The two former Mustangs taking different roads
While Neil Martin patiently awaits his turn, Korey Gray is making the most of his opportunity.
Martin and Gray are the only two Gilroy High School alum currently playing football for four-year colleges. Each is playing at the Division 3 level – Martin at Occidental and Gray at Menlo College.
Gray, a Sports Management major, is a junior outside linebacker for the Oaks (3-2) after two years at Gavilan College. A 5-9, 205-pounder, Gray played two years at Gavilan before moving on to Menlo College.
He missed one game with a knee injury, but has 10 solo tackles, four assists, two sacks and five tackles for losses. The Oaks host Pacific Lutheran today for Homecoming.
“I’m enjoying myself here,” said Gray, who reports he is 100 percent now after being slowed by the knee injury. “It’s one of the top-5 small schools in the country for business. I always wanted to play college ball. At first, I wasn’t certain because I was so short.
“When I started playing (varsity at GHS), I realized I could do it. I was all-conference both my varsity years. After that, people told me I could do it. Gavilan was a good experience. I played defensive end my first year and safety my second year. I knew I wanted to continue to play.”
GHS head coach Rich Hammond, a defensive coach during his senior year, is elated at Gray’s maturity and growth.
“Korie was a classic over-achiever,” Hammond said. “He was like 5-9, 190 and played defensive end. He was our defensive MVP. He excelled using his quickness and found a way to get the job done.
“But I told him he couldn’t make it at the next level because of his size. He was one of those kids who did what he was told to get better. And he made himself a good student in the classroom. I am really proud of where he’s at.”
Interestingly, Gray’s roommate is Galen Perry, who played against Gilroy when he was at Everett Alvarez. Gray was a junior varsity player when Perry was a senior at EAHS.
There was a Martin kicking at Gilroy for five straight years. First it was Scott Martin for two years. Neil Martin kicked the last three years.
Just as was the case during his freshman year at GHS, Neil Martin is waiting in the wings as a senior kicker gets the reps. Thomas Joraanstad is a three-year starter for the Tigers (4-0), who are currently on a school-record 21-game win streak and are ranked No. 11 in the nation by D3Football.com.
Martin said he was “85 percent sure” he would be kicking somewhere after graduating from GHS. He was happy to get the opportunity at Occidental, where he is an economics major.
“It’s a real good experience,” Martin said of attending the school in Eagle Rock. “It was always in the back of my mind that I would kick somewhere. Occidental was the right choice and a great academic school.”
