Iron Bowl win 'solidifies' Martin with Auburn

AUBURN | Asa Martin will take an official visit to Alabama, but the four-star Auburn commitment said he’ll sign with the Tigers.

And he has no doubts about it.

“I’ll take a Bama official (visit) pretty soon, but I’m 100 percent to Auburn,” Martin said. “It’s just a visit. You only get to do this once, so with this opportunity you might as well take your visits.”

Martin, the No. 7 running back from Austin in Decatur, took his first official visit this weekend when he tripped to Auburn for the Iron Bowl.

“It was everything I thought it would be,” Martin said. “It was great spending time with the coaches. It was just nice being back in Auburn again.”

Martin was one of many recruits in attendance for Auburn’s 26-14 win over No. 1 Alabama on Saturday.

“The game was amazing,” Martin said. “The atmosphere was crazy.”

So was Kerryon Johnson. Auburn’s junior running back, who is from Huntsville, rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries. Johnson also threw a 3-yard touchdown pass and had three receptions for 21 yards.

“That probably is what excites me the most, just seeing Kerryon,” Martin said. “I’ve been watching Kerryon since his freshman year in high school. Just seeing what he’s done being from North Alabama, and we have similar playing styles, I feel like I can come in and do something things that he has done.”

The outcome of the Iron Bowl only made Martin feel better about his commitment to Auburn.

“It solidifies (my commitment) a bunch,” Martin said. “Games like this is why you come to Auburn. It solidifies it for me.”

Martin has not scheduled a date for his visit to Alabama. He has, however, scheduled his move-in date with Auburn.

“I move in (December) 17,” Martin said.

The four-star running back will room with four-star quarterback commitment Joey Gatewood.

“He’s my dog,” Martin said of Gatewood. “We talk back and forth a lot. I wanted to room with the quarterback so we could go over the plays even in our down time.”

Martin and Gatewood are part of the Tigers’ class that is currently ranked No. 11, according to Rivals. Martin believes the class will finish higher.

“We are closing in on a couple of guys,” Martin said. “We could get a couple of guys in the next couple of weeks. I think the class overall should be a really good class.”

And it could include five-star wide receiver Justyn Ross. Martin feels the Tigers are making progress on the state’s No. 1 player.

“I do. I do,” Martin said. “I feel like we’re making a lot of progress.”