Originally published Feb. 5, 2009 in the Omaha World-Herald
•Did you know? Martin actually waited until the final week to offer up an oral commitment to the Huskers, becoming the final member of the 2009 class. He had plenty of Pac-10 suitors, but he primarily teetered between Nebraska and Arizona State, visiting both schools in late January. Ultimately, Martin decided he had a stronger connection with the NU staff and a legitimate opportunity to make an impact.
•Coachspeak: "We just call him a caveman. He's a throwback football guy. ... He just runs into people face-first every play, and loves it." - Rancho Verde High School coach Pete Duffy
•The gurus say: Rivals.com ranks Martin as the nation's 26th-best inside linebacker and a three-star recruit. He's the No. 20 middle linebacker nationally, according to Scout.com.
• About Martin: Martin spent three seasons starting at linebacker for Rancho Verde, a high school about an hour outside Los Angeles. He averaged 12 tackles per game during his senior year and was a first-team all-state selection, according to CalHiSports.com. Martin led a Mustang defense that gave up an average of eight points per game and shut out four different opponents, helping Rancho Verde to a 10-1 record in 2008.
•Our take: A linebacker who welcomes physical contact, willing to fight through blocks instead of work around them, seems to be a nice fit into the Pelini defensive system. The Huskers lacked depth at the position all fall, but the sometimes complicated transitioning process may keep Martin from making an immediate impact.