Ronald Martin Inspires Teammates and Family
LSU’s football team is full of promising young men brimming with talent and the intelligence to match. There are some big personalities and some outstanding stories. However, one player stands especially tall among all of the rest: senior safety Ronald Martin.
Martin wasn’t always sure he’d play football because growing up basketball was his favorite sport. His family persuaded him to stick with something new. Now, Martin plays for LSU as a safety starting 17 times and playing in 33 games during his career. He also has 124 tackles, 13 pass breakups and five interceptions.
“My uncle, who passed away, was my influence,” Martin said. “He was a big LSU fan. When I was younger I played all sports, but I felt like I was good in football. My family thought I should play more, so I stuck with it. I did it for them, but I also fell in love with the game. I’m happy with my decision.”
Last season Martin could not participate in the spring game because of an injury. Times were already tough because Martin had just lost someone close to him, his role model. Martin’s father, Ronald Sr., had passed away. Through it all Martin still stayed strong and held his head up high. This season Martin is back in the game making his dad proud.
“He was a motivator and my role model. I wanted to be like him. I was always trying to impress him in some way because he wanted the best out of me,” Martin said. “That’s basically it. He was a great father and I know he is looking down on me. I know he’s proud of me.”
Martin was set back for a moment, but he didn’t let anything stop him from moving forward. He spends hours at practice perfecting his skills. Through hard work and dedication, he continues to improve.
“I’ve been playing with Ronald for two years now. He has definitely been growing. He’s playing up to his potential. I can say he’s a very strong person,” LSU sophomore safety Rickey Jefferson said. “He handles a lot of adversity well. He stays strong, keeps working hard, and stays positive. I respect that about him.”
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There’s a lot of respect and love for Martin, as he gives the same love and respect to his teammates. Martin encourages his teammates to better themselves on and off the field. His actions don’t go unnoticed.
“He’s pretty quiet for the most part but he’ll get on you if you’re doing something wrong and he’s happy for you when you do something right. It’s all love on the field for us. He’s the defensive leader and our big brother, so we look up to him for advice and everything,” Jefferson said.
Martin is a senior leader in the defensive backfield, and he takes his leadership responsibilities just as seriously off the field as he does on it. Martin serves as older brother and mentor to his two younger sisters, A’shante and Jaion.
“I try to be positive for them and keep them up in their school work. I try to be another father figure for them also,” Martin said. “We have a close relationship. I make sure they know if they need something I’m here for them. I love them. That’s my family.”
Martin is from a small town where there isn’t much to do, but he kept himself busy by playing sports, like most other boys from his hometown of White Castle, La.
“The only thing to really do there is play sports, so coming up that’s all I did was play football and basketball. I go back often. I always want to stay humble to my family because that’s where I come from. I can’t ever be unappreciative of where I come from,” Martin said.
Athletes are generalized as being confident or cocky most times. Not too many times do you find people who are genuinely humble, but being humble comes naturally for Ronald Martin. Though the circumstances he has been through are far from easy, Martin has continued to keep a positive spirit and attitude.
“My personal performance is getting better and I’m improving each and every week,” Martin said. “I’m willing to do whatever for my team, whatever that needs to be done. I want to win.”