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Dave-Te's Sleeper Offensive Guard in the 2019 Draft

nflscouting : 2/22/2019 12:19 pm
#76-left guard Wes Martin-Indiana

Has the second-highest blocking grade the last 4 years among OGs & benches 510.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob8iosklYfI& feature=youtu.be
Sleeper Guard Wes Martin's Video Highlights - ( New Window )
Strong like bull.  
rasbutant : 2/22/2019 1:46 pm : link
How is it that he isn't mentioned anywhere as a 1st round pick?

I'm sure there are better comparisons but first thing i thought of was Brandon Scherff.
can he play RG?  
giants#1 : 2/22/2019 1:48 pm : link
.
Wow  
TommyWiseau : 2/22/2019 1:48 pm : link
talk about a a beast. I would not mind taking a flier on him and on Buffalo's Center James O'Hagan.
On James O'hagan  
TommyWiseau : 2/22/2019 1:52 pm : link
He has not let up a sack in three years at the center position, is a former High School National Champion at wrestling. Could be a late round flier or UDFA that can and will probably stick on an NFL roster.
If you google him....  
edavisiii : 2/22/2019 1:52 pm : link
not much comes up!
Not only is that a highlight cut up  
widmerseyebrow : 2/22/2019 1:57 pm : link
but it's uploaded by Wesley Martin himself. There will be no bad plays there.
RE: Not only is that a highlight cut up  
rasbutant : 2/22/2019 2:04 pm : link
In comment 14303585 widmerseyebrow said:
Quote:
but it's uploaded by Wesley Martin himself. There will be no bad plays there.


I haven't had time to watch the whole thing, but first couple minutes look good.......
Link - ( New Window )
Ironic  
Sy'56 : 2/22/2019 2:08 pm : link
My top OL sleeper is also on Indiana....

#62 RT Brandon Knight
SY-KNIGHT  
nflscouting : 2/22/2019 2:12 pm : link
Love him also Sy. email me & will send his report
Wes Martin  
nflscouting : 2/22/2019 2:16 pm : link
Most kids do their own tapes. It allows position coaches a "trailer" to decide whether to watch his tapes. Just go to youtube & pull up and Indiana game.
Hey, the NFL has made a nice living with guys that were unrecognized, shunned. Now PFF does a tireless task-see what they have on this kid & you will see what I mean. And yes, you are not far off on the Scherff comparison.
Does it matter where a guy is taken in the draft? Think NE was smart with Brady or everyone else was stupid? Look at Pitt with Valleneuva & Ramon Foster-don't think Big Ben would be standing up without those two, do you?
WES MARTIN in 2018  
nflscouting : 2/22/2019 2:17 pm : link
WESLEY ALLEN "Wes" MARTIN
Left Offensive Guard
Indiana University Hoosiers
#76
6:02.6-316
West Milton, Ohio
Milton-Union High School

OVERVIEW
Most of the Indiana staff simply calls Wesley Allen Martin "country strong," but one look at his dominance in the trenches and performances in the weight room makes scouts wonder if there might be a red cape and a large "S" on his shirt under his uniform. With 535-pound bench press and a 655-pound squat, perhaps the coaches should see if Martin might have a can of green paint in his locker room that he splashes on to bring a gridiron version of the "Hulk" to the playing field each Saturday.

Yet, it is his maturity, his field savvy, his leadership that have the same scouts comparing him to another "country strong" offensive guard, Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Famer - Will Shields. In fact, if you look at the Chiefs' scouting department itinerary, you might see that a few scouts are racking up some frequent flier miles from their regular visits to see Martin and the rest of his line-mates in action. Still, it is the two-time team captain that is capturing lots of attention as organizations begin the process of analyzing talent available for the 2019 NFL Draft.

