Running back, free safety, punt returner, kick returner, kickoff kill man, guard in basketball, FCS lifer, homecoming king. Who could this be? The only answer is senior Landon Martens.

Brought up in football at an early age, Martens spent endless Sunday afternoons alongside his father, Keith, watching the NFL.

“My dad used to watch football each Sunday and I would sit with him, rooting for his team,” Martens said. “I kind of got sucked into football when I was real young and ever since I have been involved in it.”

In addition to Martens’ immediate family, his cousin John Henrichs acted as an extra incentive to be involved in sports.

“He played baseball for UCLA and was going to the MLB,” Martens said, “but a player slid into his knee. One of his ligaments was torn, ending his sports career. Watching him play, though, made me want to play sports competitively.”

Although Martens has participated in almost every sport offered by the school, football’s physicality continues to draw him to the game.

“I’ve played most of the sports out there but I just got bored of them,” Martens said. “Also, in football scoring is much more fun. Everyone is coming after you and you have to make a move or do whatever it takes to get into the end zone.”

During his junior year, Martens had 6 carries for 36 yards rushing. This season he surpassed his record with 133 carries for 828 yards in seven games, Sept. 11 through Oct. 23. He says each year he improves in numerous areas of football.

“I’ve gotten better in many ways since I began football,” Martens said. “I’m faster and my confidence has grown in my abilities. My mental game is much better, too. I know more about the rules and how to react to a situation in the game, what jukes or moves to do or where to run.”

According to head coach Bonner Cunnings, Martens is “the kind of player every coach wants to have on their team.”

“Landon is an ‘effort leader’ who leads by his actions,” Cunnings said. “He is the type of man who will work day in and day out, no matter what the circumstance. This kind of leadership is so crucial to the success of a team.”

Senior Tyler Revis, offensive lineman and linebacker, appreciates how Martens demonstrates humility on the field.

“Landon is very selfless and is always thinking of others first,” Revis said. “Everything he says builds people up. He’s a team player who works hard every play and always gives it his all no matter what the situation.”

Revis says Martens’ attitude extends beyond football.

“There was a basketball game in Mendota last year where he scored the winning shot,” Revis said. “Afterwards all he said was, ‘The rest of my team executed the play which gave me a chance to make a shot.'”

When last year’s varsity football team experienced hardships and ended up canceling their season, Martens said he felt devastated by the decision.

“Last year was my lowest point,” Martens said. “When the season was canceled it felt like a joke and didn’t seem possible for this to happen. I was angry with everybody; it was one the worst times of high school.”

Despite theses past obstacles, Martens says the current team has developed and owes its success to the players’ mentality.

“We are starting to win and aren’t getting into arguments all the time,” Martens said. “Since we act as a team and trust in one another, we succeed.”

Martens credits Cunnings for motivating the players and uniting them as a team.

“We are a tight group this year, probably due to Cunnings,” Martens said. “He makes us open up to one another emotionally at practices or dinners, which connects us to one another. He has impacted us greatly, making us a better team.”

While many kids dream of becoming college or NFL stars, circumstances can change and dreams often fade away. However, Martens has persevered and kept the drive to play college football alive.

“I would like to play college football so I can test myself as an athlete,” Martens said. “And playing in front of massive crowds would be an amazing experience. Later on in life, I’d also like to be able to tell my kids stories about me playing college football.”

Even though Martens is pursuing college ball, he says he wants to prioritize school and his career over sports.

“I want to play football so I’d have to send in some videos of me playing and talk to coaches, but I also want to focus on my major,” Martens said. “It isn’t for sure that you will be able to play in the NFL unless you are some great prodigy, so I probably want to stick with my major.”

According to Martens, his coach strengthened his faith which in turn made him a more composed player.

“Cunnings reads the Bible to us a lot,” Martens said. “This year I started to get into what he was saying and I would read the Bible more often. This really helped me control my anger and not lose control out on the field.”

Rather than focus entirely on sports, Martens’ parents, Keith and Joan, said they want him to “grow in stature and faith more than anything else.”

“We desire that, above all, he will pursue a life under the lordship of Christ and those things that God has called and gifted him for,” Keith said.

The Eagles will host Parlier on senior night at Clark Intermediate in Clovis, Oct. 30.

For more information about the football team, check out the the Football sport shorts or check out Cunnings’ video profile on youtube, complete with game footage.