2009 Spartan Nation Football Profile: WR Keshawn Martin #82

2009 Spartan Nation Football Profile: WR Keshawn Martin #82 Height: 6’ Weight: 183 2009 Eligibility: Sophomore EXP: 1 Letter Status: Second string

2009 Spartan Nation Football Profile:Â WR Keshawn Martin #82

Height: 6’

Weight:Â 183

2009 Eligibility:Â Sophomore

EXP:Â 1 Letter

Status:Â Second string WR feature specialty player

 

Strengths: There are a lot of compliments that you can give Keshawn, but here is the best. This staff is not inclined to look backwards, but it is my opinion that if there is one player they wished they had utilized more in 2008 it is Martin.

 

He is fast and brings so much to the team. They had a small package of specialty plays for him last year and look for that package to be considerably expanded in 2009 including some Wildcat.

 

To best illustrate his strengths, go back with me to the Capital One Bowl and a play that many say was a failure. In fairness it was, but Martin’s ability on the play best shows his strength.

 

On a trick play Martin rolled right with the ball on a presumed running play. Miller and Martin did not hold their blocks and while Martin looked downfield to pass, he was able to see that he was going to get crushed and with good downfield coverage he didn’t force a throw. He put two hands on the ball to avoid a turnover and took the sack.

 

The failure was that the play didn’t work and his teammates failed to execute. He was intelligent to read that the downfield guys were covered and intelligent enough not to try to outrun and fumble the defensive pursuit. He simply covered the ball showing a high football IQ and it earned him a lot of trust from the staff for his savvy.

 

Martin was a late bloomer on the high school recruiting trail and started two years in high school. I think that was part of the reason that he wasn’t fully utilized. I look for that to change in 2009.

 

Weakness: Martin’s biggest weakness can be best summed up like this: jack-of-all-trades and master of none. He does so much well, but you can’t pin point one thing he does great. That causes a longer adjustment period in finding his sea legs in college.

 

Now some will take what I just said as an insult and that would be crazy. He is a very good player. He simply has done so much, (QB, WR, DB, KR, PR) that he hasn’t had the time to become great at any. At WR he can get open, but he has to develop the hands to make the big catch and not the big drop. As a QB (the above referenced play) he has the brain to play it, but not the skills to do it every down.

 

Final Analysis: The 2008 recruiting class was a good one. It had a lot of guys that could be stars. I will tell you this. The upside of Martin is that as he develops he very well could end his career as the best. That remains to be seen, but I will use a quote from one the coaches last year to surmise his final analysis. “He is like one big Christmas present that keeps giving. You can use him in so many spots.” I agree and in 2009 you will see a lot more of him. Martin is that Slash type player and the Spartans will need to find ways to put the ball in this playmakers hands, and he will have to make sure that he keeps making things positive when he gets it.