Doug Martin was there at the start, and so when it comes to Julian Edelman, he knows better than most.
The former Kent State coach who helped shepherd Edelman’s career from college quarterback to NFL receiver was asked how Edelman — an undersized signal-caller who had precious few scholarship offers — managed to separate himself from the rest of the pack in the formative stages of his football journey.
“His work ethic and what he demands of everyone else around him — I’m not sure I’ve ever seen something like that out of a college kid,” he said.
“All our players now ask me all the time what it was like coaching him,” Martin told BostonSportsJournal.com. “I tell them one thing: His desire to win is so much bigger than his desire to be liked.”
Edelman is in his 10th year in the league, but has continued to stay in touch with Martin over the years since he was plucked out of Kent State in the seventh round of the 2009 draft by New England and moved from quarterback to receiver. The coach has been singled out by Edelman over the years as being someone who was essential in his development as a player and a person.
this man gave me a shot back in my Kent State days and I’l never forget it... huge congratulations to Doug Martin for leading his NMSU squad to their first bowl game in 57 years pic.twitter.com/TSwhOCiqxf
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) December 3, 2017