[3] At five feet, nine inches, he was regarded as small and did not receive any NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) scholarship offers.
[1] In August 2018, The Montgomery Advertiser credited Martial for "working his butt off," resulting in a "meteoric rise ... from walk-on chum in practice and in-game towel-waving sideline crazy man to playing a key role.
[1][7] He was also selected as a freshman All-American by USA Today and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
Against Texas State on November 16, he had two one-handed interceptions, one of which he returned 64 yards for a touchdown with eight seconds remaining in the game.
[9] As a redshirt junior in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Martial was selected as a first-team pre-season All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
[10] In November 2021, he was also selected as a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy awarded each year to the most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on.