Auburn lands former LSU signee, current MGCCC WR

One of the top junior college receivers in the country has selected his next home.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College receiver Brandon Martin announced Friday on Twitter he has decided to commit to Auburn.

The Tigers seemed to be the frontrunner for Martin dating back to the conclusion of the spring football season.

“It’s a nice school and has been one of my favorite schools since I was a little boy,” Martin told the Sun Herald after MGCCC’s spring game.

Martin originally planned to commit to a school following the 2016 season, but he obviously decided to go ahead and get it out of the way Friday.

“It has been a long journey. I am very thankful for all the colleges that recruited me and that has been with me through the process,” Martin tweeted from his personal account, @B_5_Live_5.

Plenty of offers

The 6-foot-4 receiver boasts offers from Florida, Arizona State, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Southern Miss and others.

An Under Armour All-American, Martin originally signed with LSU out of Prime Prep Academy in Dallas as part of the 2015 signing class but was ruled ineligible.

Martin previously said LSU was not thoroughly recruiting him the second time around.

After sitting out a year, Martin is expected to be an impact player for MGCCC in 2016 as the Bulldogs look to return to the MACJC Championship Game.

“It's been hard,” Martin said of his time away from the gridiron. “I busted my tail to get back out here with the group. It's been a blessing.”

Big connection

Even in just a semester at MGCCC, Martin has stood out. Former Tulsa quarterback Jabe Burgess raved about Martin’s ability following the spring game.

“Oh man, he's awesome, isn't he?” Burgess said. “He'll make some plays for you.

“It really picked up really fast. I just kind of knew what he was going to do. He's a smart route runner. Obviously, when you look at him he's huge, but a lot of people don't realize he knows football really well. I think he's going to do some great things this fall.”

Martin is the second MGCCC receiver to commit to a SEC school this offseason. Former Gulfport standout and Southern Miss signee Jonathan Nance committed to Arkansas in May.

Martin’s commitment also keeps the connection alive between Auburn and MGCCC. Over the last couple of years, the Tigers have plucked standouts Duke Williams, Jason Smith, Maurice Swain, Kevin Phillips and Derrick Moncrief — who later transferred to Oklahoma State — from the Bulldogs.

This story was originally published July 1, 2016 at 1:40 PM with the headline "Auburn lands former LSU signee, current MGCCC WR."