Kamal Martin, a 6-foot-3, 211-pound quarterback from Burnsville (MN) High, recently committed to Minnesota after previously verballing to Eastern Michigan.
Martin helped lead the Blaze to a 4-6 mark last season, losing to eventual state champion Eden Prairie 34-14 in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs.
Gopher Hole recently caught up with Martin to learn the latest on his recruitment.
Gopher Hole: You committed to Minnesota recently. Do you already feel a little bit of weight off your shoulder having everything done and now you can focus on your senior season?
Kamal Martin: I have already picked my school and got all that figured out, so I can just focus on this team and just go out and give 100% to this season.
Gopher Hole: You had already committed to Eastern Michigan, but went to the Minnesota camp and impressed them and picked up an offer and committed a few days later. What was it about Minnesota that made you think that is where you wanted to be?
Kamal Martin: I mean, first, it was the academics. They have a top-notch facility. After that, the coaching staff, they have been around for a combined 131 years. That is just crazy and something that you would want to be a part of, so that just really stood out to me. It was the best fit for my family, because it is close to home.
Gopher Hole: Minnesota has made a commitment to keeping this Class of 2016, which is one of the better classes recently, to stay home with nine in-state commitments already. Was that something that also appealed to you?
Kamal Martin: Yes, definitely. Coach Kill and the Minnesota Gophers are doing a great job getting in-state commitments. That is something big, because this class is pretty impressive. As much in-state commitments as we can get, the better.
Gopher Hole: Have you gotten to know many of those kids yet?
Kamal Martin: Oh yes, definitely. I have been to Carter’s (Coughlin) house. I have been to (Matt) Kegel’s house. We hang out pretty often, so it is just one big family.
Gopher Hole: Carter seems to be social director in getting the kids together. Was he even pushing you before you committed to look at Minnesota even harder?
Kamal Martin: Oh, yeah. He was. He was sending me a couple of messages here and there. It was just a thing that I went over with my family and the team and stuff like that and close friends.
Gopher Hole: How hard was it to make that call to Eastern Michigan to tell them that you weren’t going to go there?
Kamal Martin: I mean, it was tough. Eastern Michigan treated me very well and my family very well. It was something that they understood and they dealt with it and I dealt with it. We just went separate ways.
Gopher Hole: Did you get a chance to go to many college football games this past fall?
Kamal Martin: I went to four Gopher games, probably. All college game day experiences are great, but by far, Minnesota’s was one of my favorite ones. I went to the Iowa game and it was crazy, we won like 51 to 14. It was just crazy. We got Floyd back and it was something special.
Gopher Hole: What other schools were you hearing from besides Minnesota and Eastern Michigan?
Kamal Martin: Just Midwest schools. Iowa, Michigan State, Iowa State, UNI, NDSU and Wisconsin. The farthest school I heard from was probably Washington. It was Midwest school. Big Ten. FCS, like that.
Gopher Hole: Burnsville has had a great tradition in the past, winning a couple of state titles. However, they have struggled the past few years and haven’t had a winning season since 2006. This is your senior year, so obviously you want to have a great season. What things have you really been focused on have a winning season and some success this year?
Kamal Martin: I am going in with a great group of guys. All these guys are hard workers and talented, so we just have to stay 100% focused and detail our work and we’ll be fine. We are expected to have a big year this year and I expect a big year out of my team, also.
Gopher Hole: What things have you been working on this offseason to get ready to have a big year?
Kamal Martin: I have been personally been pushing my teammates to work on technique, technique, technique. That carries you a long way. It saves you in a lot in situations.
Gopher Hole: What about your position in college? I read that (linebacker) Coach (Mike) Sherels pulled you aside and told you that he really liked you and I am sure that tight end or H-Back is a position that they would look at you as well. Have you talked to them much about that so far?
Kamal Martin: I am just going in as an athlete right now. Tight end. Safety. Wide receiver. I don’t know anything right now. It is not final.
Gopher Hole: Have you thought much about a possible college major?
Kamal Martin: Probably computer engineering or kinesiology.
Gopher Hole: Do you come from a sports family?
Kamal Martin: My family is originally from the Caribbean and my dad played a little bit of cricket and my mom ran a little bit of track and that is basically it. I’m just blessed. God blessed me with some athletic ability and smarts.
Gopher Hole: Where did you get the love for football?
Kamal Martin: I have been playing football ever since sixth grade. It just came to me. I have been watching NFL players. Seeing what they do and apply it to my game. Technique drills. Footwork drills since I was little and it paid off
Gopher Hole: Do you play any other sports anymore or just football?
Kamal Martin: Just football and run track.
Gopher Hole: What events?
Kamal Martin: The 100, 200 and triple jump.
Gopher Hole: How did you do in that last year?
Kamal Martin: Pretty well. I know that our 4 x 200 team went to state and broke the Burnsville school record. That was pretty big for us.
Gopher Hole: Do you think that helps you for football with explosiveness and speed?
Kamal Martin: Definitely.
Gopher Hole: Have you been reaching out to any other local kids to talk to them about Minnesota?
Kamal Martin: Definitely. All the time. I see who Minnesota is recruiting and I see who they want to offer and stuff like that and reach out to them. Even out-of-state kids, I try to reach out to them to try to get them here. Getting them on official visits here. I tell them once they visit Minnesota, they are going to love it because it is a beautiful school. You can put the football program aside. It is a great school.
Gopher Hole: Did you like the recruiting process?
Kamal Martin: Yes, sir. The recruiting process was a struggle at first, I was blessed to know some people and my coaches helped me, especially Coach (Burnsville head coach Tyler) Krebs. He was a big factor for me. Thank you to Coach Krebs and my family.