Seider improves his chances with Martin: Florida Gators recruiting

The Florida Gators recruiting class of 2018 will likely feature two backs in it and the coaching staff has several big options on the board right now.

One of the latest additions to the board is running back Asa Martin (6-0, 193, Decatur, AL. Austin) who picked up an offer from Florida two weeks ago.

“Coach [JaJuan] Seider was the coach that offered me from Florida,” Martin said. “He was saying that he likes my game a lot. He was recruiting me at West Virginia and offered me there too so now that he’s at Florida he wanted to offer me. Now that he’s there we can maybe make something happen because Florida is closer to home.”

Martin says his relationship with Seider goes back for two years now and he’s glad that the coach moved closer to his home in Alabama.

“He’s a really cool dude, really funny,” he said of Seider. “I definitely like him and we have a good relationship. He’s my guy and now that he’s closer to me is big.”

Since Seider has been recruiting Martin for so long he didn’t really give the running back a long message when he was offered but he did give him one quick message.

“He just tells me to come do something special there,” Martin said of Seider’s message. “He didn’t really say anything about how he would use me. He just likes to get the ball to his best players.”

The running back hasn’t visited Gainesville yet but he knows a few things about Florida and he was excited to get the offer from the Gators.

“I know about the rich tradition in football,” he said of what he knows about Florida. “ And the players that started their careers there from Tim Tebow to Percy Harvin. To get that offer really meant a lot and it was one that I wanted.”

Ever since Seider offered Martin, the running back says he has been planning a trip to Florida and he thinks he knows when he will make it down.

“Yes,” Martin said on if he plans to visit Florida this spring. “I just talked to my mom and we are going to try to get down there in March. We’re going to get down there soon but we’re trying for then.”

Several in-state schools have offered Martin recently but he admits that staying in state is something he’s set on.

“It doesn’t really matter to me in-state or out of state,” he said on if he wants to stay in state for school. “I’m just trying to find a school that treats me the best.”

With so many schools offering him and Seider moving to Florida, Martin says he’s keeping everything open instead of naming a leader.

“I thought I had a leader but now I don’t,” Martin said on if anyone leads. “I’m going to just wait and make my decision sometime in early December because I’m an early enrollee.”

 

INSIDERS TAKE: Martin is one of the top backs on the Florida Gators recruiting board and someone that Seider has been after since the running back was a sophomore. Martin spoke very highly of Seider including calling him his “guy” several time.”

Andrew Spivey
Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.