By Steve Spiewak
MaxPreps.com
Some running backs seem destined for stardom at a very young age, dominating as a ball carrier at all levels - Pop Warner, junior high, and on through their high school career. This was not the case for current Bolingbrook (Ill.) star running back Dale Martin.
"When I first started playing, I had to play the line because I was big," Martin said. "Then I lost some weight, and I started playing running back."
Like many others, Martin was introduced to the game by his father.
"My dad taught me how to play in the second grade. I liked playing and stuck with it," Martin said.
Nowadays, when the highly-touted running back breaks some tackles and gets into the open field, he isn't the only one sprinting towards the end zone.
"Whenever I'm on a pass route down the sideline, my dad often runs down the sideline, too, knocking people over," Martin said. "Everyone gets a kick out of it."
That means many sideline sprints for both Martin and his dad. Martin, one of the most sought after running back prospects in the country, has been a two-year starter for Bolingbrook, and rushed for 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.
Martin has also stepped into a leadership role for his senior season, attempting to keep his team focused amidst a lot of personal attention on himself.
"A few guys were talking about the state rankings, and how we weren't included in the top 25," Martin said. "I told them not to worry about the rankings. We're not in there. We'll surprise them."
Martin is certainly aware that he is in a position that many people never experience: having major college coaches knocking at the door, constantly seeking his services for next season.
"I'm just trying to have fun with it. I want to try to take it slow, because I know that it will go by fast," he said.
Right now, Martin slightly favors Tennessee, but has not yet ruled out other big time programs such as Iowa, Wisconsin, and North Carolina State. His head coach, former NFL fullback John Ivlow, has been a big help to Martin both on and off the field, assisting him with the entire recruitment process.
"Coach Ivlow has done a great job. He played for the 49ers and won a Super Bowl ring. He teaches us the best he can," Martin said.
If the Bolingbrook team hopes to compete for a state championship and a ring of its own, it will have to rely heavily on Coach Ivlow's guidance and, perhaps more importantly, Martin's legs to lead them to victory. Not bad for a converted lineman.
"We're going to surprise people, definitely," Martin reiterated.
Coming from such a talented individual, it's hard to disagree.