In a recent scouting organization meeting, analysts consider Martin to be an extremely polished guard, one who is a disciplined and NFL-ready player who likely will warrant a starting spot immediately through his play. He is a technician on the field and is a powerhouse whom the scouts have greatly enjoyed watching, as they respect his overall offensive line play. He is very quick off the ball to get into his block and is able to shuffle nicely to avoid trash when pulling or down blocking.

Once engaged, Martin's outstanding strength comes into play, as he is a force when anchoring and holding his ground, yet, he has the balance needed to easily get out in front on traps and pulls into the second level. He demonstrates a good snap-upon contact with defenders and is usually the one providing the drive-back pressure on his man. Once locked on his blocking assignment, the left guard can drive and maneuver them at will, thanks to his very strong upper body.

Martin is also extremely controlled in his movements, and he has body control and overall balance that is rare for a man his size. He is athletic on the move and can key-in and adjust well on his moving target. It's nearly impossible to find any weak points in Martin's pass protection ability and the scouts cite that as a key reason why they feel he is the most underrated guard in his draft class.

There's very good reason that Martin has drawn such attention. In 2017, among the 298 major college offensive guards to start at least five games, only the Hoosier and Notre Dame's Quenton Nelson did not allow their quarterback to get sacked. Martin accomplished that feat while being on the field for 569 pass snaps. Nelson only appeared in 352 aerial plays. Martin was also the only offensive lineman to not allow a tackle-for-loss, nor any quarterback pressures, among the sixty-plus starters along the front walls for Big Ten Conference teams.

That could be the reason that in fifty appearances for Indiana, the West Milton, Ohio product has started forty-three of those contests. An honor roll student while playing mostly offensive tackle for head coach Mark Lane at Milton-Union High School, but also saw action on the defensive line. The 6:03-298-pound Martin was actually rated the 57th-best offensive guard in the country by ESPN during his recruiting period.

Martin was named third team All-State, first team All-Region and first team All-Southwestern Buckeye Conference his junior year, as the school advanced to the third round of the state playoffs, its best ever finish (head coach in 2012 was Bret Pearce). He was also selected the league's Offensive Lineman of the Year.



In 2013, Martin was a consensus first team All-State, All-Region and All-Conference choice. In track, he was the team's weight man for three outdoor seasons, recording personal bests of 54'-5/5" in the shot put at the 2014 Ohio High School Athletics Association Division II State Championship. He also posted a 131'-03" mark in the discus at the Southwestern Buckeye league championship.

The Indiana coaches might have regretted red-shirting Martin when he first arrived on campus in 2014. It was obvious that he was the team's strongest player with an easy lift of 525 pounds in the bench press. He dominated the first unit defensive line in practices, twice earning Scout Team Player of the Week accolades. Meanwhile, the Hoosiers started the year with a 4-1 record, as the front wall allowed seven sacks. They would lose six of their final seven contests, as the line yielded on nineteen more sacks.

In 2015, Martin would earn Freshman All-American and Freshman All-Big Ten Conference recognition, along with being named to the league's All-Academic team. He appeared in all thirteen games, starting the first six at left guard. The front wall allowed just thirteen sacks, the seventh-fewest in the nation, as the Hoosiers led the conference in total offense (6,556 yards, a school season-record), passing offense (another IU mark at 3,820 yards) and scoring offense (475 points was another Indiana annual record), along with setting squad records for total first downs (337) and first downs passing (168).

The 2016 campaign saw Martin as the full-time starter at left guard. The CoSIDA Academic All-District V and Academic All-Big Ten selection helped Indiana rank second in the league in passing offense (273.8) and third in total offense (426.0). Tailback Devine Redding became the fourth Hoosier to record back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons and the first since Vaughn Dunbar (1990-91), while their quarterback, Richard Lagow’s passing yardage (3,362) ranks second, attempts (438) third, and completions (253) and total offense (3,174) fourth on the school season-record chart.

