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After a year away from the classroom, Kyle Martin (2012-15) came back and finished what he started. While his professional baseball career is still in front of him, the former South Carolina All-American first baseman has already taken a huge step for life after baseball by coming back to school through the Carolina Degree Completion program and is earning his degree in mechanical engineering this week.I busted my tail for four years, I might as well get it done now, Martin laughed. Really, Im not sure if anybody in my family graduated from college. Its something Ive prided myself on. I worked really hard to complete something, so I wanted to see it through. I didnt want to take a lot of time off and then come back and not know whats going on. I wanted to come back while it was still fresh in my mind.The Carolina Degree Completion Program is part of the Gamecock Student-Athlete Promise and is for student-athletes who left the university in good academic standing to pursue a professional career, or did not complete their degree due to personal circumstances. The program allows those former student-athletes to apply to be readmitted to come back to campus and finish their degree. They have all of the resources that are offered to undergraduate students such as tutoring, laptops, and use of the Dodie Academic Enrichment Center.Its a great opportunity, Martin said of the program. To have that degree means a lot. It opens doors.After earning First Team All-American and First Team All-SEC honors as a senior, Martin was selected in the fourth round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft by Philadelphia and played his first full season in high A baseball in Clearwater, Florida, this past year.It definitely would have been more difficult if I waited longer to come back to school, Martin said. It took me about three weeks to get adjusted to it all again. Once I got back into the routine, it all started coming back. Its been a long road. I took a Creo Parametric class this semester, which is full of design. I thought that was one of the coolest parts of my four-plus years here.Martin noted that coming back was tough, but fulfilling. With his father being a mechanical engineer, Martin grew up doing a lot of puzzles and working a lot of math problems which created an interest in the field. Martin had become close with one of his professors, Dr. Michael Sutton, during his playing days with the Gamecocks, and he had encouraged him to complete his degree after staying in touch while playing professional baseball.He sits on the third base line during all of our games, Martin recalled. He and I hit it off, and every now and then I would go into his office just to talk. He went over the classes I had to take, and he really helped me out to get back into it. (Athletics Director) Coach (Ray) Tanner helped me out, and so did (Senior Associate AD/Academics and Student Development) Maria Hickman over at the Dodie. Everybody was helpful.Martin enjoyed some great memories as a Gamecock, including going to the College World Series as a freshman, as well as playing in front of a capacity crowd at Founders Park when South Carolina hosted Clemson.Beating Clemson at home my freshman year was one of my best memories, Martin said. It was so crowded. I loved it. There were a lot of memories my senior year as well. I hit my first walk-off home run (against Kentucky), and I hit for the cycle (at Florida). There are a lot of memories.Martin understands the importance of earning his degree because he knows there is a time when hell have to step out from between the white lines of the baseball field.It might not hit me at first, but I know one day when baseball is over and I really get to use my degree, its going to mean even more, Martin said. I know it means a lot to my parents. Theyve given me so much help and encouragement. Its been a lot of long nights and a long journey, but I know deep down that its going to be heartwarming to know I put the work in and got it done.Now that the coursework is done, Martin looks forward to putting in the work in pursuit of his professional baseball career at Spring Training in March.Wholesale Custom Baseball Jerseys . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records. Custom Cleveland Indians Nike Jerseys .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. https://www.custombaseballnikejerseys.com/?tag=custom-pittsburgh-pirates-nike-jerseys . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Custom Baltimore Orioles Nike Jerseys . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. Custom Seattle Mariners Nike Jerseys . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle.Trevor Knight doesnt exactly claim that divine intervention brought him to College Station, Texas, but the phrase he has used to describe his move has been a leap of faith.If Knight, who spent the past four years at Oklahoma, was going to leave Norman, it had to be for the perfect situation. Conversely, Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin needed the perfect quarterback to take over a position rocked by transfers and baggage over the past couple of years.There was Knight, searching for a new home with one last year of eligibility left. More than 350 miles away, Sumlin, his program dragging and two starting quarterbacks departing almost simultaneously, was searching for a way to get A&M back on track as his seat heats up.After a few phone calls and some help from an old friend, Sumlin found his guy, and Knight found his perfect situation.We filled a void for him ... and he filled a void for us as a guy who was not just a graduate transfer quarterback, but a guy you would actually want as a quarterback and played in big games and then brought in a maturity level, Sumlin said. Its a good fit for us.Good must turn into great, as both Sumlin and Knight need this relationship to flourish. If Knight wants a storybook ending to his college career, hell have to show a more polished, less risky side. If Sumlin wants to keep coaching the Aggies, hell need Knight to carry an offense with a new coordinator and a team that has underachieved since its meteoric rise in its 2012 SEC debut.I will say right now, its a fresh start, Knight said. Ive got more confidence than Ive ever had in my game just being in a new conference, a new place, new team, new offense and being named the starter again.