Desmond Martin joined the Wayne State University football coaching staff in the summer of 2017 as a student assistant coach. He assisted with the development of the running backs.
During the 2017 campaign, the Warriors had five running backs receive Academic All-GLIAC recognition, including two (Stephen Charron and Randy Garvin), who earned All-Academic Excellence accolades. Two of his proteges were recognized with All-GLIAC honors as Romello Brown was Second Team All-GLIAC, while Demetrius Stinson was named to the Honorable Mention All-GLIAC Team. Stinson was voted WSU's Offensive Most Valuable Player, while Deiontae Nicholas received the WSU Football Randy Guzowski Award which goes to the individual who has demonstrated team leadership and shown exemplary school and community citizenship.
Martin was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2015, after a successful four-year career with the Warriors.
He was a four-year letterwinner playing in 48 career games. Martin finished fourth in all-time rushing with 2,791 yards, seventh in rushing touchdowns (24) and eighth in rushing attempts (510). He ranked third in average yards per carry (5.47) [min. 100 attempts] {only people ahead of him are Joique Bell and Vic Zucco (1953-54)}, 15th in total offense (2,791) and 16th in rushing yards per game (58.1). The Redford, Mich. native finished sixth in total offense per play (5.47) [min. 200 plays] behind four quarterbacks and Bell, tied-for-ninth in touchdowns scored (24), 12th in all-purpose yards (2,972) and tied-for-12th in scoring (144 points).
As a senior he started all 11 games and became the first player in school history with back-to-back 200-yard games (Carson-Newman and Malone) and had three 200-yard games during the season among his seven 100-yard contests. Martin's single-season rushing yards total (1,578) was the fourth highest for a year in school history, while his rushing touchdown total (16) ranked sixth. Following that 2014 season he was an All-GLIAC First Team honoree and was named WSU's Most Valuable Offensive Player. He was a team captain and was the recipient of the Serxho Guraleci/Ultimate Warrior award for outstanding work in the weight room. Martin was selected to the 2014 USA College Football All-America Second Team, while being voted to the Beyond Sports Network All-Super Region 4 Second Team. He was named to the Coach's Honor Roll (term gpa 3.0-3.49) for Fall 2010, Fall 2012 and Winter 2013.
He was a 2010 graduate of Redford Thurston High School and earned two varsity letters for the Eagles. Martin helped Bob Snell’s squad to the second round of the state playoffs as a senior and was named to the 2009 Detroit News All-Metro West First Team as a linebacker. He had 84 tackles and five sacks, while rushing for 1,056 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior. He had 131 yards rushing, a 45-yard touchdown reception and two interceptions in the 2009 playoff win over Martin Luther King. Martin was named to the 2009 Associated Press Division 3-4 All-State honorable mention team. He served as a football team captain in 2009. Martin also played guard on the basketball team.