As a red-shirt junior, Martin was named one of the team's captains. The All-Big Ten honorable mention also earned the team’s Chris Dal Sasso Award (Outstanding Lineman), in addition to again being selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-District V and Academic All-Big Ten squads. With the left guard not allowing any quarterback sacks, pressures or tackles-for-loss, Indiana finished third in the Big Ten in passing offense (265.7), and sixth in scoring offense (26.8) and total offense (395.8). Along the way, he was named the Hoosiers' Offensive Player of the Game in each of the Virginia, Charleston Southern, Wisconsin and Rutgers clashes.

Through the 2018 campaign, Martin's blocking consistency grade of 89.58% leads all interior blockers at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level. He is the only FBS interior lineman with at least one hundred (105) knockdowns/key blocks and he's produced touchdown-resulting blocks on 55.26% of the team's thirty-eight scoring drives (twenty one - ten for the ground game and eleven for the passing attack).

MARTIN IN LINE TO MAKE PRO SCOUTS TO TAKE NOTICE
Both Martin and right offensive tackle Brandon Knight have strong chances for becoming selected in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Hoosiers have seen two of their offensive lineman be selected in the first three rounds of the draft in the last four years. All told, only eighteen Indiana offensive guards, twenty-five offensive tackles and five centers have been drafted by the NFL from the university.

However, twenty-one of those selected never played in the league and seven others never lasted a full season. Only five Hoosier offensive linemen have appeared in at least one hundred games, with tackle Bob Skoronski, a fifth round choice by Green Bay in 1956, earning the most starts (125) while playing in the most pro games (146) for anyone who played at this school.

Only four Hoosiers offensive linemen ever heard their names called during the first round of the draft - the last coming in 1988. Randall Lee "Randy" Beisler was a two-way lineman for Indiana and the first Hoosier to be selected as an offensive lineman in the first round of the draft. Taken with the fourth overall choice in the 1966 draft by the Philadelphia Eagles as a guard, he played three seasons with the Eagles before joining the San Francisco 49ers (1969-74). He closed out his career as a Kansas City Chief in 1975.



In 1968, tackle Doug Crosan joined the Miami Dolphins as the 27th overall pick. Until he hung up his cleats after the 1974 season, he had started 62-of-82 contests as an offensive lineman. However, he was a first-team defensive lineman for Indiana in 1967. He had spent the previous three seasons as an offensive guard before moving to defense as a senior.

It would not be until 1985 before the next Hoosiers blocker would hear his name called in the opening round. Tackle Kevin Allen was the ninth pick by Philadelphia in 1985, but his off-field troubles would soon rear its ugly head. His career started against the New York Giants, a game where Lawrence Taylor recorded eight sacks. By midseason, Allen was relegated to special teams, but after that subpar rookie season, he tested positive for cocaine after reporting to Eagles training camp in 1986.

The Eagles released him in October 1986. A week after being cut, he was charged with rape and spent the next 33 months in prison. He was banned from the league for life soon afterward. Buddy Ryan thought so little of Allen that he once described him as someone who could only be useful "if you want someone to stand around and kill the grass... he looks like a USFL reject."

In 2011, Deadspin ranked Allen the fourth-worst football player of all time, noting "The ninth overall pick out of Indiana had a special way of blocking opposing pass rushers. He would lean his body forward, then fall down." and "Never had the Eagles had a combination of bad person-bad player that could match this guy." In the spring of 1991, Allen's ban was lifted. After failed tryouts with the Cincinnati Bengals and the San Francisco 49ers, the Kansas City Chiefs signed Allen in 1991, assigning him to the Orlando Thunder in the WLAF. He would later move on to the Arena Football League.

The last Hoosiers offensive lineman to be taken in the first round came in 1988, as Eric Moore joined the New York Giants as the tenth selection. Much like Kevin Allen, Moore’s career never panned out. He played for the Giants from 1988-to-1993, but the guard he was let go after Moore was sentenced to a six-month pretrial diversion program for steroid possession along with former New York Giants teammate Mark Duckens.

