The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1291402
40 THE WOLVERINE OCTOBER 2020 COMMITMENT PROFILE T yler Martin is now the second member of Michigan's 2022 re- cruiting class. The 2022 Rivals250 linebacker out Cambridge (Mass.) Buckingham Browne & Nichols (BB&N) commit- ted to Michigan Sept. 11 over offers from fellow finalists Boston College, Vanderbilt and Virginia. For Martin, the No. 3 inside line- backer and No. 105 overall prospect in the country, the decision came down to fit from all angles. "When you think of college football and blue bloods, Michigan is always in the conversation," Martin said. "Their history is second to none. They have the most wins ever. But I think the biggest thing that sold me on Michigan was the academic piece that Coach [Jim] Harbaugh was able to talk to me about. With him being a graduate, it's really cool to hear from him. He lived it as an athlete and now as the coach. I'm reasonable with my- self and know foot- ball doesn't last for- ever no matter how much I want it to. " M i c h i g a n o f - fers me everything that I'm looking for, academically a n d a t h l e t i c a l l y. With the guys on the team, I think I'm going to come in and fit in right away. I know some of the guys there, and the athletes don't get special treatment. You have to stay on top of things academically, athletically and socially. That's something that solid it for me. It's a fit every single way." While Martin made his decision known in September, he actually gave U-M a silent commitment a month prior while on a call with Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Don Brown. Loyalty was Martin's biggest deci- sion factor, and it became apparent on the call that Michigan would be his future home. By the end of it, Martin pulled the trigger and began the com- mitment process behind the scenes. "I had a phone call with Coach Brown and Coach Harbaugh several weeks ago," Martin admitted after making his decision public. "It lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes. It was a really good talk. Honestly, I had no intentions of committing go- ing into it. "I had a lot of the questions that I had answered by the coaches. It wasn't all football. For me, it was hearing Coach Harbaugh and Coach Brown say they don't al- ways take commit- ments from guys this early. They said they were all in on me and com- mitted to me. That was really awe- some to hear. " L o y a l t y i s a huge thing for me. They've been loyal to me since I was a little 200-pound e i g h t h - g r a d e r . Knowing that they were all in with me and just the feel- ing that it was the right school for me led me to commit. I'm really, really ex- cited about it." Brown, who has strong ties in New England, built a genuine relationship with Martin over several years, which also played a big role in the decision. "He's sort of like a father," Martin said. "He's unreal. Ever since eighth grade, we've called each other and checked in. We can talk about things other than football. That's probably the biggest thing. I feel like I can't say enough things about him and what he's done for me as a football player. "Going through this process, he was a rock for me. I knew he would always answer on the first or second ring. He's just a great guy." Martin has been a varsity starter since his freshman year, amassing 235 tackles over his first two seasons and earning first team All-Independent School League honors a year ago. At 6-3, 249 pounds, Martin projects as a Will (weakside) linebacker at Michigan. — EJ Holland Rivals.com lists Martin as a four-star recruit, the No. 1 player in Massachusetts, and the No. 3 inside linebacker and No. 105 overall prospect in the nation. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND Four-Star Junior Tyler Martin Continues The Massachusetts-To-Michigan Pipeline FILM EVALUATION Strengths: Tyler Martin is an old- school linebacker that loves to smash opposing ball carriers and blow up plays from his middle linebacker spot. In Don Brown's defensive scheme, he will fill the Will (weakside) spot per- fectly due to his ability in the box. He is a downhill gap plugger and is as strong as an ox. He sheds blocks with ease and stops runner at or behind the line of scrimmage throughout most of his tape. He is an underrated athlete that also sees time at tight end and fullback, and could be utilized at both in certain packages at Michigan. Areas Of Improvement: Martin came into the Under Armour camp in Delaware overweight this offsea- son, tipping the scales at 249 pounds. That's obviously too heavy for a line- backer. However, he has hired a nu- tritionist and is on the road back to 235 pounds, where he played at as a sophomore. Michigan has told Martin that he needs to be at that weight, and as long as he is, he checks the boxes in all other areas. Michigan Player Comparison: Martin compares well to Ben VanSu- meren, who has switched over from fullback to linebacker. Like VanSume- ren, Martin is a big, physical kid that lives for contact and has experience playing fullback. VanSumeren now weighs north of the 250-pound mark, and Martin could get there fairly eas- ily. Expectations are definitely higher for Martin on the defensive side of the ball, but he fits the VanSumeren profile. — EJ Holland Martin "When you think of college football and blue bloods, Michigan is always in the conversation. Their history is second to none. … But I think the biggest thing that sold me on Michigan was the academic piece that Coach [Jim] Harbaugh was able to talk to me about."