DECATUR, AL.- While GatorCountry was in Decatur, Alabama talking with Florida Gators running back target Asa Martin (5-11, 195, Decatur, AL. Austin), we took your questions and let the running back answer them.
Several GatorCountry members had good questions for Martin and he answers them below in our exclusive question and answer.
AS: What is the funniest recruiting pitch you’ve heard from a college coach?
Martin: “Funniest was probably a coach saying ‘I’m not gonna let this other coach out-recruit me’. That’s probably the funniest I’ve ever had.”
AS: What was your reaction to that?
Martin: “I kinda just laughed it off. My mom was kinda, she was like ‘Wow’.”
AS: Describe what makes JaJuan Seider a special coach and recruiter?
Martin: “What makes him special is he’s probably the coolest person I’ve ever met. You can sit there and talk to him about literally anything. He understands. He’s just a really cool guy. I like him. It’s more of like the relationship that we have that kind of is what gets me, because I can talk to him about just about anything.”
AS: What NFL running back do you compare yourself to?
Martin:) Probably Le’Veon Bell.”
AS: Why is that?
Martin:) “Le’Veon, he can do everything. Catch the ball in the backfield, he can pass protect and of course, he can run between the tackles and he’s so patient.”
AS: Favorite player of all time?
Martin: “Bo Jackson.”
AS: What’s your 40 time?
Martin: “My best one was 4.49 last year. This year we ran it again and I ran a 4.53. I can get a little better than that.”
AS: Current height and weight?
Martin: “5-11, 195.”
AS: Experience at IMG?
Martin: “It was definitely a good experience. I would say it does prepare you for college, you know, everything the way the schedule is set up. It’s an amazing opportunity. I wanted to come back home and be with my family and win a state championship.”
AS: How does it compare to a normal school?
Martin: “There’s no way to compare it to a normal school. Normal school, you can just get up and go wherever you want to, but at IMG you’ve got curfew and all this stuff, but it can help you.”
AS: What has it meant to you to receive all of this attention as a big prospect?
Martin: “It means a lot to me. I’ve been dreaming about this stuff my whole life, like ever since I was five or six years old I’ve been dreaming about it. And like, as I was coming up I was trying to rush in because I saw a lot of other people doing it and I’m like ‘That’s what I always wanted to do’. I used to watch other people do an interview and stuff like this, so now I’m actually doing it, it’s just crazy. It blows my mind.”
AS: Advice you would give a young guy coming up?
Martin: “Yeah, just keep working hard. Don’t rush anything, because what happened to me, it happened all so quick. Don’t try to rush it, just keep working hard, because hard work does pay off.”
AS: What did you like about Florida’s academics and facilities?
Martin: “The academics are really nice. I really like it. They really impressed my mom. And the facilities, they’re pretty nice too. They’re building a new one too.”
AS: What’s your overall impression of the Florida staff?
Martin: “That’s probably the coolest coaching staff I ever met. I talk to all of them. They all text me. All laid back.”