Starting Lineup: Mustangs’ Ayden Martin ready to show people what he’s about
To recognize the top players in Berks football MikeDragoSports.com has selected the “Starting Lineup,” a preseason All-Berks team that includes the 12 top linemen, backs, receivers, linebackers and specialists.
“Starting Lineup” is presented by GoBigRecruiting.com.
Players were selected based on past performance, expected performance this season and college potential. Two-way players were given special consideration. One player will be introduced each day, in random order (the players are not ranked 1 thru 12). Former NFL lineman and recruiting expert Ross Tucker offers comments on each selection.
Ayden Martin, Gov. Mifflin
| 5-11 | 185 | Senior | RB/S |
BACKSTORY: Like just about everyone who shared a football field with Nick Singleton the past few seasons Ayden Martin was often overshadowed. He played a critical, albeit a somewhat behind-the-scenes role in the Mustangs perfect regular season and easily could’ve been named to the Class 5A All-State team along four other teammates.
Martin’s so strong and agile he was employed mostly as a blocker on offense last season, sealing off defenders on the edge so that Singleton could sprint to the end zone.
This year other Mustangs will be blocking for Martin, who’s excited to take his freakish athletic skills to center stage.
“I get to show who I am and what I’m am capable of doing,” he said, looking ahead to his senior season. “(I can) just surprise people with what I’ve got.”
If you’re surprised, you haven’t been paying close attention. College coaches have sen it for years. They’ve been all over Martin since his sophomore season when he was an all-league safety on a Mifflin team that won a District 3 Class 5A championship. He earned an early scholarship offer from Temple.
Martin showed off his all-around physical tooks at the 2021 Chris Nunn Memorial Berks Football Combine where he won the 40-yard dash, the vertical leap and the 3-hop drill; only Exeter’s J.R. Strauss, who’s now playing at Villanova, won as many events. (Martin didn’t compete in the event this spring, due to a strained hamstring.)
Martin has trained with former Syracuse standout Darryl Daniel, to improve his speed and flexibility, and with former Green Bay Packers defensive back Antonio Dennard, to work on defensive technique. He also trains at Garage Strength. He has run the 100 in 11.0, has a 40-inch vertical and can dunk a basketball.
“Not only is he athletic, he’s an exceptionally strong kid for his size,” said Mifflin coach Jeff Lang. “He’s doubled his weight in the bench (press), which is pretty crazy.”
Martin is a two-time all-league pick at safety where he’s seen time since his freshman year. He’s just as good in space, blanketing receivers and knocking away passes, as he is in the box where he’s strong enough to stand ballcarriers straight up. Lang said that pound for pound he was the strongest player on the field last year — quite a statement, considering who he was playing with.
Martin didn’t get many touches on offense but he made the most of them, averaging 8.5 yards on 14 carries and 31.0 yards on three receptions, two which went for touchdowns. He also took an interception back for six points.
“He would’ve been a star of any other team,” said Lang. “This is his opportunity. He’s gonna be that kind of kid Nick was in the option game. I think he’s excited for it, to finally be the man and to really shine and show what he can do. He’s gonna have to be that star this year if we’re going to be successful.”
ROLE: Will be the team leader in the secondary and the go-to guy on offense as he moves to running back.
COLLEGE PROSPECTS: Committed to Monmouth University last month, selecting it over Lehigh, New Hampshire and Duquesne, among others.
TUCKER’S TAKE: “Burst on the scene as a difference-maker in 2020 as a sophomore, which landed him multiple Division I offers. Physical phenom whose testing numbers led to renewed interest this summer after a quieter junior year somewhat in the shadow of Nick Singleton and Eden Johnson. Gov. Mifflin needs him to take the next step and play to his ability this season to maintain its run of success.”
Starting Lineup 2022
| Josiah Jordan | Berks Catholic | HB/CB/KR |
| Ayden Martin | Gov. Mifflin | RB/S |
| Xander Menapace | Hamburg | QB |
| Lucas Palange | Exeter | G/LB/DE |
| Jven Williams | Wyomissing | G/T/DT |
The “Starting Lineup” team was selected by MikeDragoSports.com, with input from Berks coaches and Ross Tucker, co-founder and CEO of GoBigRecruiting.com and a former NFL lineman. Tucker, who played at Wyomissing, has deep contacts throughout college football and remains dialed into Berks football.
After the “Starting Lineup” team has been announced MikeDragoSports.com will present the “Berks Watch List,” which will include 50 more other top players to watch this season.
