Kamal Martin, a 6-foot-3, 211-pound quarterback from Burnsville (MN) High, helped lead the Blaze to their first winning season since 2006. Martin committed to Minnesota before his senior season after previously verballing to Eastern Michigan. Martin will play linebacker at the U.
Martin, who was one of ten finalists for the Mr. Football Award that was announced November 22nd, helped lead the Blaze to a 9-2 mark this season, losing to Maple Grove 32-14 in the third round of the Class 6A playoffs.
Burnsville head coach Tyler Krebs praises his star player.
“Kamal is a tremendous leader who our players strongly believe in. He is our hardest worker, both in the weight room and on the practice field, helping make others better by pushing them every day. I can’t say enough good things about his character, attitude, work ethic and leadership.”
Gopher Hole caught up with Martin at the Mr. Football Award banquet to learn more about his senior season and becoming a future Gopher.
Gopher Hole: You guys obviously had a lot of success at Burnsville this year. Burnsville had had a lot of tradition in the past, but hadn’t had a winning season since 2006. How proud were you of yourself and your teammates with the great success that you had this season?
Kamal Martin: We are very proud. It just shows that how much work we put in the offseason paid off during the season and we all took that to heart and it really meant a lot to us, especially the seniors going out like that. It meant a lot to us. It was a blessing. We are never going to forget that in our lifetime, I don’t think.
Gopher Hole: Are you planning on taking your official visit the weekend of December 11th, the same weekend as many of the other local commits?
Kamal Martin: Yes.
Gopher Hole: I know that you have been committed for a while, but what are you expecting to get out of the visit?
Kamal Martin: Just what they have been showing us the whole entire time. The security, love and just a good time. Tracy Claeys is special to that program like Coach Kill was. They bring in the same philosophy. It should be fun.
Gopher Hole: What was your reaction when you heard that Coach Kill was going to be stepping down? It had to catch you off-guard.
Kamal Martin: It did. I was watching the press interview and I shed a couple of tears just listening to it, but his health is more important.
Gopher Hole: What about when you heard the news that Coach Claeys was going to be named as the full-time head coach?
Kamal Martin: I said a prayer to God. It is a blessing that Coach Claeys has been named head coach and will continue to be my head coach and a guy like that is special to me.
Gopher Hole: You had a couple of other Gopher commitments up for the Mr. Football Award in Carter Coughlin of Eden Prairie and Tyler Johnson from Minneapolis North. You have gotten a pretty good friendship with those kids. Is it nice to see some of the other kids that you are going to be playing with up for this award who are some of the best players in the state?
Kamal Martin: Definitely. It just shows that Minnesota is bringing in their top instate kids and it proves that they can develop them into players and it is just a blessing on our part. We just have to take that and run with it.
Gopher Hole: Have they talked to you much about position? I know that they recruited you as an athlete. Have they talked to you about offense versus defense?
Kamal Martin: Definitely. Coach Sherels has already told me that I am going to be playing linebacker, so I’ll be looking forward to that, definitely, because he is a great coach and I am looking forward to being coached by him. It is a blessing.
Gopher Hole: What things are you going to be working on to get ready to play college football now that your season is over?
Kamal Martin: Just staying flexible. Keeping my weight up. Trying to get faster and all those small things that count at the next level.