Football talent came naturally for Carlton Martin. The 6-foot-2-inch, 270-pound Brandon native is a senior defensive lineman for the Madison Central Jaguars. With college offers rolling in from the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State and Texas Tech, Martin has high expectations for the future, aspiring to play for the San Francisco 49ers or the New Orleans Saints.
Martin, who plans to major in engineering, started playing football in the sixth grade after moving to Madison in 2003. “I really didn’t know that much about football. I just used to watch JSU games when I was little,” Martin says.
As football started to pique his interest, he watched the greats such as Jerry Rice, Steve Young and Madison Central’s own Parys Haralson who is now a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers. Eventually, others started noticing Martin’s skill. “When I first started, I didn’t know I was as good as everyone was saying. … I just liked playing with my teammates,” he says.
Last year Martin helped the Jags reach the 5A state semi-finals with 59 tackles, five sacks and 30 quarterback hurries. The team finished the season strong with 12 wins and two losses.
Martin describes himself as a typical teenager who enjoys spending time with his friends, going to the movies, working out and focusing on his second passion—music. “I play the piano, and my cousin and I are thinking about starting our own production company one day,” Martin says.
Music has been the driving force behind some of Martin’s most victorious games. Martin says his pre-game routine includes listening to his iPod; favorites include hip-hop artist Kanye West’s “Stronger.”
MCHS football coach Bobby Hall describes Martin as a player who has the strength and determination to exceed in the sports arena and in life.
“He loves the game of football and plays with passion,” Hall says. “He is a strong and explosive athlete who has kept his grades up and a good attitude.”
In addition to his achievements in football, Martin is a member of the school’s power weight-lifting team and won first place for the 275-weight class during the state’s 5A power-lifting championship last March.
What drives Martin once he is on the field? Martin says he gains his inspiration from his parents, teammates, his coach and his desire to win.
“I have always been a competitive person,” Martin says, “I think of (winning) the state championship whenever I play a game.”
The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.