Coming out of Apopka High School Martez Ivey garnered a lot of attention. Ivey was ranked by 247 Sports as the number one offensive tackle in the country. He was in the Spectrum Sports studio and his college commitment was heavily watched.
Despite all the accolades at tackle when Ivey stepped foot onto the University of Florida’s campus he was placed at offensive guard due to a lack of depth amongst the Gators.
“You know, Tez is a natural left tackle,” Gators head coach Jim McElwain said at SEC Media Days. “That's what he was coming out. It speaks volumes to his unselfishness that he went in there and played at guard, knowing that we needed, you know, that to happen."
"That first year we got there, just because through some bum luck and some things that had happened, you know, we only had four scholarship offensive linemen, so piecing a group together, which we were able to do.”
In his first two seasons Ivey flourished at guard, earning SEC Coaches All-Freshman team honors and second team All-SEC his sophomore year. But now behind a stock piled o-line Ivey is moving back to left tackle and he’s embracing it.
“It was smooth,” Ivey said. “But at times it was kind of rough because I was used to playing guard for two years, but I believe now it’s flowing pretty well.”
“In Tez’s case, I think he’ll really flourish, he has the ability to move on the outside,” McElwain added.
Expectations are high for Ivey and his move, he was voted a preseason first team All-SEC offensive lineman by the media. And has his sights set on being one of the best tackles in the country.
“That’s up to other people, but each and every week I’m going to go out and play my best,” Ivey said. “Give it what I’ve got and continue doing what I’ve been doing, which is working hard.”