Army Dependent and IMG Academy Rising Star: Kallen Martinez Is The Epitome of A High School Student-Athlete

Meet Kallen Martinez, a 6’3, 170lb defensive back representing IMG Academy, whose journey to display his skills has been far from conventional. As a child from a military family, Martinez experienced frequent relocations, including time spent in South America, which limited his opportunities to participate in organized sports.

Before discovering his passion for football, he was a basketball and soccer phenom, competing against much older athletes on military bases where his father was stationed. In fact, he was ranked #1 in his age group with the Kansas City Legends Soccer Club and received the opportunity to train at FC Barcelona’s headquarters in Spain. 

Martinez’s athleticism and versatility were evident even in his early years. When in the 7th grade, he made his first dunk during rec games, and by the 8th grade, he was jumping over multiple teammates dunking the basketball. Additionally, that year, he led his team to the Bi-national championship in South America, earning MVP honors.

Despite success in soccer, Martinez’s true passion emerged when he discovered football. Upon returning to the United States for his freshman year of high school, he enrolled at IMG Academy. In spite of his limited experience in football, Martinez’s exceptional talent earned him a spot as a starter on the IMG Academy Varsity Blue Team, which competes against the bottom 250 ranked teams by MaxPreps in the state of Florida. As his freshman season progressed, Martinez’s development caught the attention of coaches on the IMG Academy Varsity White team, which competes against the top 250 ranked teams by MaxPreps in the state of Florida while also traveling out of state along with international travel for competition. While on the Varsity White Team, Martinez split playing time with a senior as a defensive back and contributed to the special team. During his sophomore year, he would not only take the starting position but would become a team captain. After his sophomore season, he was moved up to the national team, which is ranked #4 in the nation, to compete for a starting position.  

Martinez’s versatility at IMG was recognized beyond football. During a pick-up game, a basketball coach recognized his basketball prowess and requested he come out to play basketball on their junior national team. Martinez’s athleticism often drew recognition, but establishing himself as an elite athlete in a new environment presented significant challenges.

As a military dependent, frequent relocations posed challenges, hindering his ability to establish himself in sports and secure long-term success. Nevertheless, Martinez remained resolute, utilizing his studies and athletic pursuits as a refuge amidst the uncertainties of military life. As an exemplary student-athlete, Martinez excels academically and athletically, maintaining a 3.8 GPA and earning recognition in the National Honor Society at IMG Academy. As he enters his junior year, Martinez is poised to vie for a starting position on the national team, showcasing his resilience, determination, and raw talent.

Our overall assessment of Martinez is that he is a stand-out athlete in terms of his measurables from a height standpoint. Martinez is a modern cornerback prospect with an exceptional size, length, and athleticism combination. His impact playing on the IMG Academy Varsity White Team showed that he is a rising star within the program who has quickly excelled as a perimeter defender. 

Martinez possesses good linear playmaking ability in the back end. With his projected trajectory as an above-average multi-year starter at the FCS/ Group 5 Division I level. His height of 6’3″ and athleticism as a rising junior are promising, as his length and range set him apart from many defensive backs. With about 20 to 25 pounds of muscle by his senior year, Martinez could become valuable to any Power 5 Division I program as a free or strong safety. Beyond his understanding of the safety position, Martinez displays fearlessness in attacking downhill or playing in the box, highlighting his outstanding ball-hawking abilities as a notable strength.

Martinez is a player who is comfortable in both man and off-coverage; he is not afraid of contact and demonstrates spirited tackling in open-field situations. He is an instinctive player with the range to make plays all over the field. His better-than-average speed and acceleration enable him to cover a lot of ground to make plays sideline to sideline. Although his lack of experience as a defensive back is evident, his patience and discipline stand out prominently. He possesses better-than-average speed and excellent acceleration, which enables him to cover a lot of ground to make plays sideline to sideline. 

After observing Martinez for a few plays, it becomes evident that he’s a gamer. He fearlessly attacks the football without hesitation. He is a sure tackler in close quarters or when he comes from depth to make a play. However, his transition movements reveal some inexperience, occasionally resulting in being too high or taking excessive steps while flipping his hips. With more experience and repetitions going into his junior year, he is expected to improve in all phases of the game. 

With tons of significant upsides, he checks all the blocks needed to be an elite defensive back. He demonstrates the versatility to play every position in the backend if necessary, where he wins with his physicality, speed, ball skills, and arm length at the point of attack. His long reach and jumping ability are secret weapons that will cause problems for receivers, as he can contour his frame to break up passes and obstruct the receivers with his active hands. He brings immediate value in 2 deep coverage and on special teams. In summary, Martinez shows promising potential and a competitive spirit. We eagerly anticipate his performance on the IMG National Team.