Scout had an article about it, here are some excerpts:

 

“The players looked like they were having fun at practice,” Martin replied when asked his impression of the Notre Dame practice. “They were going hard, but they were having fun and having a good time. That left a good impression on me just seeing how they practiced."

 

"The reason Martin becomes such a valuable recruit is that Victor Abiamiri is in his final season and the Irish will need a similar player to fill the void at defensive end. "He’s huge,” Martin said of Abiamiri. “He was real nice."Everyone I met was real nice. All the coaches were real nice people, especially the defensive line coach, coach Oliver. I liked him a lot. That was the first time I’ve gotten to really sit down and talk to him."

 

“I talked to coach Minter, he’s the guy that is going to be recruiting me. I talked to him before I left. That was the first time I got to sit down and talk to him as well.”

 

"Martin also had a chance to speak with Charlie Weis. “Great guy, great guy… unique” Martin said of Notre Dame’s head coach. You don’t meet a lot of guys like him. I expected the guy I met, but once you meet him, he has an aura about him… but comfortable.”

 

"Before leaving campus Martin had lunch with two Irish players from Ohio. “I had lunch with Brady [Quinn] and [Chinedum] Ndukwe,” Martin explained. “They were pretty cool. I got to meet some other players, some of the defensive lineman… pretty cool people."

 

Sounds encouraging to me, we'll just have to see though.

 

This was probably stated earlier on this board, but has it been confirmed that he coming to the B&G game?

Thanks Giz. I had thought Martin might be a lean toward us from readings in the last few weeks, but this sounds especially good. Imagine Martin & Austin both coming to help the defense.

Nice find Giz. Great to see you posting.

 

I have a question for anyone though. What did martin mean by "He's huge?" It's as if he is not what is his size compared?

Doesnt Ben Martin's mom want her son to be Blue and Gold?

Giz and 10, good to see ya guys on the DD. Hope to see you tearing it up here.

 

As for Martin at the BG game, I do NOT think there is confirmation of that.

Great read Giz.Thanks.I think martin might mean the muscle mass and I believe the weight difference between them.

It was my understanding from an early Lemming article that is essentially comes down to ND and Ohio State. While that might have change some, I still think it difficult to steal him away from the Poison Nuts. Weis said in his early assessment of recruiting that many of those offerees are down to "either/or" I think that is the case with Martin too with OSU.

 

I tend not to get overly excited about things in recruiting, but it is great news that he was on campus. That always works in our favor. I like it that Weis put Martin at the table with Quinn and Ndkue so they could share their experiences in not going with the home state Buckeyes.

 

The kid can play. He could obviously get a lot of playing time early should he come aboard. That should be enticing to anyone...

 

Let's hope he makes it up for the B&G Game. That certainly raises the bar for his services IMO....

Nice to Giz 10 and DC posting.

 

DC, where Quinn and Naduk came from, completely escaped me. Ohio. So it was quite clever to have a Cincy boy sit with them. (Jeese the planning and thinking by coaches)

 

I think he just might be a better bet then anyone realizes. Minter is quite respected in Cincy and lower Ohio.

 

I satisfied myself on the "huge" issue.

 

Victor Abiamiri is 6-4 260 pounds.

 

Ben Martin is 6-5 220 pounds. (Pre ND foods and Reuben Mendoza)

I work with a few guys that are huge OSU fans. They also invest a lot of time (and money) into following OSUs recruiting. The common thought between them is that Martin is going to OSU.

 

 

I should also point out that they think Jim Tressel is a respectable coach that runs a clean ship....

I guess our hope that a recruit comes to us is often reflected in our opinion that he IS coming to us. Obviously, this isn't the case, but Ben Martin hasn't been talking up OSU like Gray talked up South Carolina. Hopefully, the meeting with Weis & Co., stuck. We'll see.

IMO ben martin is a slight ND lean. martin really likes ND and CW and his mom has said she would like to see him go to ND. not to mention ben martin grew up in indiana before moving to ohio.

Guy that's something to think about too.

 

Per Minter's respect in Cincy it was when he was struggling with his small budget to get recruits and bucking heads with OSU, Michigan and even Notre Dame in those wars.

 

I've read Chiro's post on ND bringing pride to Indiana. I agree but still ND's fan base gets a bit diluted the farther south you go in Indiana. For instance on the KY border with the Ohio river is New Albany Indiana. There is little Notre Dame influence there. You can pick up some markedly reduced ND fan items. (At least it was so last year)

 

So I am coming from the farther you recruit in state the weaker your "power" or even out of state is. Coach Weis is shaking that tree.

 

Cincy also is on the bottom of the state of Ohio (Like New Albany is). Tressel has to war now with an upsurge in ND and the influence on his west side then of the Michigans on the top of the state and Pitt and Penn on his eastern border.

 

So I am feeling a bit positive from those comments Martin made plus knowing OSU, while still a power in Cincy it's diluted by distance. No real flack like in Dublin Ohio with Quinn to ND. Cincy's a huge city and the kids go where they want with no small town flack so to speak. It does not hurt that Minter too is very respected there and Charlies on the upsurge. When Charlie and Minter flew to Ft Campbell to visit the KY guy we signed, they stopped over in Cincy to recruit on the way.

 

So all in all I think the scales may have tipped in ND's favor. ?

I think Martin is 50/50. but my understanding is that Cincy does not have the strong affiliation and ties with Ohio State like the rest of the state has. i read this not too long ago. Can anyone confirm?

very true, and Minter has some serious pull in the city of Cincy...mind you Martin may not have a personal relationship with Minter yet, but his rep in Cincy and his in roads with those coaches is every bit as big as that of OSU, if not better

 

Rumors have been coming out of Martin's high school that say we are in a better position than 50/50, he wears alot of ND stuff and pubs himself as an ND recruit not so much a OSU recruit...these are unconfirmed rumors out of the high school so take it for what its worth

 

I would put my money on this kid picking ND over OSU, he has a good head on his shoulders, he doesnt come from a place where OSU has a strong pull, and Minter and Weis are after this kid hard...just my opinon but I would say he ends up Irish

Just based on what I've seen and heard it seems like a bit of an OSU lean. It's interesting we didn't wait a couple weeks to have him in for the Blue/Gold game. Martin would be a huge "git" for the defense and make me a feel a bit better.

ND has some serious ties to CInci. Gerry Faust came to ND from Cinci's Moeller High. Rocky Boiman was a Cinci guy to play in S. Bend.

Look at Scotty pulling out the old red head. or maybe it was orange.

Broke, I loved how intense that guy was, he never took a play off. He was like Ricky Watters, except on the other side of the ball.

Yeah, Boiman was a great Notre Dame linebacker.

boiman was awsome against nebraska back in 2000

I'm hoping that Martin ends up like Tuck, but without the exposivness ending injury. if you'll remember, Tuck had like 13-16 sacks in the year before he tore his ACL(?). If Martin can bulk up A LOT, he will be a monster, and hardly anyone will be able to hold him off. this is all with him comin to ND of course. if he goes to OSU, then i hope he either

 

a.) realizes his mistake and transfers to ND or

b.) has an injury and is never the same

 

i know that sounds harsh, but what OSU did to us in the Fiesta Bowl still stings me.