Getting His Kicks

April 26, 2006

Getting His Kicks

Paul Strelow

The Spartanburg Herald-Journal

While several of his counterparts were being eyed as potential receivers, Furman's Ingle Martin stoked interest at the NFL Combine as an old-fashioned slash.

After his quarterback workout in late February, Martin was asked to boot a few punts -- alternating boomers and shanks at the position he'd actually garnered all-conference recognition.

Martin later punted at Furman's pro day, raising the New York Giants' eyebrows until 18-year-veteran Jeff Feagles decided not to retire more than a week ago.

In a league enamored with comparisons, Martin was being poked and prodded to see if he could perhaps be the NFL's new Tom Tupa or even a modern day Danny White.

"But that's not what I'm focusing on," Martin said.

The punting tryouts were just for kicks.

As he learned before transferring from Florida, Martin wants to be a quarterback first and foremost.

By the end of the second day of this weekend's NFL draft, he should get the opportunity.

Martin (6-foot-2, 219 pounds) is perceived as a potential fifth- to seventh-round selection Sunday, a spot that typically guarantees a quarterback a fighting chance at earning a team's developmental third-string job when training camps open in July.

At worst, he could go undrafted and earn a free agent invitation to an early mini-camp.

Martin has conducted personal tryouts for Cincinnati and Jacksonville and is generally rated between Nos. 10-20 in scouting services' quarterback rankings. He said his showing at the Combine seemed to have bolstered his stock.

"My goal was to go up there and show I'm a top 10 quarterback," Martin said. "I don't know if I did that, obviously, but I don't think I hurt myself.

"If anything, I opened some eyes of those who might have questioned my arm strength or how fast I was."

The Nashville, Tenn., native may also be carrying the torch for the Southern Conference. Martin was the league's lone representative at the Combine and figures to be its sole draftee, although undersized Appalachian State defensive end Jason Hunter's Division I-AA title performance and pro day measurables have been enough to at least vault him into the picture.

As a result, Martin has been lumped into a group of other small-school prospects -- namely Alabama State's Tarvaris Jackson, Texas State's Barrick Nealy and Eastern Washington's Erik Meyer -- who've spent the last month trying to distinguish themselves for second-day consideration.

Martin, who set school records for passing yards (5,761) and touchdowns (42) in a mere two seasons, said he plans to spend Sunday on the golf course in order to avoid the unnecessary anxiety of waiting to hear his name called.

But just in case, a friend will be recording the draft on DVD.

"It's a crapshoot and I have no idea what will happen," Martin said. "I don't want to subject myself to that kind of torture."