Dale Martin to transfer

As first reported on CardinalSports.com, redshirt freshman running back Dale Martin will transfer from the University of Louisville.

Martin rushed for 21 touchdowns and more than 1,600 yards as a senior at Boling Brook High School (Ill.), and - in addition to Louisville - received scholarship offers from Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Tennessee. He spent the majority of his redshirt season as a Cardinal nursing injuries.

You always hate to see someone this talented take his game somewhere else, but it's hard to blame a four-star recruit who suddenly finds himself at No. 4 on the depth chart for walking. Brock Bolen, Bilal Powell and Victor Anderson seem to have a pretty firm grasp on being the three guys who are going to duke it out for carries, and depth still remains in the form of speedy incoming freshman Darius Ashley, and currently converted safety Sergio Spencer.

Martin becomes the third running back to leave the team this offseason, joining Anthony Allen (transfer) and George Stripling (dismissed).

Best of luck to Dale wherever he ends up.

UPDATE: Brian Bennett has a new story up with quotes from Martin.

“I talked to my family and my high school coach, and I kind of think I needed a fresh start,” Martin said from his home in Bolingbrook, Ill. “I had been battling injuries, and a lot of things were just going wrong. I thought I’d cut my losses and get a fresh start.”

“It came down to a situation where I could stay and maybe play at 60 percent or take a year off and get healthy by shutting it down,” he said. “Right now I’m just focusing on my rehab. I feel like I’ve got a lot of things to show people when I get healthy."

But the Cards still have depth at the position. Martin was behind senior Brock Bolen, sophomore Bilal Powell and redshirt freshman Victor Anderson on the depth chart. Highly-regarded incoming freshman Darius Ashley from Cincinnati St. Xavier High School will join the team in August.

“I didn’t really look at when I decided to leave,” Martin said. “They’re all great backs. But I feel that when I’m healthy, I can compete with anybody in the country.”