WOAY – WVU defensive back Kerry Martin posted to Twitter Wednesday that he will opt out of playing the 2020 season due to family and personal reasons regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Martin, who grew up in Charleston and starred at Capital High School, was the Mountaineers’ sixth-leading tackler in 2019 with 50 stops, 35 of them solo and 2.5 for loss. Against Oklahoma State, he recorded a career-high nine tackles and four assists.
“We don’t feel that my body matches my mental state to play the game and I don’t think I could withstand the role I would be playing this upcoming season,” Martin said on the post. “I don’t want to get into the season and not perform better than my last season and not be able to give my 100% all.”
It was Martin who published a post earlier this summer about insensitive comments allegedly by now-former defensive coordinator Vic Koenning as early as spring 2019. The ensuing investigation led to WVU and Koenning mutually parting ways in July.
WVU is currently finalizing a new schedule for 2020, following the Big 12’s decision to use a “9+1” model that would include one non-conference game.
