Prospect to watch: Jon Martin – Spectrum (2023)
Spectrum junior Jon Martin has not settled into a football program. For the first time in his high school career, he will be playing for the same high school for consecutive years. Now that he has found a home, he…
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Continue ReadingSpectrum junior Jon Martin has not settled into a football program. For the first time in his high school career, he will be playing for the same high school for consecutive years. Now that he has found a home, he has a chance to make a significant impact on the football field during his senior year – and beyond.
Martin has moved twice in the past two years.
“I was at a school in Texas last year,” Martin explained. “I got to the school in the playoffs, so I didn’t play in any games, but I trained with them in the off-season.”
Martin was not a complete stranger.
“I played most of my football in Zimmerman,” the junior said. “I went to Spectrum my freshman year, so I knew some of the guys when I moved back to Minnesota in August.”
Martin helped the Sting to their best finish in school history.
“We went to the section finals and won five games in a row,” Martin said. “It was the farthest our school had gone in the playoffs.”
Spectrum finished the season with a 7-4 record.
“We run a single-wing offense,” Martin said. “We pull a lot and run a lot of quick inside runs. We have a good mix of run and pass. We were fast on defense and quick off the ball.”
The offense required Martin to play both sides of the offensive line. It was a challenge he was ready for.
“I am a strong-side guard. I practiced a little offensive tackle in Texas. That helped me learn different steps. (Getting used to playing multiple positions) was just practice. I practice my footwork for all of the positions – just in case I need to switch positions.”
Martin was a full-time offensive player in 2021 and would play defensive line in some obvious running situations, but his home is on the offensive side of the ball.
“I had seventy-seven pancake blocks. I think I had a game-high of eighteen pancake blocks.”
“For being as big as I am, I would say my strengths are speed and agility,” the 6’1″ 290-pound lineman continued. “I get off the ball quick and use my power.”
Martin expects to have a more prominent role as a senior.
“We lost a lot of defensive players to graduation, so I think I will be starting on offense but playing more defense than last year.”
This winter, Martin will continue to focus on football.
“I will be weightlifting – focusing on bench, clean and squat – and running a lot this offseason. I am trying to get up to 300 pounds before next season. In the spring, I plan on throwing shot put. I threw the shot in Texas.”
This weekend, Martin is back in Texas at the Podyum Preps All-American Bowl.
“It is prospects from the 2022 and 2023 classes,” Martin – who is very involved in his church – explained. “The first day will be combine testing. The next two days will be a lot of one-on-ones without pads. The last day we will play the All-American Bowl.”
“There will be a lot of college coaches there,” Martin continued, “so I want to learn as much as I can from them.”
College coaches around the Midwest have started to notice the junior.
“After my third or fourth game, I sent some film out. I had game-day visits at Southwest Minnesota State, Augustana, and Minnesota-Duluth. Ohio University and fourteen total DII schools have contacted me – mostly through Twitter.”
Martin has also had interest from some NAIA, DIII, and juco schools. Now that he has a chance to be in the same system for a second straight year, more interest and offers are sure to follow.