* * *Texas A&M wasnt Knights first choice after graduation, even though he spent four months committed to the Aggies back in high school. The senior, who was a captain at Oklahoma, honestly considered staying with the Sooners. Even with former Heisman finalist Baker Mayfield in front of him, Knight was content sitting and helping.But ultimately, every quarterback wants to play. Knight said a handful of schools from the SEC, Pac-12 and even Big 12 reached out to him. Knight didnt need to be recruited again; he needed to make a business decision and find a situation that provided him the opportunity to play -- and play at a high level.Knight, a San Antonio, Texas, native, reached out to Sumlin shortly after the regular season ended. But with Kyler Murray and Kyle Allen on the roster, Sumlin thanked him and politely said he wasnt interested in another quarterback.As fate would have it, everything changed a couple of weeks later, when both Allen and Murray transferred within a week of each other, reopening communication between Knight and Sumlin. The two discussed A&Ms roster -- the lack of a proven quarterback and the playmakers around that position -- and scheme.Noel Mazzones up-tempo spread offense fit Knight, as did the chance to play immediately, with only former juco transfer Jake Hubenak in his way. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, who was once Sumlins boss in Norman, gave both Sumlin and Knight his stamp of approval.The chance to play close to home and outside of the Big 12 pushed A&M to the top.All the stars just aligned perfectly to make A&M be the perfect place for me, Knight said. I felt like it was the perfect opportunity that I was running toward for my senior year.* * *While this is certainly a fresh start for both Sumlin and Knight -- who threw for 3,424 with 25 touchdowns and 19 interceptions and ran for another 853 yards with eight scores at Oklahoma -- high expectations and a healthy dose of pressure will be dumped on their backs. Talk of a lack of internal control has plagued Sumlin for the past few years, but Knight brings the maturity and leadership that A&M??has lacked at quarterback.dddddddddddd. Knight was known for his gunslinging ability -- both good and bad -- but his claim to fame is his gutty, 45-31 upset win over Alabama in the 2013 Sugar Bowl, during which his ability to extend plays helped him scorch Alabamas world-class defense for 348 passing yards and four touchdowns.Hes been in big games and hes won them, Sumlin said. You can count them on one hand the guys who have done it [beaten Alabama over the past three years]. Im not real smart, but thats a place to start.Knight and Ole Miss Chad Kelly are the only active quarterbacks with wins over Bama.But the gunslinger style that helped him best Bama also cost him later. In 2014, Oklahoma went 8-5, as Knight completed 56.6 percent of his passes with 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, including pick-sixes in losses to Clemson, Kansas State and TCU. Knight threw picks in eight games, with three multi-interception performances. A year later, Knight watched Mayfield direct the Sooners playoff run.Those mistakes, which he hopes are behind him, could cost both Knight and Sumlin. So theres been a lot of emphasis put on ball security and decision-making with Knight, who won the starting job after the spring. Since Johnny Manziel left in 2013, Aggies quarterbacks have combined to throw 64 touchdowns to 30 interceptions. Vanderbilt is the only other SEC team to throw at least 30 interceptions over the past two years (35).Sumlin seems more at ease with Knight, who is his first starting senior quarterback at A&M, but theres a sense it will be a week-to-week journey with these two.You know, the growth during your career can happen quicker if you understand where your shortcomings are, and there was no greater teacher than losing this opportunity at Oklahoma, Sumlin said.He has a better understanding of that now than maybe he had three years ago.* * *Knight insists the pressure is nothing. Its just noise that he has been used to since he started playing quarterback during kindergarten flag football in south Texas. Growing up idolizing high school Texas stars and then becoming one himself allowed Knight to face -- and dismiss -- negativity well before he stepped foot in Norman.Im harder on myself than media or any person behind a Twitter feed, Knight said with a laugh.That may be, but get ready for a firestorm at the first sign of trouble. Backup in the Big 12 is nothing like starter in the SEC.And it all becomes more intriguing with the crisscrossing connections that have come full circle for both parties -- from Sumlins five years at Oklahoma to Knights A&M commitment leading to his playing days with the Sooners, which in turn led to Knight becoming the Aggies starter.Its kinda funny how all that works, Knight said. It definitely could be fate.And whether he likes it or not, the fate of his coachs career is in his right hand. As Knight looks to reinvent himself, Sumlin is too. After bursting onto the SEC scene, Sumlins stock has fallen with consecutive 8-5 seasons and drama -- from players transferring to coaches misbehaving -- creating a black cloud over the program.Winning cures all, and Knight, who is aware of his coachs situation, isnt painting himself as a savior or getting caught up in out-of-the-huddle drama. Hes in College Station to play football, and the better he is at that, the less talk hell hear.If you start thinking about speculation and things like that, thats when you get caught up in things you cant get caught up in, Knight?said. Its a day-to-day process.If you focus on the process and not the end game or everything else thats going on, you most of the time arrive at the place you want to be at. ' ' '