Heber Springs’ Martin signs with Arkansas Tech

February 5, 2020

By LARRY “SCOOP” McCARTY

Quarterback Adam Martin capped his Heber Springs High School football career by signing a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II letter-of-intent with Arkansas Tech at the Panther Den Tuesday.

Martin, who started the final two games of his freshman season and the past three years, led the Panthers to a 21-17 record, four playoff appearances and a share of a conference championship.

Overall, Martin completed 387-of-662 passes for 5,051 yards and 42 touchdowns. He rushed for 2,042 yards and scored 30 touchdowns.

“I’m very excited, like Russellville and excited what the future will hold,” said Martin when asked about selecting Arkansas Tech. “I’m ready to start working on my football career in Russellville. I like the coaches who kept in touch with me throughout the process. They were honest and treated me like family.”

Will Cox, who was interim head coach last season for the Panthers, said Martin was one of the key parts on offense. Martin was responsible for 54 percent of the team’s touchdowns and 64 percent of the team’s total offense.

In 2019, Martin completed 139-of-232 passes for 1,627 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was the team’s second-leading rusher with 864 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. Martin also handled the punting duties.

“I only coached Adam during the past two years, but he played well beyond his years,” Cox said. “He took pride in how he played. I’m happy he is getting this opportunity. His stats are incredible and only tells part of the story. Adam always put our offense in good position to be successful.”
Cox said he never doubted Martin would play college football and said his new coach will learn quickly how valuable of a player he is.

Heber Springs’ Adam Martin waits to sign his letter-of-intent with Arkansas Tech University. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

“I told every coach once he gets in your program, you would see why,” Cox said. “Adam is the best high school quarterback I ever coached. His best attributes are leadership and he holds himself to a higher standard than others.”

Martin is expected to compete for playing time next season for the Wonder Boys, who tied for eighth place with East Central Oklahoma in the Great American Conference last season during head coach Kyle Shipp’s first season.

“Most likely, I will probably be redshirted, but that decision will not be made until after the August camp,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting to Tech. Coach Shipp takes pride in being a Wonder Boy (player and assistant coach before becoming head coach). The program is going in the right direction.”

Martin was one of three quarterbacks signed.

“I’m excited about all of the kids that we’re signing,” Shipp said. “I feel like it’s a very good class from top to bottom. This class is a building block to where we want to get to in the future. Along with our returning class we feel like this group will have the chance to be special.”

Martin said he is ready for the challenge and compared it to when he was summoned to the varsity during his freshman year for the Panthers.

“I already was playing junior high basketball and coach (Darren) Gowen came and told me I was going to be playing more football,” Martin said. “I learned a lot in those games. I have so many memories, but two of the highlights were winning at Southside Batesville during my junior year and defeating Riverview at senior night last season.”

Martin said it was special to play on the same field as his father, Danny.

Adam Martin poses with father, Danny, in front of the Heber Springs High School class of 1981 class portrait. Danny was a 1981 graduate of Heber Springs. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

“I built a lot of relationships in the locker room and the community,” he said. “It also was special playing where my dad and uncles did.”

Martin continues to play for the Heber Springs basketball team and will compete for the baseball squad before heading to Russellville.

“Learning a new playbook will be the first challenge,” he said. “I need to become more physically because Division II football is a different game than high school. I want to get it up to their standards.”

Martin will join former teammate, Julian Cameron, at Tech. Cameron signed with the Wonder Boys last spring and redshirted this past season.

Martin is also the fifth Panther football player in the past three seasons to sign to play college football joining Cameron (Arkansas Tech), Blaze Nelson (Lyon College), J.J. Bray (Southwest Baptist, Mo.) last year and Jacob Bremmon (Hendrix) in 2018.

RELATED ARTICLE: Arkansas Tech announces 2020 signing class

Adam Martin with his family.

ADAM MARTIN INTERVIEW

HEBER SPRINGS COACH WILL COX

FORMER HEBER SPRINGS COACH DARREN GOWEN

Arkansas Tech announces 2020 signing class

February 5, 2020

By ARKANSAS TECH SPORTS INFORMATION

RUSSELLVILLE – Thirty-nine high school student-athletes and three four-year transfers have joined the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys 2020 football program, announced by head coach Kyle Shipp on Wednesday.

Of the new additions, 24 are from the state of Arkansas, with student-athletes from Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Missouri also joining the program.

“I’m excited about all of the kids that we’re signing – I feel like it’s a very good class from top to bottom,” Shipp said. “This class is a building block to where we want to get to in the future. Along with our returning class we feel like this group will have the chance to be pretty special.”

A complete list of signees follows:

2019 High School Signees

NamePositionHeightWeightHometown/Previous School
Adam MartinQB6-0190Heber Springs HS, Ark.
Ayomide JohnsonOL6-4265Cedar Hill HS, Texas
Brandon BuntonDB6-0180Dardanelle HS, Ark.
Brenton BacheminOL6-4280Archbishop Rummel HS, La.
Bryce FoxOL6-7275Dierks HS, Ark.
Carmerius RucksLB6-0205El Dorado HS, Ark.
Christian CorkranOL6-4307Fontainebleau HS, La.
Christian StaffordDB6-0170Lufkin HS, Texas
Cole CannonOL6-4270Grandview HS, Texas
Connor WatsonATH6-0175Valley View, HS, Ark.
Damarius NewtonWR6-2195Van Buren HS, Ark.
Davy HarrodDT6-0255Henry County HS, Tn.
Dewayne SmithLB6-0190Conway HS, Ark.
Drew RustTE6-1270Pottsville HS, Ark.
Germany PowellLB6-0255Bastrop HS, La.
Hunter TaylorOL6-1285Pillow Academy, Miss.
Jayden WimberlyDE6-3220Vilonia HS, Ark.
Jayson CampbellDL6-3215Arkadelphia HS, Ark.
Jayvien FranklinOL6-0270Russellville HS, Ark.
John WashburnOL6-0285Hoxie HS, Ark.
Jordan EdingtonQB6-2237Little Rock Catholic HS, Ark.
Jude BartholomewWR6-1200Van Buren HS, Ark.
Korlin McKinneyDL6-0275Conway HS, Ark.
Kyle GreenDE6-1230Bryant HS, Ark.
Kyren HarrisonATH5-11180Arkadelphia HS, Ark.
Lorenzo LawsonDL6-1250Arkadelphia HS, Ark.
Mason RossWR6-0185Rogers HS, Ark.
Matt ArnoldDB6-0180Texas HS, Texas
Micah SeawoodWR6-2175Springdale Har-ber HS, Ark.
Nakiyah DavisWR6-2195Joe T. Robinson HS, Ark.
Nate BurkhartzmeyerOL6-4280Broken Arrow, Okla.
Sam BartisOL6-2280Sunnyvale HS, Texas
Sammy LeBlancQB6-1175Teurlings Catholic HS, La.
Travarus Shead Jr.ATH6-2210Drew Central HS, Ark.
Trey WhiteDT6-1270Evangel Christian Academy HS, La.
Tyler IvyDB5-11175Benton HS, La.
Tyler WilliamsWR6-2180Metairie Park Country Day HS, La.
Vincent SteppesRB6-0175Warren HS, Ark.
Xavier ClemonsATH5-11180Morrilton HS, Ark.

2019 Transfers

NamePositionHeightWeightHometown/Previous School
Detavion TurnerRB5-10220University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Ark.
Jacob CatoOL6-2310Iowa Central CC, Iowa
Devin BurnsDL6-1240Austin Peay University, Tenn.