The Final Cockdown: #24 Ronnie Martin

Ronnie Martin
Junior Cornerback
5'10", 185 lbs.
Spartanburg, SC

Recruitment:
3 stars, #6 JUCO CB in 2013 class
Other offers: Out of highschool was offered by the likes of LSU, Maryland, Nebraska, and Illinois

College Career:
After signing with South Carolina as a part of the 2011 class, Ronnie didn't qualify academically and attended Georgia Military Junior College for two years. He enrolled at South Carolina in January and will be eligible to play this fall.

2012 Stats*:
3 games played, 10 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions, 2 force fumbled

*Stats from Georgia Military College. Martin was limited in 2012 due to a hamstring injury.

2013 Outlook:
Martin steps into a cornerback rotation that, beyond starters Vic Hampton and Jimmy Legree, isn't brimming with experience. To wit, Martin will have the opportunity to see the field plenty, but he injured his other hamstring in spring practice—another in a series of obstacles Martin's encountered since graduating high school. (Seems like Ronnie's taking over Akeem Auguste's role of hardluck Gameock cornerback.) At any rate, there hasn't been much reported out of fall practice regarding Martin one way or the other, so it may be late August before it can be determined if he's still listed as Legree's backup or if he gives way to the likes of redshirt freshman Rico McWilliams.

Trivia:
Ohio is the only state that shares no letters with the word "mackeral".

Possible Todd Ellis play-by-play call:
"Murray drops back to throw, delivers one over the middle and PICKED AWF, it's picked awf by Ronnie Martin, and he'll blow by the linemen in pursuit, and will take it in for the score! TOUCHDOWN, GAMECOCKS! Folks, all I can say is 'FRANK, WHO?' Only one Martin matters right now, and his name is—" [a meaty paw slaps down on Ellis' shoulder. Ellis freezes. Frank Martin presses 'standby' on the control board and locks the door. Fade to black.]