Nick Martin, Obi Ezeigbo Named Big 12 Players of the Week

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State football players Nick Martin and Obi Ezeigbo have been honored by the Big 12 for their performances in the Cowboys’ win over Arkansas Saturday as Martin is the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week and Ezeigbo is the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.

Martin, an All-Big 12 pick last season and a preseason All-America selection, finished the game with 16 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries. His 4.5 tackles for loss are the most by an FBS player in a game this season, the most for any Big 12 player since 2020 and the most for any Cowboy since 2018. His 16 total tackles rank as the fifth-most by an FBS player in a game this season.

Playing 91 of 93 defensive plays against Arkansas, Martin recorded at least three tackles in every quarter, with five in the fourth quarter and four in overtime. ESPN's College Football Final also honored him with a helmet sticker on Saturday night.

In just his second FBS game after arriving in 2024 from NCAA Division II's Gannon University, Ezeigbo recorded 9 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry in the double-overtime win. Filling a much bigger role after Collin Oliver was lost to injury midway through the second quarter, Ezeigbo responded in a big way and recorded all his tackles after that point, with seven of them after halftime.

Ezeigbo’s first sack came on the final Arkansas possession of the first half for a loss of seven yards to help keep the Razorbacks from adding to their lead. His second sack came on third down in the first overtime and resulted in a 12-yard loss that forced a missed 46-yard field goal attempt on the next play. He also made a huge play in the fourth quarter as he stopped Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green one yard short of the marker on a fourth down play with less than seven minutes remaining in a tied game, allowing the Cowboys to regain possession at their own 20-yard line.

It marks the first career Big 12 weekly awards for both Martin and Ezeigbo, as well as the third Big 12 weekly honor for a Cowboy this season.

Oklahoma State faces Tulsa in the Gateway First Bank Turnpike Classic this Saturday, September 14. It marks the Cowboys' first road game of 2024, with kickoff at H.A. Chapman Stadium set for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2.

2024 Oklahoma State Big 12 Players of the Week

• Trey Rucker – Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week vs. South Dakota State
• Nick Martin – Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week vs. Arkansas
• Obi Ezeigbo – Big 12 Newcomer of the Week vs. Arkansas