SLIPPERY ROCK — Marcus Martin has gone where no Slippery Rock University football player has ever gone before.

The defensive end was named NCAA Division II Super Region One Defensive Player of the Year this week. He was named PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year earlier and has attained Academic All-America status as well.

Martin became the first SRU gridder ever to be named Region player of the year — and he’s a sophomore.

“We knew we were getting a good player,” SRU coach George Mihalik said of recruiting the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Martin out of West Mifflin. “We never knew we were getting anything like this.

“I felt like Marcus could be an all-conference player ... as a junior or senior. He’s done this through just plain hard work. He wants to be the best at everything he does.

“It’s even more impressive that Marcus is an academic All-American. He works just as hard in the classroom,” Mihalik added.

Martin is carrying a 3.6 grade point average as a safety management major at The Rock.

His 82 tackles rank third on the team. Martin has 20 tackles for loss this season, becoming the first SRU player to ever record 20 tackles for loss in multiple seasons.

Martin has 13 quarterback sacks this year after compiling a school-record 16 during his freshman campaign. He is averaging 1.16 sacks per game in his collegiate career, the only active player in all of college football averaging more than 1.0.

“What’s impressive about his numbers this year is that opposing offenses gear up to stop him,” SRU associate head coach and defensive coordinator Shawn Lutz said. “Marcus gets double-teamed almost all of the time.”

That’s fine with Martin. Fellow defensive end Cody Conway has 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. All three starting Rock linebackers — Teven Williams, Mike Grata and Butler graduate Bob Vernick — are into double digits in tackles for loss.

“If I’m getting tied up, someone else on the defense is free,” Martin said. “Somebody will make the play for our defense.

“I don’t worry about individual statistics. I can’t win games by myself.”

Martin credits his freshman year for developing his hunger and desire to succeed on the field.

“As a red-shirt, I watched Matt Peacock make a number of impact plays and Tony Papley had a never-ending motor,” he said. “Those guys achieved through pure effort. I wanted to do the same when I got my chance.”

That chance was supposed to come that season, but a mix-up in a credit transfer prevented Martin from being academically eligible to play.

“That seems so strange now, looking back,” Lutz said. “Marcus definitely would have played as a true freshman.

“His work ethic is second to none. He refuses to ever quit at anything he does. All he wants to do is get better and he’s never satisfied ... He’s the best player I’ve ever coached.”

Martin believes going up against one of the best offensive lines in Division II has helped shape him as a player.

“I go up against Cory Tucker (third place in Upshaw Award balloting) every day in practice,” Martin said.”When I beat him, he asks me what he did wrong. When he beats me, I ask him what I did wrong.

“That’s what being a team is all about. We work together. It’s an honor to win these awards, but, honestly, it’s a team thing.

“I couldn’t do a thing without those other guys on the field with me,” Martin added.