ALBUQUERQUE — After yet another grueling workout at The University of New Mexico indoor practice facility, D’sean Martinez recently sat on a bench and was all smiles.
He is a former Pojoaque Valley High School player and 2022 alum who walked on at UNM after one season at New Mexico Highlands. And now his Lobos football career is winding down with Saturday’s (11/29) home game against San Diego State, as he will get a chance to walk out on the field with his parents and be recognized as one of the Lobos seniors.
His appearances on the field have not really been a part of the Lobos football experience, but Martinez said that’s OK, even though he had to start off as a team manager his first season at UNM.
“It was hard,” he said. “But the number one thing was being around football. My lifelong thing is I’ve been around football since I was 6 years old. So being around football was the biggest thing.”
And that actually enhanced his appreciation of the game.
“I think that’s where I grew my respect and love for the game even more because sitting there watching people play, and then you have all this time to build up your confidence and stuff,” Martinez said. “So I built up my confidence and got closer with the guys and then eventually, when I walked on, I gave my all. And it was worth it.”
Listed as a defensive back, Martinez may not have the hard knocks acquired from playing time, but he’s garnered something even more important.
“Oh, yeah, 100%, all the guys respect me,” he said. “I have good, lifelong relationships with most of the guys on the team.”
And that’s something that is earned by his work during practice.
“I’ve worked hard for that respect,” Martinez said. “Some walk-ons, they just think they’re just here to just be a body. But I’ve taken initiative to kind of just be the best me. And I think it’s paid off. I’ve gotten good (practice) stats and things, so good things have come out of it. It’s taught me how to be a man. And it’s hard, especially, to come out of Northern New Mexico and come to UNM so it’s been a blessing, for sure.”
Martinez played for the Elks before they really started winning big with the team going just 11-22 during his tenure. And his prior two years with the Lobos were difficult, as well, so to be with a team on an upward trajectory and headed for a bowl game has been a nice feeling under first-year UNM coach Jason Eck.
“He kept me,” Martinez said. “He liked the way I play. He liked everything about me. He liked my championship behavior. He liked my grit. He thought I was the man for the job still, too. So he kept me.”
And it’s led to success, even if that does not mean playing time.
“I’ve just been here since then,” he said. “And I really have so much respect for him especially because this year it’s a winning season for us. So, yeah, it’s really nice to have that because I never really had too many winning seasons in high school or anything. So it’s kind of like my first winning season.”
He’s been winning in the classroom, as well, as Martinez is ready to graduate in the spring with a liberal arts degree, after four years of college. He plans to become a firefighter and open his own business.
“The good thing about football is, it’s taught me the intensity of never giving up,” Martinez said. “So I’m never gonna be unsuccessful because I’m gonna always have that grit inside of me.”
Not out of the realm of possibility is also getting into the coaching ranks, perhaps even at Pojoaque where it all started.
“I’ve thought about coaching, you know, whether back at my alma mater, or anywhere else I take into consideration to use my knowledge to help others,” Martinez said. “Because I just want to be a mentor to the younger generation.”
He’s already doing that, talking with the current Elks players about his journey.
“I met the players, and yeah, yeah, I always have a conversation with the guys,” he said. “They asked me ‘how do you do it because a lot of people think it’s impossible,’ but it ain’t impossible if you set your mind to it. So I think that’s just something that helps them realize it’s like, ‘Oh, if he could do it out of here, so can we.’”
It’s a role Martinez welcomes.
“The biggest thing is just bringing people to find their inner potential and their better self,” he said. “So that’s cool to find somebody that they have something deeper inside of them than they realize, and they may never realize that unless you bring that out of them. So I think that’s something like that. I’m able to help them realize that.”
And now Martinez will take a senior walk on the field, surrounded by his family and fellow players.
“It’s gonna be pretty cool,” he said. “It’s gonna be nice to just have that step into that moment where, well, it’s a bittersweet moment. But to just realize that you did what your passion was. And if the opportunity arises to keep playing football, then I keep playing football. If not, I’m gonna just do my life. You’ve got to go on with life. But I think it’s bittersweet to just have all my people that I love just there and supporting me. Because they never gave up or they’ve always believed in me since I was a youngster.”