Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week: Jon Martin of Exeter
Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week
Everyone remembers their first Friday night game, their first play, their first big hit.
Jon Martin’s first varsity football experience will be impossible to forget.
He started at outside linebacker for the Exeter Eagles, made seven tackles, forced a fumble and earned a game ball.
Pretty good for someone who hadn’t put on the pads in about five years.
“I wasn’t really nervous,” said the Eagles senior. “When I first came down the field, it was for a kick return and I hit somebody really hard. That brought my confidence up. That turned me up the rest of the game.”
Martin was surrounded by experienced players coming off a district championship season but seamlessly stepped into the lineup and was a good as anyone on the field in the 35-0 win at Daniel Boone. Good enough to earn the season’s first Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week award.
“He was tremendous,” said Eagles coach Matt Bauer, “not only at linebacker, but on kickoffs. He had at least three tackles on kickoffs. He was just enjoying himself.”
The 6-2, 184-pound Martin grew up playing football, as well as baseball and basketball, but once he got to junior high he drifted away from the game. He’s sorry he didn’t get back into it sooner.
“I regret not doing it now,” he said. “I forgot how much I love this sport, to be honest. It’s my senior year, I wanted to play (again).”
Martin came out for the team last season but didn’t stick to it. He returned this summer. Despite missing the Eagles’ offseason training and much of their summer program he managed to compete for a starting berth. Bauer said his athleticism and aggressiveness showed itself in the scrimmage and he won a starting spot.
“Once he committed himself (to being on the team), he hasn’t missed yet,” Bauer said. “He was running with the two’s going into the scrimmage, (then) we just saw such a physical jump.”
Martin had four solo tackles, three assists and two passes defended in the shutout.
He’s given an already good team — the Eagles were the preseason favorite in Section 2 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League — one more strong piece.
“He fits right in with them,” Bauer said. “He’s a welcome member of the family.”
“Football, it’s just something I love to do,” he said. “I’m real aggressive on the field, so I wasn’t very nervous out there.”
Players considered for Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week honors are nominated by their coaches or by members of the MikeDragoSports.com coverage team.
Also nominated this week:
- Nafis Blythe, LB, Berks Catholic
- Ryan Poore, S, Daniel Boone
- Mykell Ford, T, Gov. Mifflin
- Orlando Alvarado, LB, Reading High
- Cooper Hohenadel, CB, Schuylkill Valley
- Cam Jones, CB, Wilson
Selected last season as Defensive Player of the Week:
- Week 1: Brett Organtini, LB, Conrad Weiser
- Week 2: Eden Johnson, S, Gov. Mifflin
- Week 3: Josiah Jordan, CB, Berks Catholic
- Week 4: Matt Kramer, LB, Wyomissing
- Week 5: Ryan Souder, LB, Daniel Boone
- Week 6: Nevin Carter, CB, Wyomissing
- Week 7: Nate Goodman, DE, Gov. Mifflin
- Week 8: Sam Orzolek, T, Exeter
- Week 9: Cam Jones, CB, Wilson
- Week 10: Aaron Shuker, LB, Muhlenberg
- Week 11: Mitchell Watt, DE, Hamburg
- Week 12: Tyler Givens, DE, Berks Catholic
- Week 13: Jack Miller, LB, Wyomissing
- Week 14: Ty Yocum, LB, Exeter