They were described by federal agents as “pawns in international steroid ring.” Moore was also suspended for the first four weeks of the 1993 NFL season. He later emerged as a reserve guard for the Cincinnati Bengals (1994), followed by stints with the Cleveland Browns (1995) and the Miami Dolphins (1995).

Among the eighteen offensive guards drafted out of the university, three were selected in round two (one other Indiana tackle also went in that round) - Bob Haak, the 15th overall pick by the old Brooklyn Dodgers (started six-of-ten games during his lone season), Mike Rabold (29th pick by Detroit in 1959 appeared in 105 games with 64 starts from 1959-1967) and Andrew Greene, Miami's 53rd selection in 1995, who lasted just ten games in the league. Dan Feeney is the school's only third round offensive line selection, joining the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017, where he has started 16-of-22 games to date.

Ironically, two of the school's longest tenured NFLers among their blockers were guards who went much later in the draft. In 1990, Tampa Bay took a flier on Ian Beckles in the fifth round (114th overall) and he would start 121-of-126 games from 1990-98. His family emigrated to Canada in 1964. His mother was native of Guyana, while his father hails from Trinidad.

Beckles grew up with his mother in a single-parent home in Montreal and played hockey and baseball as a youth (among his friends was future NFL fullback and Buc teammate Alonzo Highsmith). However, after playing football in high school, Beckles excelled and went on to play junior college football at Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, earning all-conference honors as a sophomore.

Beckles later transferred to Indiana, and became a standout guard during the 1989 season—his only as a starter. During Beckles' senior year, Indiana produced one of nation's top rushing attacks (214.5 yards per game). Beckles blocked for future NFL quarterback Trent Green, running backs Vaughn Dunbar (an NFL first-round pick) and Anthony Thompson (who won the Maxwell Award player of the year award in 1989), and Ernie Thompson, and alongside standout centre Ron Vargo, who played briefly for the Arena League's Columbus franchise in the early 1990s.

Beckles received attention from NFL scouts as a senior when they turned to film from Indiana to scout, primarily, Thompson. As the team's primary pulling lineman, the guard stood out on film.
He became a mainstay during his seven seasons with the Bucs, along with left tackle Paul Gruber and centre Tony Mayberry, while the left guard and right tackle positions were in flux from season to season. During his time, the Bucs had 1,000 yard rushers and Reggie Cobb (1992) and Errict Rhett (1994, 1995).

Beckles departed as a free agent after the 1996 season, inking a deal with Philadelphia. He started two seasons for the Eagles at right guard alongside players such as right tackle Richard Cooper, centres Steve Everitt and Bubba Miller and swingmen Jermaine Mayberry and Jerry Crafts, before signing with the Jets in 1999. Ricky Watters had 1,000 yard seasons in each of Beckles' seasons as a starter with Philadelphia under offensive coordinator Jon Gruden.

His time with the Jets was brief, however, as he was released prior to the season as the Jets elected to go with young guards Randy Thomas (right side, a rookie) and Kerry Jenkins (left side, who moved inside from tackle) and David Loverne.

In 1998, Detroit saw enough in guard Chris Liwienski to draft him in the seventh round. Little did they know that until he retired after 2007, he woould appear in 126 contests, earning 94 starts. He also suited up for the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Liwienski was a three-year starter at offensive tackle for the Indiana Hoosiers. He started 36 games during four-year career, playing in 43. He played in Hula Bowl following senior season and was also named the Chris Dal Sasso Award winner, given annually to the Indiana offensive lineman who best exemplifies the former Hoosier lineman's qualities.

Even though Liwienski was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions, he was cut and later signed with the Minnesota Vikings, where he was placed on the practice squad in August 21. He joined the active roster in early November and played vs. Jacksonville, the only game he appeared in during his rookie season. In 1999, he spent the first twelve games of the season on Minnesota's practice squad.

