LIU Secures Commitment From 6th 2026 OL, 1st in Ohio

We already knew that LIU’s conference mates were in deep water. But the tides are coming in just a little further than before.

Jeffrey Martin, a 6’2.5”, 265-pound interior offensive lineman from Tipp City, Ohio, has announced his commitment to the Sharks. Martin becomes the sixth offensive line pledge in the 2025 class, underscoring just how much of a priority the trenches have become for Coach Ron Cooper and his staff.

Ohio isn’t exactly a pipeline for LIU- only three players on the current roster hail from the Buckeye State- but Martin felt an undeniable connection to Long Island. “It just feels different in Brookville,” he said. “I truly believe in what the program is doing and the staff they’ve built is incredible. I also have deep family ties to New York. My mom’s entire family is from Syracuse and parts of my dad’s family live on Long Island.”

We had to ask if Martin had caught LIU’s historic upset of Eastern Michigan earlier this season. Martin admitted it hit home in a special way. “Excitement in short, to see a program that has expressed major interest in you pull off a historic win is something that can’t be matched. It’s very exciting to know I’m committing to a program that is on an upward path.”

The commitment itself played out in a fittingly personal fashion. Martin explained, “I called Coach Pace with my parents and just talked about my future at first. I really don’t think he was expecting my commitment but when I told him, the excitement on both ends was felt. I truly believe this program is going to make me the best player I can possibly be.”

That relationship with Pace has been central throughout. “Definitely Coach Pace,” Martin said when asked if any coaches stood out. “I’ve built a relationship with him since January when he was still at his former school. Then, when he took the LIU job he continued to recruit me and had me out for camp in the summer. Coach Pace is definitely the coach who I’ve built the closest relationship with throughout this process.”

For LIU, the commitment adds yet another layer to a class that is clearly being built with a vision. Like any team, the priority is to protect the quarterback (check that. With LIU that’s quarterbacks), control the line of scrimmage, and start winning games up front. For Martin, it’s a chance to carry Ohio toughness to the NEC and add his name to the foundation being laid on Long Island.