Loyalty is what lured 2016 WR Jalen Martin to Toledo

Harper Woods (Mich.) Chandler Park Academy senior wide receiver, Jalen Martin, was offered a handful of Mid-American Conference (MAC) offers, but prolonged his recruiting process in hopes of landing a Power Five Conference offer or two. That did not happen for him, so he knew he had to do what was best for him and his future, which was to commit to the University of Toledo.

I'm blessed and proud to announce that I have committed to #19 Ranked University of Toledo 🚀🚀🏈🏈💯💯💙💛 pic.twitter.com/0hvGsymVG5— Jalen Martin (@Goals_1) October 21, 2015

Martin, a 6-3, 210-pounder and three-star recruit, had a very interesting take on why he ultimately chose Toledo over the schools recruiting him, that goes far beyond the football field.

"It was a great fit," Martin said. "The coaching staff had been recruiting me for two years, and we've built a good relationship, and in this business, all it is about is building good relationships with coaches. They (Toledo) made me feel comfortable and like family. They trust me, and I trust them, so that loyalty was the determining factor for my decision.

"I started to think that it could be Toledo, once all the camps were over, and I started to really see what the recruiting process was really about. At that point I was leaning towards Toledo, and I felt that it was going to be my best move."

Does Martin have the ability to play at the top level in college? Sure. With his big frame, and athleticism, he could be a matchup nightmare on the outside. He also has the potential to do that at Toledo, where the coaches were more than happy to welcome him in. Talk about a steal for the Toledo coaching staff. Martin is a four-year varsity starter at CPA, and has already hauled in 16 touchdowns this season and is approaching 1,000 yards receiving.

"I told head coach Matt Campbell and wide receivers coach Derek Sage," Martin said. "They were very happy, and I was very happy as well. My mom, and my dad felt like I made a great decision and that is where I want to go. In those two years, Toledo recruited me better than any college that I've come in contact with.

"I'm a big target, and I just have to find ways to create quick separation and get in and out my breaks. That's going to be huge for me. I think I fit in great at Toledo, and I already know to do the things they are going to want me to do there. The coaches said they are happy to coach me, and said they will try to get me in one-on-one situation to get me the ball. At the end of the day, that's all that I can ask for, and work for."

Martin is a wise young man, and if you've ever met his parents, you would know why the apple did not fall to far from the tree. He did not get too caught up in the potential of trying to play for a big name in college. He exhausted all of his options, and chose the school that wanted him the most. In this day and age of recruiting, you see a lot players picking a school just because of their name, and Martin suggests that players not get too caught up in that, and overlook smaller schools like a Toledo, who is actually doing big things on the football field as a ranked team in the nation.

"I would tell other players to just be blessed with the offers that you do have, if you do have them," said Martin. "At the end of the day you can't take it too personal. It's a business, and at the end of the day you will just have to work hard, and put yourself in the best position possible to succeed and excel at whatever school you go to, and prove the colleges and coaches that you did want to go to wrong.

"Toledo is a great quality school, and they are the only ranked (No.19) MAC school in the country. Their have been a lot of high major schools that recruited me that's not ranked in the country in the top 25, so Toledo was my best move. I'm going to be proud to put on that Midnight Blue jersey."

CPA football is 6-2 on the year, and have one more game left this Friday, against Flint Beecher, before the state playoffs start next weekend. Like every other team in the state, the Eagles hope to make a long run in the state playoffs, and although Martin is having another successful season individually at CPA, but he would love to cap his great career off there with a state title.

"I set high standards for myself, and for my team as well," he said. "We are going to have to take it one day at a time, and we are going to have to stay very focused if we want to do something that has never been done at Chandler Park and make history. There are a lot of expectations here for our team."

Martin was also being recruited a s college basketball player, but said he will not be playing basketball at Toledo, focusing just on football there.