Some underclassmen prospects will be visiting Notre Dame before the Irish’s Junior Day on March 24th because it fits better with their schedules. Some will be coming in a day early or even a month early, but none are coming in as early as Greer Martini.
Martini attends the Woodberry Forest School in Woodberry Forest, the same school Notre Dame safety signee C.J. Prosise attends. While Prosise will arrive in the summer, another teammate, 2013 linebacker Doug Randolph, will be in South Bend for next month’s Junior Day, but Martini will be coming in this Thursday.
For Martini, he’s virtually coming a full year early as he’s a 2014 prospect. But according to Woodberry Forest head coach Clint Alexander, he’s a good one. Alexander first saw Martini at an all-sport camp at the prep school when Martini was just an eighth-grader.
“I told my wife, ‘If this kid comes here, he’ll be the greatest linebacker I’ve ever had,’” Alexander remembered. “His ball skills are just ridiculous. He had six fumble recoveries, two for touchdowns. Some kids just have that it and he has that it. He’s an unbelievable leader, just special.”
Martini stands at 6-foot-4, 216 pounds right now and Alexander expects him to be up to 230 by the time he’s a senior. Martini earned All-Prep, All-Central Virginia and All-State honors playing Will linebacker as a sophomore.
“He is long and has not yet fully developed into his body,” said Alexander. “His father was an offensive lineman in college and was 6-foot-4 and 282 pounds as a player. He is very smart and can read and diagnose plays quickly which makes him even faster on the field. Greer can cover and fill against the run.
Martini also plays varsity basketball and started varsity on the Woodberry Forest baseball team as a freshman, but loves football.
“I’ve grown up playing football all my life,” he said. “I love being able to go out there and hit somebody on a bad day. I really enjoy the whole dynamics of the sport.”
Martini believes his versatility, instincts and frame help him on the field.
“I can drop back into coverage and pick off some balls and I can also read the guards pretty well right now and know where the play is going to go before the ball is snapped,” he said.
The Cary, N.C., native is excited about his first trip to South Bend.
“I’ve always watched Notre Dame football growing up,” he said. “I just love the tradition and history behind the football program. I think it’s going to be unique to go out there and see their facilities and everything.
“I just want to go to the stadium. I’ve always heard stories about it, but I’ve never been to South Bend. I’m just really looking forward to going in the stadium and looking at how big it is.”
Prosise being at Notre Dame will definitely help the Irish as they recruit both Martini and Randolph.
“C.J. is a great advocate of their program,” said Martini. “He’s always talking about it. He just says he loves the coaches there. He loves the program and he thinks it’s a great fit because it’s great academics and great football.
“I love C.J. He’s one of my good friends here. It’d be awesome to play beside him again.”
Martini, who is also receiving attention from Michigan, Virginia and Virginia Tech, doesn’t have any other visits set up at the moment, but does know one key factor in his recruitment.
“Obviously academics will be first,” he said. “My dad’s a doctor. I want to kind of follow his footsteps and go to a great academic school first off. But having great football is also a major contributor to my decision. I want to go to a great academic and football school.”
