Martin Sporting Cast on Left Arm Limits Him Now, but Not for Long
STILLWATER – In our practice report the other day from Saturday, I mentioned how excited linebacker Nick Martin got when De’Kelvion Beamon made his interception during the team work. I also mentioned how active Martin was in talking to the prospects there at practice on unofficial visits. Martin was really engaging with Del City linebacker and edge rusher Courtney Graham. Martin is just that kind of guy. He’s suited up for practice but with the cast on his left arm, he’s not able to go full speed and full contact, which will start this week. The shoulder pads come on Tuesday (April 2).
“It happened like week three against South Alabama and I played through it,” Martin said of the injury admitting there is no great story. “Then I hurt it again against Houston and I think that is when I hurt a ligament in it and now it’s been in a cast for awhile.”
It’s okay because there is no need to have the Big 12’s leading tackler out there right now. He’s not going to forget how to put people on the ground. When you do it 140 times in a single season it’s safe that the muscle memory is there for good.
“I think it’s because I’m older now. I got that experience. I know what to expect on the field. Last year, it was more getting a feel for it and then by game three or four, I really fit into it. I was like, ‘I can actually do this now.’ I always believed in myself, but there’s always reassurance in doing it.”
The action that Martin is working on a lot this spring and what I described from Saturday is an example is he’s being more vocal. Martin has the performance and action down, now it is the leadership that goes with it. It is kind of the opposite of talk the talk and walk the walk.
Martin can walk the walk all day and all season long, now he needs to help his teammates with the talk,
“Last year was my breakout year and I’m looking forward to topping it.” “I hold myself to a higher standard and having the coaches to do the same. They challenged me even during the season. It was the bye week against K-State. Coach Duffie called me into his office and told me he wanted me to be more vocal. He wanted me to challenge the other players. At that point I had started to make plays. He was telling me to stand up and be more vocal. I’m not a big vocal guy but I’m taking that as a challenge.”
And with Martin that is darn near a sure thing. He takes challenges and crushes them. It is why next spring we won’t be talking about Oklahoma State with Martin, we will be talking about the NFL Draft.