Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BY DAN MURPHY N otre Dame assistant coach Scott Booker has made a second home at the Woodberry Forest School. For the third straight year, Booker helped the Irish sign a defensive standout from the academically prestigious school in northern Virginia. This year's catch, inside linebacker Greer Martini, was the first member of Notre Dame's 2014 commit class when he happily washed his hands of the re- cruiting process more than 18 months ago. Since then, he's put all his focus into learning how to pilot a defense from his spot in the middle. "My biggest goal this year was being able to line all my other teammates up and put us in the best defense," he said. "It was more about knowing everyone else's position and being a vocal leader on the defense." Martini's measurables don't jump off the page — he hasn't attended a com- bine or been timed in the 40-yard dash since his sophomore year — but Wood- berry Forest coach Clint Alexander said football instincts are what earned Mar- tini the title of his league's defensive player of the year this fall. Alexander leaned on his defensive star to help shut down top competition all season. He played a key role in slow- ing down Michigan early enrollee quar- terback Wilton Speight during a midsea- son win. He also held Purdue tight end commit Cole Herdman to a single catch in another Woodberry Forest victory. Pass coverage has long been a strength for the 6-3, 225-pound linebacker, who had good enough hands to convince some of his coaches he'd turn out to be a tight end in college. Alexander said Martini's ability to read routes and understand how to disrupt them im- proved steadily during his three years as a starter. "It doesn't show up a whole lot on film because they don't throw to his guy, Greer Martini Adds A Layer To The Woodberry Forest Connection Martini is a three-time all-state linebacker who acted as a coach on the field for Virginia's No. 1-ranked prep team this fall. PHOTO COURTESY WOODBERRY FOREST SCHOOL