Port Arthur Memorial graduate Kameron Martin is expecting to make a visit to a tattoo parlor in the near future.
Baylor has released Martin from his National Letter of Intent, the running back confirmed Thursday. Martin requested the release after Baylor fired head coach Art Briles in May.
“I feel relief,” Martin said. “It is just a blessing. I couldn’t sleep and wasn’t eating right through the whole process. I really appreciate Baylor for doing the right thing and granting me the release.”
In a news release, Baylor announced four other players were granted their release from the NLI. Baylor did not name Martin or any other player.
The release came after the Baylor board of regents fired Briles following the release of a report commissioned by the school that found he and other university leaders inappropriately handled sexual assault allegations by female students.
Without a release from Baylor, the players could have had to sit out their freshman seasons and lose a year of eligibility if they chose to attend another school. The signees then could have requested a waiver from the NCAA to allow them to play immediately and retain full eligibility.
“I didn’t want to be a part of that situation,” Martin said. “I continued to pray to God that Baylor would do the right thing. My main thing was I did not want to get caught up in all that was going on in Waco.
“So now I am back as a free agent. I am going to make the right decision.”
Martin committed to Baylor in July 2014. He will now take some visits to several campuses and will also take a trip to a tattoo shop to get his ‘BU’ ink on his left bicep covered up.
“I will be at a tattoo shop in the near future,” Martin said. “I might get that done Friday. That is the easy part.”
Interim Baylor coach Jim Grobe issued a statement Thursday expressing his side of the equation to releasing the players from their commitments to the Bears.
“I wanted the opportunity to talk with our signees and their families before providing any releases,” Grobe said in the statement. “This has never been about whether or not we would ultimately provide individuals with a release. We simply asked that we go through the process outlined by the NLI, take some time and have a chance to speak with the student-athletes and their parents. I’ve enjoyed those opportunities to meet these families and wish each individual success in all that they do in life.”
Baylor signed 22 players in February in what was one of the highest-rated recruiting classes in the history of the program.
Baylor said several members of the 2016 class are enrolled in summer school and participating in the Bears’ strength and conditioning program. Additional class members are expected to join the program in July.
The list of players released from their NLI also includes Silsbee offensive lineman Patrick Hudson. He was ranked the No. 1 guard in the country by ESPN. Martin was listed as the No. 17 running back.
Hudson tweeted Thursday evening he could not confirm his release from Baylor. He originally was committed to Texas A&M before signing with Baylor. He, like Martin, is thought to be considering a move to the Longhorns.
Martin chose Baylor over Texas, his favorite team since he was a child.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.