Ex-Gator Martin plays at Furman

"What time does that game start?" Martin asked, hopeful that he might see part of it.

Saturday's 8 p.m. kickoff at Neyland Stadium won't quite fit Martin's schedule. The Nashville native and former Florida quarterback has a kickoff of his own at 6 p.m. Saturday against Gardner-Webb.

Martin is the starting quarterback for the Furman Paladins, who are ranked No. 4 in this week's Division I-AA poll. He enrolled at Furman in January after transferring from Florida, where he began last season as the Gators' starting quarterback.

Following Florida's loss to UT last September, coach Ron Zook demoted Martin in favor of freshman Chris Leak.

"We were 2-2 at the time and 8-5 the year before," said Martin, who completed 61 percent of his passes for 654 yards in four games last year. "The first person people look at is the coach and then the quarterback. They had to make a decision. Chris came in there and did a good job.

"I felt like I could play quarterback. But Coach Zook thought Chris was their guy. It wasn't good for me as a quarterback. There was really no other option (except to transfer)."

Martin didn't want to sit out a year so he considered only Division I-AA schools. He eventually chose Furman over Pennsylvania.

"I'm very pleased where I am," Martin said. "The coaches are really good, and I'm learning a lot."

The Paladins are as pleased as Martin about his decision to transfer. He was named Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week after completing 13 of 18 passes in his season opener against Presbyterian. Last week against Samford, he ran six times for 81 yards, including 58 yards for a score.

Martin's skills mesh nicely with Furman's offense, which mixes four-receiver sets with an occasional option. Martin ran the option in high school and a wide-open passing offense at Florida.

"He began spring practice as No. 4 on our depth chart," Furman coach Bobby Lamb said. "After seven days, you could tell he was the best player. We named him our starter then."

Martin grew up on UT's side. But after pulling for the Vols as a child, he was attracted to the Gators and then-coach Steve Spurrier.

"Everything was good (under Spurrier)," Martin said. "I thought I was being coached by the best quarterbacks coach, and I was on a team that was winning. I loved being a part of the SEC."