MD end taking first official this weekend

Upper Marlboro (Md.) Gwynn Park defensive end Jeremiah Martin has flown under the recruiting radar up to this point. That doesn't mean the 6-foot-1, 220-pounder isn't getting interest. In fact he holds half a dozen offers and is looking at taking his first official this weekend.

"Right now I have offers from Boston College, Delaware, Akron, Miami (Ohio), Buffalo and Temple," he said. "I'm heading to Buffalo on Friday, the 6th for my first official visit.

"I really want to see what they have to offer. I want to get to know more about the education there and how I'll benefit from the program or organization. If I get injured and can't play football, I've got to be able to get something out of it. I've come from a tough life. I have a single mom and we were on food stamps, but when I'm on the field I go out there and give it my all because I'm working to get those things other kids have and I want to help my mom while I do it. Wherever I go, I'm giving it all I've got for five years."

One school that hasn't offered Martin is Tennessee. The Volunteers are looking hard at the Maryland prospect.

"I'm very interested in Tennessee," he said. "I talked to coach Slade recently and he told me that I'm rated an 86 along with another player from Alabama. They are planning to make a decision sometime in the next week or so on whether they'll offer me.

"I do like the vibes I've been getting from coach Slade. He's a good all-around person that is straight forward and probably one of the best recruiters I've talked to. They are a very family-oriented team and I've been up there for a visit and the coaches and players made me feel like I'm at home. I also know they are a really successful program. Aside from that, the coaches talk a lot about school and getting your degree. They have a top business program and really stress going to class. That turns me on."

This year Martin is ineligible to play for Gwynn Park due to age restrictions.

"The way it goes, I just turned 19 and I'm too old to play high school ball," he said. "It is kind of depressing, but it does make me work that much harder since I'm not on the field. I'm still getting my work in every day and I feel like I have something to prove to coaches. Instead I'm also focusing a lot on getting my GPA up and stuff like that."