.

"As far as my thoughts of going to school, I am going to have to have a sit-down with my family, do things the right way and discuss things thoroughly," Martin said.

The 6-foot-2, 192-pound Martin is coming off his second straight season of 1,000+ yards of offense. As a senior he accounted for 1,147 total yards and 16 touchdowns on offense, while adding 42 tackles and seven sacks on defense.

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