Kamal Martin was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 5th round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The former Minnesota Gopher has turned a lot of heads, since stepping on the training camp practice field.

In fact, most reporters around the Packers have Martin fighting for the starting inside linebacker position. Green Bay reporters can’t say too much because they have been muzzled by the Packers organization and aren’t allowed to say who is getting what reps, at each position.

I don’t like to copy/paste this much for an excerpt out of another article but this entire section (below), written by ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, is just too good to leave any of it out.

Packers’ rookie of the summer so far: Kamal Martin. Details of what he’s done in the ESPN daily camp report: https://t.co/Mq50mpoUzv

— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) August 26, 2020

Demovsky on Kamal Martin – ESPN

With all the focus this offseason on the Packers’ top-three draft picks — quarterback Jordan Love, running back AJ Dillon and versatile tight end Josiah Deguara — fifth-round pick Kamal Martin quietly went about his business in relative anonymity. Not anymore. Practice after practice, Martin has stated his case to be the starting inside linebacker next to Christian Kirksey. He’s in competition with Oren Burks and Ty Summers, but he might already have the edge.

In the same team period on Tuesday, Martin blew up a run play, getting Jamaal Williams on a tackle for loss, and then shed a block to stop a screen pass before it could get going. Based on the way he moves, it would be hard to tell he’s a rookie coming off knee surgery from an injury that occurred in his final college game at Minnesota. Perhaps he’s been able to digest the Packers’ defense so quickly because of his background reading defenses as a quarterback. In fact, he originally committed to Eastern Michigan as a quarterback but changed his mind when the home-state Gophers offered him the shot to play there as a linebacker.

“A lot of this game is mental — 90 percent of this game is mental and 10 percent is physical,” Martin said. “The more you know in-between the lines it will be beneficial on the field.” — Rob Demovsky

You can find slob jobs for Kamal Martin on the feed of every Packers reporter who has access to practice. Green Bay was, apparently, bad at inside linebacker last season (at least that’s what I’ve seen on the internet). With that being the case, Martin sliding into the starting role shouldn’t shock Gopher fans, who know how smart and talented he is..

Kamal Martin vs the Minnesota Vikings – Week 1

This is just a friendly reminder, that the Green Bay Packers open their season at US Bank Stadium in just 13 days. If Kamal Martin does grab that starting spot by week 1, he will be introduced as an NFL player for the first time, in his home state. That’s a cool week 1 side story.

Hopefully it’s his worst game of the season.

If you don’t want to take Rob Demovsky’s word on Kamal Martin, here is Matt LaFleur talking about how impressive Kamal has been (plus some of the other slob jobs I mentioned earlier).

Matt LaFleur was asked about former #Gophers LB Kamal Martin today:

“The first thing that jumps out is he is a long, athletic guy and he’s very intelligent. I think he works hard at it. It’s just going to come down to getting those reps and feeling comfortable in there…” pic.twitter.com/EKFh8n1KqE

— Daniel House (@DanielHouseNFL) August 22, 2020

Kamal Martin just had a couple flash plays in run defense. He’s been the Packers best rookie thus far.

Love hits Shep down the seam on a gorgeous throw for a touchdown. Great day for Shep too!

— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) August 30, 2020

There’s an open competition at ILB. Not sure I’d rule out the rookie.

Packers ILB coach Kirk Olivadotti on Kamal Martin:

“Kamal is a guy who really worked at it with all the Zoom stuff. When he got in here, he was mentally in a really good place, especially for a rookie.”

— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) August 22, 2020

Rookie Kamal Martin just blew up a running play. Again. Then comes off block nicely to defend a screen. Hard not to notice the fifth-round pick from Minnesota.

— Mike Spofford (@mikespofford) August 25, 2020

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The 2020 NFL Draft took place April 23-25, with everyone inside of their respective homes due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. While this year’s draft wasn’t the ideal format, it was amusing (and a bit cringe-worthy) to watch Commissioner Roger Goodell ask for virtual boos almost as often as he changed outfits and locations within one room.

This was also a different draft for the University of Minnesota, setting a program record with 5 players being drafted. S Antoine Winfield Jr. went 45th overall to the Buccaneers, WR Tyler Johnson went 161st overall to the Buccaneers, LB Kamal Martin went 175th overall to the Packers, LB Carter Coughlin went 218th overall to the Giants, and CB Chris Williamson went 247th overall to the Giants. 

ICYMI: #Gophers set program record with 5⃣ NFL Draft picks in modern draft era. https://t.co/pScQKUyTmS#SkiUMah // #RTB pic.twitter.com/LLBYcur1Ca

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) April 26, 2020

There are two players who are ready to flourish in their new roles, immediately. Bleacher Report named (WR) Tyler Johnson and (LB) Kamal Martin “Rookie Gems” for their respective teams, meaning BR expects these Golden Gophers to produce and contribute at levels not expected from their draft slot.

What could be better than catching passes from Tom Brady as a rookie? The Buccaneers receiving corps is strong, with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate, but Johnson still looks to have a prominent role on this team right away, being the slot receiver job is still his for the taking. Tyler posted 213 receptions, 3305 receiving yards, and 33 TD’s in 4 seasons at the U of M.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to get an up close look at Johnson when the Gophers played Auburn in the Outback Bowl, at their home stadium. Buccaneers Head Coach Bruce Arians is already in love with Johnson and was nervously hoping Johnson would fall to them at pick #161. 

we got ’em ? @T_muhneyy10 pic.twitter.com/QxokcK5YNs

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) April 27, 2020

I could not think of a better situation for Johnson, with all the veteran leadership ahead of him. This will allow him to learn from some of the best and grow as an NFL player. The Buccaneers’ abundance of weapons means targets could be hard to come by, initially. But one thing we know about Tyler Johnson, is that he finds a way to get it done and will take advantage of every opportunity provided to him.

