The Inspiring Story of Draft Prospect Martel Van Zant

This guy seems like a great story. Wouldn't mind giving him a shot, personally I think he would be a special teams demon. From what I've seen people with the odds stacked against them can do extraordinary things and this guy looks like the type that could follow that trend. If anything he would be an inspiration to his teammates though I bet that he's hoping to accomplish more then that. Anyway heres a few places where you can learn all about Martel.

ESPN - For Van Zant, it's more than just the injury issue - NFL (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/columns/story?columnist=yasinskas_pat&id=3257497)

YouTube - Martel Van Zant - Arete Honors For Courage In Sports (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH54FGeIQEA)
YouTube - Martel Van Zant at Big 12 Media Day (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K7hCQM3FSs&feature=related)
YouTube - Overcoming the Odds: Oklahoma State Football (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnzfL0TuMiE&feature=related)
YouTube - Martel Van Zant (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqLnFkhpDNs&feature=related)

Either way, I hope that this thread can make enough noise to get the Redskins to consider him in the later rounds of the draft and considering what we did to Jim Fassel makes me wonder if we can do the same type of thing for Martel (in a good way).

Thanks for the heads-up, that's quite an inspiring story. I wouldn't be surprised if Real Sports does a segment on the guy. I hope he gets a fair shot; he certainly has the size, speed, and heart.

Yes - and I'm pulling for him too.. Because I'm deaf myself.. It sure would be GREAT if Redskins got him but that's probably a dream that won't come true..

Yes - and I'm pulling for him too.. Because I'm deaf myself.. It sure would be GREAT if Redskins got him but that's probably a dream that won't come true..

Not to threadjack, but I volunteer on weekends to prepare tax returns for low-income individuals. Last weekend I prepared tax returns for the hearing impaired and many of our customers had interpreters. Anyways, one of the interpreters told me that, for many deaf persons, English is a second language. I told him that I thought deaf persons learned English as their primary language and sign is simply the means of communicating that language. The interpreter laughed at me like I was an ignorant fool. Can you elaborate?

probably undrafted, but if so, he's worth bringing into camp.

I'd bring him into camp if he went undrafted, but reading his story is making me pull for him. I hope he gets a fair shot to succeed in the NFL because he's very inspiring.

Lee, 38, is a lifelong Cowboys fan!?!? Cant trust him.:spank::vomit:

Not to threadjack, but I volunteer on weekends to prepare tax returns for low-income individuals. Last weekend I prepared tax returns for the hearing impaired and many of our customers had interpreters. Anyways, one of the interpreters told me that, for many deaf persons, English is a second language. I told him that I thought deaf persons learned English as their primary language and sign is simply the means of communicating that language. The interpreter laughed at me like I was an ignorant fool. Can you elaborate?

Haha yea, our primary language is "ASL" as in American Sign Language.. That's why most of deaf people don't really have great English like grammars..

Lee, 38, is a lifelong Cowboys fan!?!? Cant trust him.:spank::vomit:

Oklahoma State Cowboys. Calm down...

Oklahoma State Cowboys. Calm down...

I know but it is OSU but it the sound of it dont sound right.:towel: