Blake Martin latest in long line of Bearkat tight ends
10/17/2007 1:00:00 AM | Football
By Cody Stark
Huntsville Item Assistant Sports Editor
Kevin Pesak, Ricky Eggleston, Keith Heinrich and Corey Roberts walked the path before him. Those four set the precedent for great Sam Houston State tight ends, each reaching the 1,000-yard receiving mark for a career. Following in their footsteps is preseason All-American Blake Martin, and when all is said and done, he might make a good argument of being the best Bearkats tight end to ever put on the orange and white.
Martin, a senior from Hemphill, leads SHSU this season with 32 receptions, has amassed 344 yards and hauled in two touchdowns. His numbers are close to passing his career-high totals from last season (39 grabs for 481 yards and two scores) and the Bearkats still have five games left on the schedule.
A good blocker and an even better receiver, Martin has racked up 1,171 yards receiving since his freshman season in 2005, which ranks third all-time for SHSU tight ends behind Pesak (1,682), Eggleston (1,555) and ahead of Heinrich (1,050) and Roberts (1,006).
“When I was recruited here, I was told about the great tradition of tight ends,” said Martin, who was also being recruited by several other Southland Conference schools. “I redshirted my first year, then the next season Corey Roberts was moved from receiver to tight end and he was great. He was an All-American, and I learned a lot from watching him. He taught me a lot, and when he graduated I took the job my junior year last season.
“I've continued to get better and things have just gone really well for me.”
Things have gone so well that Martin is receiving plenty of attention from NFL scouts. The tight end position has evolved over the years, going away from the traditional blocker to the sure-handed receiving threat who can create coverage mismatches and stretch the field.
That's the type of talent Martin possesses and why he is one of the most dangerous weapons in the SLC.
If things fall into place, Martin could follow Heinrich and Roberts yet again ? this time to the NFL. Heinrich has seen action with the Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns and is currently on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' practice squad, while Roberts spent a couple of seasons in the Indianapolis Colts' organization.
“Blake has great balance, unbelievable hands and has just made some great plays for us around here,” SHSU head coach Todd Whitten said. “He's provided a lot of leadership, and he is actually a really good blocker. He is a little bit undersized for a tight end and is more of an H-back. He is really getting evaluated heavily by the NFL as an H-back guy. He is just a tremendous football player.”
Growing up, Martin did more than just reel in passes; he also spent a lot of time fishing and hunting with his father, Tommy Martin, a pro bass fisher who won the BassMaster Classic in the 1970s.
While most people might think fishing for a living would be a cake job, Blake watched his father work hard and travel all over the country to make his dream a reality and support his family.
Tommy Martin made sure to introduce Blake and his brother Brian, a freshman defensive back for the Kats, to the outdoors at an early age. It helped them stay out of trouble, and Blake credits his success to his strong upbringing.
“Dad, he has been one of my biggest role models,” the All-SLC tight end said. “I think one of the first times he ever took me deer hunting I was like two months old. He is an outdoors guy, a professional bass fisher, and he got me and my brother into it. He has just always been one of those guys I have looked up to, and I'm always listening to him. I know that whatever he tells me I can use in life. He has been real successful, and I'm proud to say he is my dad.”
Over the summer, Blake was a chip off the old block, winning a bass tournament just like his father has many times before. Is there any chance Blake might exchange a football for a fishing pole if a professional playing career doesn't work out?
“I'm just waiting until the end of the season to find out if I have a shot at playing in the NFL,” said Blake, who will graduate in December with a general business degree. “If that doesn't work out, I'll be happy with what has happened. But there have been times when I have been messing with my mom and told her, ?I think I'm going to be a professional fisher like dad.'
“She is really quick to snap her fingers and tell me that there is no way I'm doing that because of all the traveling and everything else. I like to fish, but fishing as many days out of the year as my dad does is kind of rough.”
In the meantime, Blake is focused on doing whatever he can to finish his Sam Houston career on a good note. He is taking things one day at a time and enjoying his final playing days as a Bearkat.
And the best part, Blake gets to share this experience with his brother.
“It's been good. Brian is a great football player, but I didn't get to watch too many of his high school games because of the conflict with me being here at Sam,” Blake said. “I got to see him run track a lot. He ran the hurdles and is really fast. I think he will be fine. He didn't quite get my size, but he is smart and I think he will show them he can play.”
