Slippery Rock University defensive end Martin closing in on NCAA career record
SLIPPERY ROCK — At 6-foot-2, 255 pounds, Marcus Martin is not the most imposing defensive end in college football today.
But he's one of the most productive.
Entering his senior season at The Rock, the West Mifflin graduate is among college football's all-time leaders with 66 career tackles for loss and 40.5 quarterback sacks. He already owns the SRU and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference records in both categories.
“Marcus is not a particularly big guy, but his first step is very quick,” Rock coach Shawn Lutz said. “He gets around linemen and just explodes to the quarterback.”
And Martin does get around linemen, as in plural. He has been double-teamed repeatedly over the past couple of seasons.
That's why Martin is unfazed by the fact he is one of only two starters back on Slippery Rock's defensive unit and what that may bring in the way of blocking schemes against him.
“Nobody can throw anything at me I haven't already seen,” Martin said. “The extra attention is motivating. I do treat it as a challenge.
“I need to keep being as disruptive as I can.”
Martin is the only active college football player among the top 18 all-time in career sacks. Only one other active player — P.J. Hall of Sam Houston State — joins him among the top 42 in career tackles for loss in college.
Martin needs 13 sacks to become the all-time leader in all of college football. He's already had individual seasons of 16 and 15.5 sacks.
“We're all about winning, but, sure, my mind's been on that,” Martin admitted of the record. “To have your name be at the top of an all-time list like that in your sport would be pretty amazing.
“I would take a lot of pride in something like that. It'd be a great thing to leave behind.”
NFL scouts have been taking a lot of notice of Martin over the past year. There was some scuttlebut that Martin might even forego his senior season and take a shot at last April's NFL draft.
Martin said there was no chance that was going to happen.
“As a Division II player, no way was I taking that chance,” he said. “I have interest in the next level, but I feel like I'm still building toward that.
“I know I can be a better player and we've got business to take care of at Slippery Rock.”
Lutz said the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs have already visited The Rock this preseason.
“Marcus is one of only a couple of small-school players NFL scouts are all in on,” Lutz said. “He doesn't really pass the eye test, but once scouts see him play, they're staying on him.
“He wills himself to make plays. He's one of those guys who won't be denied. Marcus is a superb football player.
“Here's a guy with a chance to get more sacks than anybody ever in college football. The fact that guy is playing in Slippery Rock ... It's almost ridiculous,” Lutz added.
While Martin has the chance to become the first PSAC football player to ever win four straight major conference awards — he was PSAC West Rookie of the Year as a freshman, PSAC Defensive Player of the Year each of the past two seasons — he is not just about football.
He has been an Academic All-American each of the past two seasons and carries a 3.6 grade point average as a safety management major with a minor in business administration.
Martin is slated to graduate in December.
“Academic All-American is the award that means the most to me,” Martin said. “Football honors, you get through help from the team. The academic stuff is individual. That's about me and my effort in the classroom.”