Kamal Martin is also walking into a great situation with the Green Bay Packers. Martin will compete for a starting role right away, and even if he doesn’t get the job, injury prone Chritsian Kirksey will likely afford him opportunities on the other side of center.

With the addition of Kamal Martin, the Packers have a scary linebacker group with Za’darius Smith, Preston Smith and Kirksey also lining up at that position. Martin excelled with 177 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 4 interceptions for the Gophers during his career.

Martin, the former QB, transitioned from outside linebacker to inside linebacker, after the 2018 season and made it look easy. He was immediately named honorable mention All-Big Ten and only played 8 games due to a knee injury. Green Bay had a historically bad draft class but I am very confident that they hit a homerun with Martin.

.@KamalMartin6 bringing the ? to Green Bay ❄️#PackersDraft | #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/fV5oqIrbIp

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 30, 2020

The 2020 NFL draft was very exciting for Gopher fans, who I’m sure will be watching the careers of the former Gophers very closely. I have a feeling we will be seeing more of this in the coming years from the University of Minnesota.

Cameron Thompson | Minnesota Sports Fan

You’re not crying, @Cmoe34…. we’re crying! ??? #Gophers #RTB pic.twitter.com/M4HLof3bDL

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) January 2, 2020

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Good morning Gopher family! With smiles on our faces and bragging rights in our pockets, we’re all walking back into work today watching all of the postgame videos and reading all of the articles we can find on our historic victory yesterday over Auburn, just trying to hold onto this feeling for a little bit longer. Carter Coughlin is no different except… he’s the reason it happened.

Before P. Jesus Fleck came to Minnesota and rose this program from the ashes it had laid in for 60 years, Carter Coughlin led a massive class of ELITE Minnesota High School Seniors who acted as “John the Baptist” did in the bible,  preparing the state of Minnesota for the moment their savior would arrive. The commitment this 2016 MN recruiting class made, to make Minnesota Football great again, hasn’t been mentioned nearly enough…. even though it’s incredibly unheard of in recent years.

Let’s take a closer look. Here is the commitment list for the Gophers back in 2016, from the home state of Minnesota (via 247Sports.com):

1. Carter Coughlin (#1 – MN) | 4-Star OLB (.9566) | Eden Praire, MN
2. Seth Greene (#62 – TX) | 3-Star ATH (.8813) | East Ridge, MN (thru JR yr)
3. Tyler Johnson (#5 – MN) | 3-Star ATH (.8643) | Minneapolis North, MN
4. Sam Schlueter (#6 – MN) | 3-Star OL (.8603) | Mayor, MN
5. Kamal Martin (#7 – MN) | 3-Star ATH (.8518) | Burnsville, MN
6. Phillip Howard (#8 – MN) | 3-Star ATH (.8509) | Robbinsdale Cooper, MN
7. Drew Hmielewski (#9 – MN) | 3-Star WR (.8470) | Marshall, MN
8. Conner Olson (#11 – MN) | 3-Star OG (.8441) | Monticello, MN
9. Thomas Barber (#12 – MN) | 3-Star ILB (.8425) | Robbinsdale Armstrong, MN
10. Antoine Winfield Jr. (#162 – TX) | 3-Star S (.8285) | From MN – Played HS at “The Woodlands”, TX

This list is so incredible. Almost everyone on here blew up their recruiting profile. Carter Coughlin was the only recruit who had the stars to go with the production he ended up providing throughout his career. Tyler Johnson became one of the best receivers in the nation and broke just about every school receiving record imaginable. Kamal Martin and Thomas Barber will both be NFL linebackers, along with Carter (LB or DE). Conner Olson and Sam Schlueter ended up being the veteran presence that was badly needed in order to raise a young, but incredibly talented, offensive line over the last couple of years.

Obviously Seth Greene has been invaluable in the Wildcat game, the Gophers have relied on for many stretches over the last couple of seasons, in short yardage scenarios. His time isn’t up yet either. We’ll see what role he plays next year, now that Tyler Johson is out of the WR picture. Obviously, nobody is going to forget about Antoine Winfield Jr, who struggled with injuries throughout the last four years, but was by far the biggest playmaker on the field, when he was able to go. He still has two years of eligibility but I’d be surprised to see him return, given the NFL opportunities presenting themselves to him, after this season.

Phillip Howard struggled to find a position, between WR and DB once he got onto campus but either way, he was on the field for a lot of his time here and definitely contributed greatly to where the program is now. His unselfishness was apparent as the staff struggled to find what worked best with his abilities. I’m not sure exactly why Drew Hmielewski left the football program after the 2018 season but he definitely contributed while he was here and his career as a student athlete wasn’t over at that point. He still plays Outfield for the Minnesota Gopher baseball team and has two years of eligibility remaining.

Let’s not forget, either, that this 2016 class went through some serious controversy, involving an alleged sexual assault that engulfed the program in 2017 and got the coaching staff that they committed to, fired. But thanks to their incredible dedication and love for this state and school (plus the arrival of P. Jesus), they all stayed… thank god/aliens.

So, as we enter into a new future of Minnesota Gopher football under PJ Fleck, the sky is the limit. Our future is much brighter than the last 60 years of our past BUT we as fans can never forget, nor will we, what this 2016 class meant to the turnaround. For that, I think I speak for all of Gopher Nation when I say, “Thank You”.

Because before there was PJ Fleck… there was the 2016 MN recruiting class.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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