Luke Martin enters his third year of collegiate football, and second with the UNC-Charlotte 49ers program. After earning a pair of starts in 2018, the junior linebacker is seeking a breakout year as the Niners open play Thursday against Gardner-Webb at home.

Martin, and 2017 Dawson County graduate, had a solid showing in the Spring Game, tallying four tackles. As a regular last season, Martin played in 10 games, recording 20 total tackles, one for loss, and a forced fumble.

Martin transferred to UNC-Charlotte from Georgia Military College, where he also played the linebacker position. Prior to his college ball, he was a standout player for the Tigers of Dawson County, setting the school record of 185 tackles in a single season. He earned All-State recognition, was named the Region 7-AAA Defensive Player of the Year, and was named team MVP by coach Sid Maxwell for his stellar senior season in 2016. Along with being a 1st-Team All-Region member that year, he was also All-Region as both a sophomore (2014) and junior (2015).

His junior 2015 season saw the Tigers advance to their first-ever quarterfinals, as well as win the school’s first region championship.