re: 2018 Football Recruiting Thread -- Final OP Update Edition

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Asa Martin is one of the top players in the state, but had gone more than a year without hearing from Alabama.

Turns out, the new offensive coordinator likes the Austin standout much more than the previous one.

Alabama offered the 6-foot, 195-pound Martin on Saturday when he took a trip to the A-Day game. He dedicated the offer to his late grandmother, a big Alabama fan, when he announced it.

New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has been in contact with Martin on a regular basis over the last couple of months. Prior to that, Martin had not heard from Alabama since the end of his sophomore year.

"He's a cool guy," Martin said about Daboll. "He's real serious about football. He knows a lot about the game, so I like him."

Martin was a key member of the Austin backfield as a sophomore, leading the Black Bears to a 6A semifinal berth. He played at the IMG Academy last fall, but transferred back to Austin in November. Martin is a four-star recruit ranked as the No. 5 in-state prospect.

But Alabama may like Martin on defense. He said he wasn't sure which position, but Martin plays safety for Austin.

"It really doesn't matter to me," Martin said of his future position. "I know that safeties play a little longer than running backs, so that may come into the decision. I'll come up with all that."

Florida remains Martin's No. 1 school and Auburn is No. 2. Both are recruiting him as a running back. Martin said his talk with Alabama head coach Nick Saban was "a pretty good talk about a lot of stuff."

"It was surprising," Martin said. "Alabama's the best of the best in college football and getting an offer from that, they're one of the better teams every year. It was a pretty good feeling.

"They're getting the ball to the backs in the passing game a little more, which I like. They're changing it up and not just going downhill every play, so I like that."

Martin said that Alabama is "definitely one of my top schools now, being an in-state and high-caliber team."

Martin went to Auburn for its A-Day game. The Tigers' coaching staff offered Martin in February.

"The quarterback play is coming up from last year (stood out), so that was one of the things I was impressed with," Martin said. "I think they can use me and I can go in and make an early impact as well in the backfield and catch the ball out of the backfield as well."

Florida is Martin's current leader.

"My relationship with (assistant) Coach (JaJuan) Seider," Martin said. "I've been down there. I really liked it and really like the campus. I feel like I can go in and make an impact early. They're a top-level program and they've been in the SEC championship game the last couple of years."

Martin said he plans to visit all of his top schools again before making a decision, which could come before his senior season.

He mentioned Texas as one school he's trying to get to, and Texas A&M if the Aggies show more interest.

Martin was third on IMG Academy's team last fall in rushing, earning 372 yards and four touchdowns on the ground per MaxPreps. He caught 17 passes for 235 yards.

As a sophomore at Austin, Martin ran for 1,374 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also started at safety and was a special teams ace with five blocked kicks.

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