RIVIERA BEACH – Christian Martin took as much time as he could to make his college decision.
After going through his options, the Inlet Grove ‘24 defensive back went with Alabama A&M. He announced his pick last night (May 1) on social media.
“I chose Bama A&M because I wanted to be in a new scenery, you know just something outside of the norm,” Martin said. “Also I’m really interested in the school’s history. It made me want to be a part of the HBCU culture, and when I took a visit to the school, the staff made me feel like it was the place for me. The campus is amazing.”
Martin (5-foot-8, 176 pounds) said he did not sign with the football program. As for now, he’s going to the HBCU for academics, but will make his attempt to walk on the team at some point.
“On the walk on part of it, I saw their spring game when I went up to visit the school,” Martin said of his visit that took place from April 5-7. “I can say I like the way their defense is ran. I feel like I’m going to go in and grind harder than ever to be a part of that.”
Martin said he was enamored by the HBCU’s history.
“Well the school was built on the same plantation the founder was a slave on,” Martin said. “Once he was free, he came back and bought the land and the governor in Alabama at the time did not want a black college in Huntsville, so the school sits in its own city (Normal, AL) with its own police and post office. All of the buildings are original. They never tore them down.”
What helped Martin be in this position to go with Alabama was his on-field production at Inlet Grove. For his senior season, the Pahokee native produced the following statistics in eight games played:
•49 total tackles
•2 pass breakups
•2 quarterback hurries
•Best individual game: 10 tackles in Week 7’s 20-0 win over Suncoast
“Part of my senior year at Inlet was a good one, even though the football season didn’t go how we planned for it to be,” Martin said. “I still enjoyed the brotherhood of the team, and I wouldn’t trade it for nothing. It was bigger than wins and losses with them boys.”
Martin touched on how Inlet Grove head coach Rashad Jackson impacted him as a football player and beyond.
“Coach Jackson helped develop me as a player by always giving me encouraging words and is always coaching me up when I miss a play,” Martin said. “He doesn’t tear you down. He always lifts you up. He threw me in the fire with older guys on the team like TJ Lott, Malik Willis, and Jacory Brown. That made me become the player I am today.”
To wrap this up, Martin made sure to let the masses know what his roots are and how it will always be for him as a Muckstepper from Pahokee.
“It feels good to be from a small town that produced so many greats and to be a part of the cultures of the Muck,” Martin said. “It feels good to rep that because not too many people has what it takes to grow up in the Muck. And being a Muckstepper means that you’re just standing on all 10 while repping the Muck, no matter if it’s on the field or at your job.”
PHOTO CREDITS: Alabama A&M University, Solitario Visuals and Sophia Pazienza
Muck City Media Enterprises 
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