South Alabama football coach Kane Wommack said Monday that it’s “too early to tell” if the injury suffered by safety Marvin Martin in practice last week is career-ending.
Martin, the Jaguars’ second-team free safety, was removed from the Jaguar Training Center on a stretcher and taken to the hospital in an ambulance after colliding with a teammate during last Tuesday’s practice. He remains hospitalized and faces a long recovery, Wommack said.
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“I don’t know the answers to those things right now,” Wommack said of Martin’s football future. “I think some of it is, we’ll see what his healing process is. I don’t want to get too deep into the injury itself, but some of that is just going be as he progresses through that we’ll get some answers on, this is what is next in that step of process. It’s going to be a longer recovery for him and probably will not be quickly answered. There are a number of things that are probably going to have to happen, steps that are taken before we even get to the point of what his (football) future’s going to look like.”
Martin, a transfer from Kansas State, played in the Jaguars’ first seven this season on defense and special teams, totaling nine tackles and a pass breakup. On defense, the Vicksburg, Miss., native worked as the primary backup to starting free safety Jaden Voisin.
Wommack said he has visited Martin in the hospital, as have many in the South Alabama family. He’s “in great spirits,” Wommack said.
“He’s a lot of support from his teammates and coaches and our administration,” Wommack said. “Even our school president, Jo Bonner, has gone over to see him. Marvin’s such a special, awesome guy. When injuries occur that leave you in in the hospital for a period of time, it’s always a scary scenario. You hate to see those things, but we love Marvin and the way he’s handling this situation right now. Our prayers and thoughts go out toward him and his family.”
South Alabama (6-2, 3-1 Sun Belt Conference) is at Georgia Southern (5-3, 2-2) on Saturday. The game kicks off at 3 p.m. at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Ga., and will be streamed live via ESPN+.
