Memphis football linebacker Chandler Martin named preseason All-American by Phil Steele
The honors keep coming for Memphis football linebacker Chandler Martin.
Martin was named a preseason fourth-team All-American by Phil Steele on Tuesday. The Tigers' leading tackler from last season was named a first-team All-AAC linebacker at the end of last season and enters 2024 as the leader of Memphis' defense.
While Martin was the only Tigers player to get national recognition, plenty of Memphis players made the preseason all-conference teams. Martin, quarterback Seth Henigan, offensive lineman Xavier Hill, wide receiver Roc Taylor and running back Sutton Smith (as a kick returner) were named to the first team.
Running back Mario Anderson, wide receiver Demeer Blankumsee and tight end Anthony Landphere were named to the second team. Offensive lineman Jonah Gambill, linebacker Elijah Herring, defensive back Greg Rubin, kicker Caden Costa and long snapper Colby Cox were named to the third team, while cornerback Tahj Ra-El and wide receiver Koby Drake (as a punt returner) were named to the fourth team.
Anderson (South Carolina), Herring (Tennessee), Costa (Ole Miss) and Ra-El (Old Dominion) are the transfers who earned recognition.
Martin is expected to be at the center of new defensive coordinator Jordon Hankins' scheme. Hankins brought in Herring and a slew of other linebackers to complement Martin in what's expected to be a linebacker-heavy defense.
Even as he led the Tigers defense in 2023, Martin was playing through a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery. He said during spring practices that he's expecting to play at a higher level in 2024.
"It's even better mentally for me, that I can just trust it completely," he said. "I'll probably be that much better in a sense."
A transfer from East Tennessee State, Martin made 94 tackles for Memphis in 2023 in his first season at the FBS level. He's a redshirt junior and has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis football: Chandler Martin preseason All-American by Phil Steele
