By SCOTT M. BURNSTEIN

Special to The Oakland Press

Martin-Manley Changes Directions, Decides To Be Hawkeye 

Kevonte Martin-Manley is doing his best George Jefferson impression right now because he's Moving On Up! I'm talking about going from the side show to the main stage.

As early as last week, he was verbally-committed to play his collegiate football at mid-major, Bowling Green. But things change fast in the fast and furious world of primetime college recruiting and Martin-Manley will now be donning the black and yellow of the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten.

Martin-Manley's road to big time college football has been one with quite a few zigs, zags, re-routes, and detours.

As of a mere two years ago, the Birmingham Brother Rice senior was thinking his future was on the basketball court. Although he has had a stellar prep hoops career, he eventually found his calling to be on the gridiron.   

Even though he had a dazzling junior season in 2008 with over 500 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns, the 6-1 playmaker didn't field a lot of major college offers over the summer (some believe this was a matter of schools questioning KMM's speed factor). Midway through his senior year, this past fall, Martin-Manley decided to verbally commit to what he believed was his best mid-major option – Bowling Green in Ohio, a quality MAC program but definitely not the big stage his talent is worthy of.

Catching 45 balls for 750 yards and 10 touchdowns in the '09 season and helping lead the Warriors all the way to Division 2 final four last month, garnered renewed interest in the fleet-footed and deceptively-quick wide out. On Saturday, Martin-Manley was offered and accepted a scholarship to play at Iowa.

So it looks like all the hard work paid off and it truly couldn't have happened to a better kid. On the field, he always let his play do the talking and boy did it have a lot to say. KMM is the definition of a hidden gem on and off the field. Congratulations Kevonte, you've earned everything you got! Burney says, "Take it to'em at the next level and go Hawkeyes!"