Cole Martin, nation's No. 5 athlete, firmly committed to Oregon, but Louisville making strong push

Basha High School (Arizona) cornerback Cole Martin is committed to Oregon, but recently visited Louisville

Basha High School (Arizona) four-star cornerback Cole Martin, the nation's No. 5 athlete, has been committed to the Oregon Ducks for months.

And his dad, Demetrice Martin, is the passing game coordinator/cornerback coach for Dan Lanning in Eugene. 

So it may surprise some people that his recruitment isn't exactly over and done with with a couple of months until Signing Day. 

Over the weekend, Martin took a return visit to Louisville and came away impressed.

"They show a lot of love," he said. "They treat me well. It's really great. I love the energy that they show and love the atmosphere out there. Louisville is a great place, the people out there are awesome and they are on the way up." 

Asked if he's strongly considering Louisville as a possible landing spot, Martin chose his words carefully before answering. 

"100 percent," he said. 

The tough part, of course, is balancing that with the opportunity at Oregon, plus playing for his dad.

"It's a lot to weigh, to be honest," he said. "But that's the fun part of the recruiting process. I get to really decide where I want to go and spend the next four years in my life. To have the opportunity to choose between so many great options, it's a blessing."

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound defensive back takes his Oregon pledge seriously, but also couldn't deny that the Cardinals have made an impression.

"At the end of the day, I really do feel very strong being committed to Oregon, but if we look at it right now Louisville is in the top two," he said. 

Martin added that he "plan(s) on taking more visits," and with more than 30 offers he'll have plenty of options. 

One possible trip could be an in-state outing. 

"(Arizona State), out here, is a big school," he said. "They are on the rise. I'm not 100 percent sure I'll take an official visit, but they are up there on that list." 

In the end, Martin said the pull of playing for his dad is strong - and going to be hard for another school to overcome. 

"The relationship I have with Oregon is very strong," he said. "I talk to them almost every day. I love the love they show, on top of having my pops up there. I love everything they do out there and I can't wait to see what they do up there." 

Over the weekend, a few Louisville fans and current commits hinted that perhaps Martin had flipped his committed.

Asked to explain his current recruitment status, Martin was direct. 

"I am committed to the University of Oregon, so that's where I stand."  

Senior midseason highlights