Pokes could impact Martins recruitment

As things stand now, Oregon State is the frontrunner to land Arizona Western Community College safety Pat Martin. As things stand now, Martin is a player blown away by his official visit to Corvallis and impressed by the program's 6-0 start. As things stand now, the Beavers represent his only BCS-conference offer.

Problem is, the way things stand now is on the verge of changing dramatically.

Enter Oklahoma State. The Cowboys are getting serious about Martin, and Oregon State will find itself locked into a recruiting battle if an official offer comes. Then again, solid football players are so rarely reeled in without a fight.

"I've been talking to (OSU assistant) coach Van Malone for a long time," Martin said. "He said I already have an offer in his eyes, but it's not official. They're fixing to throw a scholarship out there soon.

"On Friday, Coach Malone told me he thought I was one of the best junior college DBs. He was going to go to the head coach to make it official."

Texas A&M has also reached out to Martin in recent weeks, but the Aggies are also yet to make things official. Still, the new interest complicates things for the Beavers. Oregon State has not been eliminated from the process by any means. It's just that it may need to make room for some company at the top of the onetime four-star prospect's list.

With Martin's official visit to Corvallis already in the rearview, the ball is in everyone else's court. What turns things take from here is anyone's guess.

"I'm going to visit Oklahoma State after the season," Martin said. "I might visit Texas A&M over Thanksgiving Weekend. "

Change seems eminent if you listen to Martin. He declines to name a top school and instead rattles off a group that remains in the running. By the time he gets around to that, though, it's been clear for a while. Martin doesn't need to say it out loud to get his point across. He does anyway.

"If Oklahoma State comes in like I think they will, it will be between Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Oregon State," he said. "I don't really have any top schools right now, but I kind of know how it's going to end up."

Martin says he remains on pace to graduate from Arizona Western in December and will arrive at the school of his choosing in plenty of time for spring practice.