Each football season, there is someone new to the program who unexpectedly catches eyes in all the right ways. Last season, for example, you could have nominated transfer tight end Boden Groen, who ended up with 450 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. And this year, there may already be a player you want to add to your ballot.
Redshirt freshman defensive end Garret Martin.
Martin joined the Jayhawks as a 3-star from the class of 2025, after being rated as an 87-overall.
Martin’s class, however, was stockpiled with talent, including Adiran Holley, Justice Finkley and Leroy Harris III, pushing him to the wayside for the 2025 campaign, where he made just one appearance during the season, in Kansas’ 46-7 win over Wagner.
That didn’t stop him, though, as defensive ends coach Joe Dineen raved over the Scottsdale, Arizona, native earlier this month.
Martin is becoming a favorite during camp
“G’s done an unbelievable job. You know, the jump that he even made from spring to now is really impressive. So, G has done a really good job of learning both [sides of the rush]. And I told them all at the beginning of fall camp that the chances of you getting on the field are really, really high. Because it's a long season, so if you just play one spot, it's gonna be harder for you to get on the field, than if you can play both. And he's done a really good job, and I trust him to go in there at both spots.”
Currently projected to start at each end position are Alex Bray and Harris, with David Santiago and Dakyus Brinkley listed in the two-deep.
“He's developing a little bit of a pass rush, but he's a big, thick, strong kid that's violent and knows what he's supposed to do.”
Much like in Martin’s freshman class, the Jayhawks have added talent via the NCAA Transfer Portal on the defensive line, with Santiago, who hails from Michigan State, being the only designated edge-rusher transfer right now.
All this means the window of opportunity to get snaps this season probably isn’t as big as he would want out of the gate, meaning he has to continue to impress during Fall camp. Next season, the Jayhawks are only playing two out-of-conference games where they will be clear favorites against Middle Tennessee and Long Island University. However, Martin’s ability to be efficient on either edge immediately makes him a contender to play in some of Kansas’ highest-profile games against the likes of Missouri, Arizona State, Kansas State, Utah, BYU and others.
Last season, the Jayhawks posted a defense that fell well below average in most aspects, especially when it came to rush defense (105th-best in the FBS), third-down opposition conversion rate (97th-best in the FBS), and at getting to the quarterback (74th-best in the FBS).
Martin’s first chance to impress the general public will likely come against LIU, on September 4, Kansas’ season opener. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. CT.
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