Three-star linebacker decommits from ECU

Duane Martin, a three-star ranked football player, verbally committed to play for East Carolina University. On June 15, Martin decommitted from ECU and announced his commitment to the University of Louisville’s football program.

Martin is from Laurens District High School in Laurens, South Carolina. Martin received his offer to play for ECU on March 16, making a total of three offers he had received so far. On May 12th, Martin received an offer from the University of Louisville.

Although he had committed to ECU, Martin continued to visit other schools, including Louisville. Along with the two universities already mentioned, Martin also received offers from the University of Akron, Wofford College, and Coastal Carolina University.

On June 16, Martin announced on his personal Twitter account that he was decommitting from ECU in order to commit to play for the Cardinals.

“But after conversing with my family and coaches, I've decided I will be decommitting from East Carolina University!! With that being said, I will be continuing my development as a student-athlete at the University of Louisville!!” Martin tweeted.

Martin did not specifically give a reason as to why he decommitted from ECU, but his decision came shortly after the Louisville football program acquired another player for its 2020 class.

Kicker Brock Travelston committed to play for the Cardinals on June 15. He is the No. 4 nationally ranked kicker for the 2020 draft class. Travelston had seven scholarship offers from various schools, including Louisville.

Shortly after announcing Travelston’s verbal commitment to the university, Martin followed suit and also verbally committed to Louisville.

This is the first decommitment for head coach Mike Houston’s ECU coaching career, and the first of his upcoming 2020 recruiting class.

Regardless of Martin’s decommitment, coach Houston still has several other verbal commits for his 2020 recruiting class.

Linebacker Eric Doctor from Florida verbally committed to ECU on Monday on his personal Twitter account. Along with cornerbacks CJ Crump and David Laney, Houston still has six verbal commits that could still sign with ECU.

The East Carolinian reached out to the ECU Athletic Department for comment, but per NCAA collegiate rules, the department is not allowed to comment on any commitments or decommitments of players, if the player did not formally sign with the university.

Martin was only a verbal commitment, so ECU athletics can not legally comment on the matter.