The recruiting of the next generation of Tigers often begins right in Clemson’s own backyard. The program was a little warmer on Monday with a familiar face back around campus, who was Michael Martin II— standout running back from Greenville's Christ Church Episcopal School and now the premier ball-carrier in the state for the 2028 class.
Spring Visits@HatfieldQuin @Todd_C_08 @broti24 @Waltjr2222 @Jdjacks45 @windham_john @OLCoach_Mac @Yawn76 @LukeP_5 @ccesfootball @amanirichburg88 @__AustinButler @CoachDaniels06 @PrepRedzoneSC @iguerin @CDearing82 @najehwilk @Kamxjack @ToddShanesySHJ @MovinChains… pic.twitter.com/nRYUOHyvkm
— Michael S. Martin II “BIG 13” (@BigMichaelBig13) March 2, 2026
Martin is not just a name in town, he is a nationwide prospect and he made his career in South Carolina making the circuit his personal highlight reel for the last couple of seasons. The "Sophomore Surge". Although some recruits are slow to pick up the speed of varsity ball, Martin was hitting the ground running — quite literally.
He has scored 2,101 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns over 23 varsity games, but it was his 2025 campaign that really stood out to the scouts. In one year, Martin nearly doubled his production, completing his sophomore season with:
1,441 Rushing Yards (4th in the state).
30 Rushing Touchdowns.
137.9 All-Purpose Yards per game.
At 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, Martin isn’t a traditional “bruiser” until you see the weight room numbers. A certified powerhouse, Martin has a 315-pound bench press and a 425-pound squat. With it comes that raw strength, the engine behind his “backyard brand” of football.
His film is strewn with heaps of shots of him dragging on multiple defenders or exploding through tackles that would have been difficult for a lesser back. It is a physically rough and tumble style — one that C.J. Spiller and the Clemson offensive staff have long prized.
Perhaps more compelling than Martin’s stats in recruiting him, its his backstory. Christ Church Episcopal is a close-knit program marked by accountability and an “all-in” ethos — principles woven into the fabric of Dabo Swinney’s program. Martin, who has already visited Clemson six times during the 2025 season alone, is no stranger to the "Death Valley" atmosphere. He is not just a target; he is a player who has already been trained through a system that plays into a system that mimics the Tigers’ high-caliber locker room.
Clemson has clearly made Martin a priority, but they’re not alone. The star back is also planning to go to South Carolina, UNC and Duke. For the Tigers, the pitch is straightforward: stay home, play in an offense designed to work out explosive playmakers and engage with a culture that seems fitting to the environment he helped create at Christ Church.
If we can glean anything from the preliminary visits, the Tigers are right on-track to retain the state’s best talent exactly where he’s meant to be.