Kicker Recruitment Dispute: Miami (Ohio) vs Alabama

Kicker Recruitment Dispute: Miami (Ohio) vs Alabama

Miami (Ohio) kicker recruitment has turned contentious as head coach Chuck Martin publicly accused Alabama of illegally recruiting their standout kicker, after the talent entered the transfer portal. During a preseason video from Miami’s athletic department, Martin expressed dismay at the loss of a player who not only won the prestigious Lou Groza Award for the best kicker in college football but also excelled with remarkable stats.

“We didn’t lose him. He’s at Alabama. We know exactly where he’s at,” Martin remarked. “Alabama stole our kicker. They illegally recruited our kicker and stole him from us. That’s a fact, but that’s college football. Everybody knows what’s going on. Yeah, Alabama stole our kicker.”

Upon hearing the comments, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer responded, saying, “I don’t know anything about Martin’s comment. He entered the portal and we reached out to him, that’s how it goes right? So we did everything the way we were supposed to.” Martin, entering his eleventh season at Miami, highlighted how prevalent this issue has become in college football, particularly for programs like Miami (OH) that have found success.

With the opening of the transfer portal, Martin noted that many of his top players have been targeted by higher-profile conferences, reflecting a broader trend where Power 5 schools actively scout smaller programs. “My guys are their free agents. And now with NIL, they can pay them,” he explained, emphasizing the competitive nature of recruitment.

Despite losing key players, including the kicker to Alabama, Miami (OH) remains a strong contender in the MAC this season. They open the year with challenging nonconference matchups against prominent teams, setting the stage for an interesting season ahead.