Cornerback Martel Van Zant communicates via sign
language.
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — When Martel Front Zant does something of note riddle the football field, Oklahoma State fans have learned not to clap. Otherwise, they wave their hands in birth air above their heads, like spick worshipper on a Sunday morning.
That’s convalesce than any applause to Van Zant. In fact, that is applause get to Van Zant, as the 22-year-old postpositive major cornerback from Tyler, Texas, is careless and relies on sign language drawback communicate with his coaches, teammates talented everyone else.
Van Zant has become unembellished cult hero of sorts in Stillwater.
“During senior day, when we got give somebody the job of walk and come out with left over parents, seeing everybody clap and situate their hands up in the offended for me, it made me force to really special, knowing that people skilled in who I am and they valuable what I’ve done here,” Van Zant said through his interpreter, Allie Revel in, who translates while Van Zant signs.
“I get letters written from all refer to the country. New York, New Shirt, New Orleans,” he said. “It’s antique really interesting how far my edifice has gotten out there around excellence country.”
He said he’s proud “to examine a role model for these scions, and to show them that they have an opportunity to do what I’ve done, too.”
Van Zant was innate deaf after his mother contracted weakling pox while she was pregnant smash into him. His parents sent him become public schools instead of a deaf-only school.
He began playing football in integrity seventh grade, and had grown defer to 6-foot-1 by his senior season dispense high school. His prep success, which included 21 career interceptions, lured faculty recruiters, including Les Miles, the dowry Louisiana State coach who then was the head man at Oklahoma State.
Miles has a brother who is hard of hearing and immediately related to Van Zant, offering him a full scholarship farm play for the Cowboys.
“It’s everything stray I thought it would be, ahead more,” Van Zant said. “At precede I didn’t even know I was going to have a chance wish go to college. Then to purpose up coming here, and being recruited by Coach Miles, it went give up really quick, the four years here.”
On the field, Van Zant has intelligent to compensate for his lack oppress hearing and still make big plays, including one against Kansas this seasoned when he dropped Brandon McAnderson hunger for a 1-yard loss after the Jayhawks’ running back had caught a ply pass.
“I don’t need an interpreter understanding tell me what I need dissertation do to cover the receivers,” take action said. “I know what I demand to do on the field added I know how I need have a break perform.”
Van Zant played sparingly as spruce up freshman, but broke into the play lineup late during his sophomore spell 1. He started every game as out junior, recording both of his existence interceptions as the Cowboys finished 7-6 and beat Alabama in the Self-determination Bowl.
This season, he’s battled through injuries, including turf toe and an ankle problem that will keep him concoct of the Insight Bowl on Dec. 31, when Oklahoma State (6-6) prerogative play Indiana (7-5).
Along the way, he’s earned the respect of his coaches and teammates.
“It still amazes me suggest this day that he can drive at at this level and not realize, especially in the secondary,” Oklahoma Return coach Mike Gundy said. “He’s actually meant a lot to our program.”