BY NATHAN WARTERS
MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

Throughout his football career, Orion Martin has been at his best when faced with adversity. So it’s a safe bet his latest roadblock won’t keep him down for very long.

Martin, a former George Washington High and Virginia Tech football star, was released by the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, according to GW coach Dan Newell.

“I’m sure his agent is working on another deal,” Newell said. “A lot of times when you get released early, it’s more beneficial to you then than it would be if you got cut at the last minute when all the other roster spots are full, so he’s going to get another opportunity someplace else.”

Martin went undrafted after an All-ACC senior season at defensive end with the Hokies. He signed a rookie free agent deal with the Dolphins and was trying to catch on at linebacker. 

Miami is loaded at linebacker, though, which left Martin the odd man out.

It’s not the first trial he’s faced during his football career. He wasn’t recruited out of GW and received lukewarm interest from colleges after a postgrad season at Hargrave. He went to Norfolk State as a tight end, but decided after a semester to walk on at Virginia Tech.

It didn’t take him long to earn a scholarship with the Hokies, and he was a full time starter as a junior and senior.

“He’s been an overachiever since day one,” Newell said.

The Dolphins cut former Virginia Tech wide receiver Ernest Wilford on Sunday as well.