2/7/2018 football Edit

Letter of intent No. 22: Defensive tackle Val Martin

Matt Carter • TheWolfpackCentral

Editor

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Measurables:

• Was listed on Iowa Western’s roster at 6-foot-2 and 305 pounds … In the spring before his senior season in high school, he went to the Nike Camp and checked in at 6-2 and 286 pounds, ran the 40-yard dash in 5.46 seconds and the shuttle in 4.89 seconds, registered a 27.8-inch vertical leap, had a 38.0-foot power ball throw and scored 79.95 overall on the Nike Rating.

Stats:

• Redshirt freshman: Compiled 49 tackles (26 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and a fumble recovery in 12 games.

Honors/accomplishments:

• Helped Iowa Western go 11-1 last season.

• Originally from Marietta (Ga.) High.

• Did not play his freshman season at Iowa Western due to a concussion in the preseason, leading to a decision to redshirt.

Recruitment:

• Picked up offers from Buffalo, FAU, Washington State and West Virginia before NCSU offered in late-January.

• Officially visited FAU (Jan. 12), Washington State (Jan. 26) and NC State (Feb. 2).

• Verbally committed to the Wolfpack on Feb. 4.

Recruiter of record:

Defensive line coach Kevin Patrick.

Quotable:

“With the whole starting four in the draft this year, it’s a really good opportunity for me with just one senior coming back and one redshirt sophomore coming back [at defensive tackle], and the rest are really young guys.”— Martin.

Scouting report:

• Versatile interior line prospect who looks like he could play nose tackle or three-technique defensive tackle.

• Has good quickness off the snap.

• Will have three years to play three at NC State.

2017 projection:

Returning backups Eurndraus Bryant, a rising senior, and Shug Frazier, a rising redshirt sophomore, will likely figure prominently into the plans at defensive tackle next season, but the rest of the rotation that usually consists of four players is wide open. Martin will play next fall since he has already used his redshirt, but he has an opportunity given his experience to find a spot on the interior.