Liwienski saw his first significant playing time in 2000, appearing in fourteen games and starting one before he became a full-time starter in 2001, participating in every snap at right tackle during the season (replacing the recently deceased Korey Stringer) despite being expected to play left guard. He remained at right tackle in 2002 and once again started all sixteen regular season contests.

Upon the signing of offensive tackle Mike Rosenthal, Liwienski was moved back to left guard in 2003 and started all sixteen games at the position. He remained a Viking until his release in September, 2006, quickly joining the Arizona Cardinals. In 2007, he signed with Miami and in 2008, he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars, but was released in August.

CAREER NOTES
Martin, a two-time team captain, has started the last thirty-four contests for the Hoosiers and has appeared in fifty games.

2018 SEASON
Wes Martin Season Video Highlights...Offensive linemen are often cited for their intelligence and Wes Martin is no exception. As a courtesy to NFL scouting directors, the standout guard went into the film room to produce a very impressive highlight tape from the current season. This eight minute tape not only shows his dominance in the trenches, but his intelligence, toughness and work ethic that consistently sees him finish his blocks.
Intelligence plays a very important role on the offensive line. Offensive linemen need to be football smart in addition to being able to perform in the crucial situations, which Wes has accomplished by being the second-highest graded blocker at his position during his college career that is in this current draft class (refer to Pro Football Focus recent analysis).
As you will recognize on the highlight tape, Martin's mental and physical toughness are essential characteristics for this offensive lineman. These characteristics were developed throughout his gridiron career, especially through his performances in drills on the football field, mat programs, weight room work, and station drills.


2018 Season-Continued
The strongest player in the Big Ten Conference (535-pound bench press), Martin has embraced the work ethic needed to become aggressive about weights and the weight room. Discipline is important in the lifts and techniques that the offensive guard translates to the football field, evident by the bone-jarring hand punch and his ability to stand up and root out defenders that you will see throughout this tape.
Hard work is the basic foundation for Martin, as you can see from the way he moves on the field that he has the mind-set that a position coach desires in his offensive linemen. His reputation for requiring not only himself, but his fellow linemen to work hard is built on the fact that most pro scouts often say that they have never seen a harder working guard in the collegiate ranks the last two years.
By having those pro scouts relay this message to their organization, this helps validate Martin's work ethic. After all, a great work ethic is one of the first things teams look for in an offensive lineman. In conclusion, this film link will provide analysts with a true view of this vastly underrated Hoosier's ability to excel at the next level;
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob8iosklYfI&feature=youtu.be

Post-season Accolades...The four-time Academic All-Big Ten Conference selection was only accorded All-Big Ten honorable mention from the league's coaches and media, as the voting seemed to be strongly "political," with the more popular Wisconsin offensive line were predominantly featured, despite the Badgers struggling considerably this season, losing four of their last seven games to fall out of January 1st bowl consideration.
Martin would earn All-Big Ten Conference first-team and All-American second-team honors from the scouting department at The NFL Draft Report. That scouting information service also placed their "Knights Templar" tag on the left guard. That honor is given to the top overall blocker at each of the guard, center and tackle positions among the 129 universities that participate at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level.
Pre-Season Accolades...Martin received All-American second-team and All-Big Ten Conference first-team preseason honors from The NFL Draft Report, as that scouting services regards him as the best pass protector among the offensive guard class that is eligible for the 2019 draft. The highly regarded and powerful veteran was also named one of his team's captains for the second consecutive season.

