Dale Martin?

[InTheZone]

"...three-year starter at running back and four-year varsity performer... considered one of the top running backs in the Midwest and the nation... finished as the school's second-leading all-time rusher with 3,727 yards... rated the 19th-best running back in the nation and the sixth-ranked player in the state of Illinois by Rivals.com... ranked with four stars by Rivals.com and Scout.com... ranked 25th in the country by Scout.com."

"Martin rushed for 21 touchdowns and more than 1,600 yards as a senior at Boling Brook High School (Ill.), and - in addition to Louisville - received scholarship offers from Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Tennessee. He spent the majority of his redshirt season as a Cardinal nursing injuries."

He is by far the most highly recruited and prized talent on our roster. And yet he never sees the field. What gives? Have all the injuries just taken their toll where he isn't close to the talent he used to be or is he an attitude problem guy? Anyone know?

[Buckzip]

"...three-year starter at running back and four-year varsity performer... considered one of the top running backs in the Midwest and the nation... finished as the school's second-leading all-time rusher with 3,727 yards... rated the 19th-best running back in the nation and the sixth-ranked player in the state of Illinois by Rivals.com... ranked with four stars by Rivals.com and Scout.com... ranked 25th in the country by Scout.com."

"Martin rushed for 21 touchdowns and more than 1,600 yards as a senior at Boling Brook High School (Ill.), and - in addition to Louisville - received scholarship offers from Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Tennessee. He spent the majority of his redshirt season as a Cardinal nursing injuries."

He is by far the most highly recruited and prized talent on our roster. And yet he never sees the field. What gives? Have all the injuries just taken their toll where he isn't close to the talent he used to be or is he an attitude problem guy? Anyone know?

I have wondered the same thing. I thought when Torrence left that would open it up for Martin.

Even the true freshman Bowers is ahead of him.

It seems like whenever we get a highly rated transfer they don't play for one reason or another. The list is long.

[Dr Z]

Injuries are your answer. If he was 100%, we would have the same problems in the secondary.

[johnnyzip84]

Hindsight is 20/20, but perhaps the fact that Dale was having trouble making his way up the Louisville depth chart during the woeful Kragthorpe years should have been a clue as to his level of play (whether it be due to injury or anything else). It makes me think that, when going after transfers, it might be a better option to find the player who may have had some off-the field issues rather than a former "X"-star recruit who is buried somewhere in a BCS depth chart. Of course, that's assuming there is reason to believe kid has turned things around in his life. The Michigan St DT transfer Oren Wilson might fit this scenario. At least we know the guy can play. I understand these opportunites are few and there will always be some risk in taking on a player who has been in trouble before.

[akron football]

he's the best we have...play him and also Greenwood and Merryweather...

[ZachTheZip]

We better hope he's good. Has he even played this season?

[InTheZone]

We better hope he's good. Has he even played this season?

He plays special teams. I have yet to see him in the backfield.