FURMAN QB INGLE MARTIN DRAFTED IN 5TH ROUND BY GREEN BAY PACKERS
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Furman senior quarterback Ingle Martin was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the National Football League Draft earlier today.
The 15th pick in the fifth round and 148th selection overall, Martin was the first Southern Conference player and second NCAA I-AA quarterback picked in this year’s draft. He is first Paladin player to be drafted since 2000, when safety John Keith was picked in the fourth round by the San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Desmond Kitching was taken in the seventh round by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Martin becomes the second Furman quarterback to be drafted by Green Bay, which in 1976 selected Charlie Whitehurst in the eighth round. Whitehurst played seven seasons (1977-83) with the Packers.
“I’m real excited about this opportunity with Green Bay and look forward to the competition,” said Martin Sunday afternoon. “I really appreciate coach (Bobby) Lamb and the coaching staff at Furman for preparing me for his opportunity. I’ve said before one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life was coming to Furman, and this (being drafted) further validates my belief.”
“This is a big day for Ingle and for Furman football,” said Paladin head coach Bobby Lamb. “He is a talented player and outstanding person who meant a lot to our program the last two years. Through hard work dedication has now earned a chance to play at the next level. We couldn’t be happier for him.”
Martin, a 6-foot-3, 224-pound Nashville, Tenn., native, completed 212 of
349 pass attempts (60.7 percent) for a school record 2,959 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2005 in leading Furman to an 11-3 record, semifinal playoff appearance, and No. 3 ranking in the Sports Network NCAA I-AA final poll.
A consensus All-Southern Conference choice as a quarterback, he also earned Sports Network second team All-America honors as a punter in 2005, averaging 42.5 yards per attempt.
In just two seasons at Furman, Martin helped the Paladins compile a 21-6 record and set school career records for passing yards (5,751 yards), touchdown passes (42) and total offense (6,275 yards). He joined the Furman program in 2004 following three campaigns at the University of Florida.
Martin, who will take part in the Packers' three-day mini-camp beginning this Thursday in Green Bay, has satisfied diploma requirements at Furman and will be awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in business adminstration in May.
Furman had three players on NFL rosters as the end of the 2005 season, including linebacker Orlando Ruff ‘99 of the Cleveland Browns, wide receiver Brian Bratton ‘04 of the Baltimore Ravens (currently with the NFL Europe Cologne Centurions), and safety Cam Newton ‘05 of the Atlanta Falcons.
The 15th pick in the fifth round and 148th selection overall, Martin was the first Southern Conference player and second NCAA I-AA quarterback picked in this year’s draft. He is first Paladin player to be drafted since 2000, when safety John Keith was picked in the fourth round by the San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Desmond Kitching was taken in the seventh round by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Martin becomes the second Furman quarterback to be drafted by Green Bay, which in 1976 selected Charlie Whitehurst in the eighth round. Whitehurst played seven seasons (1977-83) with the Packers.
“I’m real excited about this opportunity with Green Bay and look forward to the competition,” said Martin Sunday afternoon. “I really appreciate coach (Bobby) Lamb and the coaching staff at Furman for preparing me for his opportunity. I’ve said before one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life was coming to Furman, and this (being drafted) further validates my belief.”
“This is a big day for Ingle and for Furman football,” said Paladin head coach Bobby Lamb. “He is a talented player and outstanding person who meant a lot to our program the last two years. Through hard work dedication has now earned a chance to play at the next level. We couldn’t be happier for him.”
Martin, a 6-foot-3, 224-pound Nashville, Tenn., native, completed 212 of
349 pass attempts (60.7 percent) for a school record 2,959 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2005 in leading Furman to an 11-3 record, semifinal playoff appearance, and No. 3 ranking in the Sports Network NCAA I-AA final poll.
A consensus All-Southern Conference choice as a quarterback, he also earned Sports Network second team All-America honors as a punter in 2005, averaging 42.5 yards per attempt.
In just two seasons at Furman, Martin helped the Paladins compile a 21-6 record and set school career records for passing yards (5,751 yards), touchdown passes (42) and total offense (6,275 yards). He joined the Furman program in 2004 following three campaigns at the University of Florida.
Martin, who will take part in the Packers' three-day mini-camp beginning this Thursday in Green Bay, has satisfied diploma requirements at Furman and will be awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in business adminstration in May.
Furman had three players on NFL rosters as the end of the 2005 season, including linebacker Orlando Ruff ‘99 of the Cleveland Browns, wide receiver Brian Bratton ‘04 of the Baltimore Ravens (currently with the NFL Europe Cologne Centurions), and safety Cam Newton ‘05 of the Atlanta Falcons.
posted by Don @ 5/02/2006 07:05:00 AM
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