Martin's Statistical Performance...In twelve starting assignments during the regular season schedule games, the senior left guard led all FBS offensive guards with 105 key blocks/ knockdowns (only guard to reach the century mark), posting ten touchdown-resulting blocks for the ground game and eleven more to protect the pocket in order for Hoosiers' quarterbacks in order to complete touchdown tosses.
Martin also delivered key blocks to help set up six field goals. His twenty second level blocks are also tops for any senior guard in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision ranks. It was also the most by a Hoosiers' down lineman since Dan Freeney registered seventeen in 2015. In the last ten seasons, only Dave DeCastro of Stanford (twenty-three in 2011) has recorded more among FBS guards.
The senior boasted a blocking consistency grade of 89.58%, tops for all interior blockers in the Big Ten Conference, as he reached the top level (90% or better) in each of the Virginia, Ball State and Ohio State contests before closing out the campaign with a string of four such consecutive efforts - vs. Minnesota, Maryland, Michigan and Purdue.
Martin allowed three quarterback sacks for minus 21 yards and 3.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage for losses totaling 22 yards, along with yielding on three quarterback pressures through 481 pass plays and 909 total snaps. He was also penalized three times for holding, but has held opponents to an average of just 1.92 tackles per game.

Martin Record Watch...The senior's seven games with a blocking consistency grade of 90% or better broke the previous school season-record of six by Dan Freeney, who recorded such performances in 2015 (vs. Southern Illinois, Florida International, Wake Forest, Rutgers, Michigan and Purdue).
Martin's seven 90% blocking performances was also two shy of the Big Ten Conference regular season record of nine by Orlando Pace of Ohio State in 1996 (vs. Rice, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Penn State, Purdue, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois).





2018 Season - Continued
Indiana Offensive Team Performance...The Hoosiers closed out the regular season ranked 52nd in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision ranks and seventh in the Big Ten Conference with an average gain of 415.17 yards in total offense per game, compiling 4,982 yards on 909 snaps (5.48 yards per snap).
The Hoosiers were 36th nationally and third in the league with 257.83 yards passing per game, completing 316-of-481 attempts for 3,094 yards, twenty touchdowns and thirteen interceptions, but ranked third in the league and 18th in the nation with a pass completion percentage of .657. Their average of 9.79 yards per pass completion ranked 124th among 129 major colleges. The ranked 85th in pass efficiency with a 128.04 rating.
Indiana finished tenth in the league and 83rd in the country in rushing, carrying 254 times for 1,888 yards and seventeen touchdowns, averages of 157.33 yards per game and 7.43 yards per rushing attempt.
The offense finished 87th nationally in scoring with 317 points (26.42 ppg), but they ranked 24th in the FBS and second in the conference with 282 first downs (106 rushing; 143 passing; 33 opposing penalties). They were 41st in the country and fourth in the Big Ten, as they converted 78-of-184 third-down plays (42.39(), but only ranked 83rd in the major college ranks in red zone scoring (33-of-44; 75%).
The offensive line ranked ninth in the Big Ten and 70th in the country for quarterback sacks allowed (2.25 per game; 27 for minus 159 yards). They are 37th in tackles-for-loss allowed (5.33 per game; 64.0 for losses of 251 yards) and allowed 22 quarterback pressures.

Martin's Team Impact...Martin has accounted for just 11.11% of the quarterback sacks yielded by the offensive front (3-of-27) and only 5.47% of the tackles-for-loss allowed (3.5-of-64.0). The senior allowed three quarterback pressures - 13.64% of the total yielded by the Hoosiers' offense (3-of-22).
The left guard recorded the key block on 58.82% of the team's rushing touchdowns (10-of-17) and 55.00% of the team's aerial scores (11-of-20).

