Nick Martin Already Making Impression in San Francisco

STILLWATER – Nick Martin hasn’t changed much since being picked in the third round of the NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. Martin is one of those guys that Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy loves to characterize as loving football. The tackling machine that led all of the Big 12 in tackles as a sophomore, went out after his injury plagued junior season last fall. Martin has now been through rookie minicamp, OTAs, and now mandatory minicamp. 

“I’m just learning as much as I can, taking it in,” Martin said of the process so far. 

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Martin at minicamp with Robert Saleh right behind him.

Martin has already endeared himself to veteran teammates and also coaching staff members. Returning to San Francisco where he was so successful for Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan as the defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh was asked about the rookies on defense and he stayed general and somewhat stealth.

“I’ve been impressed with the rookies, without naming them,” the former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh answered when asked. “One in particular, not naming him, but he literally makes the correction before you can get to him and do it. He is a rookie that is always asking questions. We’ll know more about all of them when the pads come on at training camp.”

Nick after being drafted by San Francisco volunteered that he is a huge fan of Niners linebacker Fred Warner, even owns a replica jersey that he can now get an autograph on. Warner has a new player that doesn’t mind him knowing that he looks up to him. The rookie cold shoulder does not exist with Martin.

“I’ve loved everything that Nick’s been about since he arrived,” Warner said. “I heard the whole story about how he had my jersey before being on the team (drafted). Some situations those guys (rookies) want it to be that they’re all too cool thing. I don’t know it’s like they don’t want an older player to think that they’re like Little bro or something. He’s come in and asked me every single question know to man, ‘Fred, how are you doing this? What are you doing after practice? What are you doing after the lift? Asking all those questions and wanting to be a part of those things. I’ve seen the athletic ability out on the field flashing and the way he closes. He closes space really quickly and he already has the great mindset of wanting toi learn, so I’m really happy where he is at.”

I guess we know which rookie Coach Saleh was talking about. Martin has already shared with his teammates and the media his love of animals and animal slippers.

“I’ve got like 20 of them,“ he told the media. “I love slippers and I love animals.”

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Martin standing with Kenyatta Wright at a spring practice.

He was also asked an interesting question going back to Oklahoma State and how he continued to go to practice after he was hurt and out for the season. 

“it was just one of those things of trying to figure out how I could give back without being out there physically,” Martin said. “How I could be there for the guys. It was something that I was trying to focus on.”

That is Nick Martin. He is all about it, football that is, and it is playing well for him already in the Bay area.