Chris Martin, an incoming freshman for Cal who was Tom Lemming’s No. 48 ranked player in the class of 2010, is transferring to the University of Florida, according to the
Aurora Sentinel.
Chris Martin, the No. 48 player in the
class of 2010, is transferring to Florida.
Photo by Tom Lemming
He announced his decision on his Facebook page.
Martin became a Golden Bear on National Signing Day in February, helping head coach Jeff Tedford land one of the top recruiting classes in the Pacific-10 Conference.
He verbally committed to Notre Dame on National Signing Day in 2009 as a junior, but re-opened his recruitment after the Irish fired Charlie Weis.
Martin, an Oakland (Calif.) native, spent three years playing at
Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) before transferring to
Grandview (Aurora, Colo.) for his senior season.
He explained his reasons for leaving Cal, where he had enrolled in summer classes. Here is his statement released by the school.
"My decision to transfer definitely does not reflect on the football program or the academics at Cal," he said. "Rather, I feel like for me to focus and truly reach my potential I need to leave many of the distractions I have here at home in the Bay Area. I need to venture away from home and start my college career somewhere else where I don't have those distractions."
Florida was the runner-up for Martin when he re-opened his recruitment over the winter before he decided on Cal.
The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Martin is a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end who joins an already star-studded group of freshmen defensive linemen from around the country, including
Sharrif Floyd,
Ronald Powell, and
Dominique Easley.
Martin's eligibility for the upcoming season is uncertain.
