Tyler Martin, Wolverine

Tyler Martin, Wolverine


September 12, 2020
Buckingham Browne & Nichols LB Tyler Martin (image via Boston Globe)

Acton (MA) Buckingham Browne and Nichols linebacker Tyler Martin, a class of 2022 prospect, committed to Michigan on Friday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Arkansas, Nebraska, and UMass, among others.

Martin is listed at 6’3″ and 245 lbs.

RATINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 80 grade, #7 ILB, #290 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 5.9 grade, #3 ILB, #106 overall
247 Sports: 3-star, 85 grade, #24 ILB

Hit the jump for more on Martin’s commitment.

Martin was offered by Michigan during his freshman year. It seemed somewhat inevitable that he would eventually commit to the Wolverines, but we’ve seen those stories play out differently in the past. High school teammate Zak Zinter joined Michigan in the 2020 class. The not-if-but-when situation came to a head recently when he announced he would be committing on September 11, and with no other teams pushing to the forefront, the pick was obvious.

Martin is only at the beginning of his junior year, so there is a lot of time to develop. I’ll skip straight to the conclusion here to say that I don’t see him as an inside linebacker in today’s game. He is rather large and stiff, and his closing speed leaves a lot to be desired. Martin is the polar opposite of guys like Kalel Mullings, Devin Bush, and Cameron McGrone, who have previously been recruited to play middle linebacker. Martin has thick legs, needs to read and react quicker, and does not hit with the violence one would expect of a 6’3″ linebacker who’s listed anywhere from 235-245 pounds.

I think Martin’s future will be on the defensive line or perhaps on offense in some sort of H-back role, but the player that comes to mind is Vince Helmuth. Helmuth was a 2007 Michigan signee from Saline (MI) Saline, who outgrew fullback to end up at defensive tackle before transferring to Miami-OH and trying his hand at offensive guard. Helmuth was a guy who seemed to succeed in high school because he was just bigger than everyone with some decent athleticism, but that didn’t translate to college success.

Michigan now has two commitments in the 2022 class, where he joins defensive tackle Alex VanSumeren. The size of the 2022 class is anyone’s guess.

TTB Rating: I will not be handing out TTB Ratings for 2022 guys yet.

5 comments

  1. Comments: 82
    Joined: 1/10/2017
    Julio
    Sep 12, 2020 at 10:21 AM

    Hmm. File this one under “uninspiring.” Can you envision this guy adding another forty pounds and being halfway effective on the D-line?

    • Comments: 3844
      Joined: 7/13/2015
      Sep 12, 2020 at 11:38 AM

      Halfway effective, sure. A difference-maker? Not really.

  2. Comments: 295
    Joined: 12/19/2015
    Extrajuice
    Sep 13, 2020 at 11:11 AM

    This offer is embarrassing. Once again Don Brown thinks he’s coaching at Boston College and doesn’t realize he’s allowed to speak to 4 and 5 star kids. He’s rather take slow, fat, unathletic kids in small towns.

    I’m happy for the kid but it’s obvious no one else was even “warm” on him near the UM level so he jumped on the offer. Which he should! It’s not his fault DB can’t better recruits.

    Martin is a DT all the way. It’s in everyone’s best interest if he were to spend the next 2 seasons bulking up and learning how to put his hand on the ground. That probably won’t matter much though. He’s not any kind of athlete that can make a difference in the Big 10. My rating using TTB would be 44.

    • Comments: 31
      Joined: 8/13/2015
      boliver46
      Sep 14, 2020 at 5:48 PM

      Wow. Really harsh dude.
      “slow, fat, unathletic kids…”
      If he is fat, I can only imagine what your middle-aged keyboard warrior self looks like.
      Will he be a star? Hard to say. Calling him someone who won’t be a difference maker in the B1G – as an ENTERING JUNIOR SEASON PLAYER along with your other unnecessary personal jabs – is moronic. You have no clue what he will do.

      • Comments: 295
        Joined: 12/19/2015
        Extrajuice
        Sep 14, 2020 at 11:43 PM

        Sorry, you’re offended. Maybe you shouldn’t be on the internet if you’re looking for warm and fuzzies FROM A SITE THAT RATES PLAYERS! That’s the whole point. The only word I used that was slightly offensive was “fat” but I could of used “extra baggage” or “carrying too much”, so I don’t think “fat” is that offensive. I am a grown adult and figured other adults could handle the word “fat”.

        Yes, your wife thinks I could peel off 10 lbs.

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