Martel van zant biography channel

But it’s not what you think. Van Zant’s deafness wasn’t the source of the difficulty.

"Martel faced the same challenges in making the transition to the indoor game that any player does,” said Wolves assistant head coach Brian Hug.

"The field is smaller, the rules are different and the game is so quick.

"The transition was no different than any other player.”

It’s the same old story for Van Zant. He regularly exceeds the expectations of others who think his deafness will hold him back.

Van Zant was born deaf after his mother got chicken pox while she was pregnant, but he became good enough to play four years at Oklahoma State and to get a chance in an NFL training camp with the Tennessee Titans last fall.

An ankle injury hampered him in his tryout, but his professional career remains strong.

"Martel is a lot smarter than people think,” said Hug, who knew sign language before he could speak after being born to dea