Oklahoma State University Athletics
Martel Van Zant
August 11, 2007 | Cowboy Football
Had a strong junior season in his first year as a full-time starter ... Uses an interpreter to communicate after being born deaf ... Was a 2006 nominee for the annual Football Writers Association of America Courage Award ... Winner of the Mike Johnson Award as the OSU player exhibiting outstanding spirit and enthusiasm.
2006: Started every game at one corner and finished fourth on the squad with 67 tackles, including 45 solo stops ... Intercepted passes against Arkansas State and Baylor ... Led Oklahoma State with six pass break-ups ... Had 10 tackles at Kansas and eight in the win over Nebraska ... Credited with seven stops at Texas and Texas Tech, and against Alabama ... Against the Crimson Tide, he was also credited with a tackle for a loss, a pass break-up and a forced fumble ... Had tackles for loss against Florida Atlantic and Texas ... Had a sack against FAU.
2005: Played in eight games and started the final four of his sophomore season, compiling 26 tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage (both vs. Colorado) ... Broke up a pair of passes ... Made three tackles and broke up a pass against eventual national champion Texas ... Had a then-career best six tackles against OU.
2004: Van Zant played in eight games as a true freshman and recorded five tackles.
High School: A ferocious cornerback at Tyler Lee and considered one of the top defensive back prospects in Texas ... Finished his career with 21 interceptions, had 39 tackles and 10 passes defended his senior season ... Named all-district, all-East Texas, and listed on the Texas top-100 prospect list ... Chose Oklahoma State over Texas A&M, Colorado, SMU, TCU and Arizona.
Personal: Born Aug. 18, 1985 ... Son of Andre and Alice Van Zant ... Has four brothers: Dominique, Mark, Carlos and Andre, Jr. ... Martel is majoring in sports management at Oklahoma State.
2006: Started every game at one corner and finished fourth on the squad with 67 tackles, including 45 solo stops ... Intercepted passes against Arkansas State and Baylor ... Led Oklahoma State with six pass break-ups ... Had 10 tackles at Kansas and eight in the win over Nebraska ... Credited with seven stops at Texas and Texas Tech, and against Alabama ... Against the Crimson Tide, he was also credited with a tackle for a loss, a pass break-up and a forced fumble ... Had tackles for loss against Florida Atlantic and Texas ... Had a sack against FAU.
2005: Played in eight games and started the final four of his sophomore season, compiling 26 tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage (both vs. Colorado) ... Broke up a pair of passes ... Made three tackles and broke up a pass against eventual national champion Texas ... Had a then-career best six tackles against OU.
2004: Van Zant played in eight games as a true freshman and recorded five tackles.
High School: A ferocious cornerback at Tyler Lee and considered one of the top defensive back prospects in Texas ... Finished his career with 21 interceptions, had 39 tackles and 10 passes defended his senior season ... Named all-district, all-East Texas, and listed on the Texas top-100 prospect list ... Chose Oklahoma State over Texas A&M, Colorado, SMU, TCU and Arizona.
Personal: Born Aug. 18, 1985 ... Son of Andre and Alice Van Zant ... Has four brothers: Dominique, Mark, Carlos and Andre, Jr. ... Martel is majoring in sports management at Oklahoma State.
| DEFENSE | G | UA | A | Total | TFL | Yds | Int | Yds | PD |
| 2004 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 26 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| TOTAL | 16 | 20 | 11 | 31 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
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