Former Panther kicker Sam Martin became the first Starr’s Mill football player to be drafted by the NFL when the Detroit Lions made him their 32nd pick in the 5th round during the 2013 draft.

Martin, who was the 165th pick overall, had his friends and family at his house in Charlotte, N.C., to watch the draft April 25-27.  He said he had expected to sign with a team but wasn’t sure if he’d be a draft pick. Martin said he had been contacted by 25 of the 32 NFL teams but received the most interest from the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions.  And then came the moment when he heard his name called and saw it on the TV screen with the Lions’ logo.

“I don’t remember my parents saying much, just a lot of tears,” Martin said. “One of my friends, though, did shout ‘Megatron’ and Legatron unite!’ ” His friend was referring to the nickname for Detroit Lions’ wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who played at Georgia Tech and graduated from Sandy Creek High School.

As a junior in high school Martin committed to play soccer at Georgia State, but he was persuaded by the football coaches to try out as a kicker his senior year. “They promised me I wouldn’t get hurt,” Martin said.

“As a soccer player, he already had a strong leg,” assistant football coach Dennis Bogumill said. “It didn’t take long to transfer the technique into properly kicking a football.”

Martin, who graduated in 2008,  became the Panthers’ placekicker and halfway into the season, he already was getting looks from college coaches from Auburn and Appalachian State.

Martin said he had to make a decision between soccer and football.  “I missed soccer for the first few years, but I was pretty set on pursuing football,” he said. “I have never regretted my decision.”

After graduating, Martin chose to play for Appalachian State Mountaineers. He was redshirted his freshman year. After senior punter Adam Kassouf graduated, the punting spot opened up. Having a strong leg, Martin practiced his punting technique throughout the off season and won the starting spot. That first year he averaged 45.9 yards per punt.

Martin finished his college career with a 42-yard kick average and ranked 10th out of the 54 punters who were available in the 2013 draft. After being picked up by Detroit, Martin received a signing bonus prior to camp on May 15. His status as an NFL player will be decided if he wins a spot on the roster.

Martin, who left for camp in Detroit last Thursday, will be training with his coaches and fellow draftees.

“I’ll just be staying in shape and preparing myself the best I can for what is to come,” Martin said.