Of all the outside news today...
This one impacts UCLA the most immediately. Chris Martin, the No. 1 ranked OLB last season, is transferring from Cal before he plays a down for the Bears. I watched a lot of film on this kid, and he's a great one, and would have made an immediate impact for the Bears, likely switching to defensive end. He would've immediately become one of the best young defensive linemen in the Pac-10. I'd expect Rick Neuheisel to try to make a push for him, but the odds of landing him are slim. But for the Bruins now, at least they won't have to face him in 2010.
Here's the story: Martin
Oh, and in case you hadn't heard, Washington starting tight end Kavario Middleton bounced from the team: Middelton
Chris Martin is obviously a highly regarded athlete, and a great get for whoever he ultimately suits up for. As closely as I followed UCLA and recruiting in general last year, I recall him as a guy who seemed to flip-flop often (High-schools/College preference). As much as anyone, I'd love to see the talent he possesses on our side of the field, but am not so sure we'd want a kid so...non-committal. Didn't one of our more prominent coaches recently state that we shall pursue student-athletes that want to be BRUINS? At no time last year did I note his interest in attending UCLA. Why do you feel we fans should be excited that he' s transferring out of Cal? Know something more we don't?
Okanes is reporting that Martin has already committed somewhere not on the West Coast.
http://www.ibabuzz.com/beartalk/2010/07/20/football-martin-update/
RC3UCLA, he actually said we were even with Cal at one point in time for his interest. For some reason we dropped off his radar though. I really think he's going to leave California all together. Here's what he said on October 6th via ESPN:
ESPNU 150 defensive end Chris Martin (Aurora, Colo./Grandview), a Notre Dame commitment, told ESPN affiliate Web site WeAreSC.com he'll likely make some official visits and other programs are "even" with the Irish.
"I have a few schools in mind. I have one to Notre Dame in two weeks for the USC game, and I want to get out to see Cal this month. Possibly I'll go to Florida November 28th I believe for Florida State, which is (Tim) Tebow's last home game. The last two are going to be between USC, UCLA or Tennessee. I'm not sure right now."
"Right now I'd probably say that Cal is really even," said Martin of his commitment to Notre Dame. "Them and UCLA, but I haven't really contacted them too much, just a place I've been thinking about. Other than that I've been in touch with USC, Florida and Tennessee. I keep in touch with all of them because they're pretty much dead even."
On the Cal boards, they stated that Owa lost interest in the Bears after Martin committed. UCLA came out pretty good here.
Martin seems to be a troubled kid. Good luck to him wherever he ends up.
That's some great Cal revisionist history on Owa. In any event, too bad so sad for them.
Martin to UF