2018 SEASON GAME ANALYSIS
Florida International...The Hoosiers' first unit played the first half in a 38-28 win over FIU as Largo High School products Donavan Hale and Jonathan Crawford helped spur Indiana to victory during the season-opener for both teams. The hosts got on the board first after a Peyton Ramsey interception set the Panthers up at their own 34, but the quarterback remained undaunted, shining as the offense responded with 21-straight points after that miscue.
With the triumph, Indiana has won thirteen of its last fifteen season openers. In his fifth career start, red-shirt sophomore Peyton Ramsey completed 20-of-27 for 156 yards and matched a career-high with three touchdowns. Ramsey added 36 yards on the ground and the Hoosiers had seven players rush the ball, totaling 213 yards (4.5 per rush). Indiana featured ten players with receptions, tallying up 252 yards (9.0 per reception).
Martin's Game Highlights...The left guard shoved Anthony Johnson out of the way coming off the snap, clearing a rush lane used by Reese Taylor for a 32-yard run. After getting past the line of scrimmage, Martin reversed course, heading into the second level to again engage the FIU defensive tackle, holding off Johnson as Taylor angled towards the right side before he was stopped at the FIU 7-yard line. The gutsy running play marked the first time Taylor touched the ball as a Hoosier. Two plays later, Johnson's back-up, Tier Tart, was driven behind Peyton Ramey by Martin, as the quarter-back located Donavan Hale with an 18-yard toss for Indiana's first touchdown for the season with 4:59 left in the first quarter.
Early in the second stanza, on third-&-goal, Johnson was again neutralized by the game captain to give Ramsey time to end the 11-play, 68-yard march with a 3-yard scoring lob to tight end Peyton Hendershot that gave Indiana a 21-7 advantage.
Martin powered his way towards the right side of the field, flattening middle linebacker Sage Lewis on a 14-yard run by tailback Whop Philyor. Mike Majette then used a rush lane widened when the left guard knocked down Johnson, leading to another 14-yard advancement to the FIU 25 during a 9-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Ramsey throwing a 2-yard score to Hale. That duo hooked up on a gutsy fourth-&-goal slant, with Hale making a terrific adjustment in the end zone to catch a ball that was thrown behind him.
With minutes left in the first half, Martin's lone miscue for the game saw him lose containment on Johnson, as the defensive tackle played off a hand-to-hand battle with the left guard to engulf Ramsey for an 9-yard sack. Since the start of the 2017 season, Martin had not given up a sack in 593 pass plays.


Florida International Game - Continued
Martin's Primary Blocking Assignment...WDT#91-Anthony Johnson (6:03-291)-Recorded four tackles, including an 8-yard sack, but registered just the sack while blocked by Martin.
Martin's Game Impact...The left guard was credited with eight key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered two touchdown-resulting blocks for the passing game, with three of his key blocks being recorded in the second level, compiling an 87% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During eleven possessions, Indiana registered four touchdown drives, along with one possession that produced a field goal, as they gained 213 yards with twelve first downs and no touchdowns on 45 carries (4.73 ypc), completing 28-of-37 passes (75.68%) for 252 yards, fourteen first downs, four touchdowns and one interception, to finish with 465 yards on 82 total plays (5.67 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Florida International recorded 84 tackles (50 solos) with one sack for minus nine yards, three stops for losses of 13 yards, one quarterback pressure, no fumble recoveries, no forced fumbles, one interception for a 14-yard return and two pass deflections.

Virginia...Tailback Stevie Scott finished just three yards shy of Hall of Famer Anthony Thompson's single-game true freshman rushing record, with 31 carries for 204 yards, as the Hoosiers held on for a 20-16 decision on a soggy field. Virginia had held Richmond to 34 rushing yards in a season-opening romp a week earlier. Indiana bettered that by over 200 yards, finishing with 237 (5.4 per attempt) to fuel a total offense advantage of 387-294.
Scott became the 12th true freshman in program history to reach the 100-yard rushing mark. He is the first Indiana running back to reach 200 yards since Devine Redding raced for 227 in the 2015 Pinstripe Bowl. His 40-yarder was the team's first 40-yard run since Ricky Brookins raced 64 yards in the 2017 finale at Purdue on Nov. 25.
Peyton Ramsey recorded his fifth career multi-touchdown game and his second straight to open 2018. The red-shirt sophomore tossed two touchdowns and went 16-of-22 (.727) for 150 yards.
Martin's Game Highlights...On Scott's 40-yard scoring scamper, Martin locked horns with defensive end Mandy Alonso, killing the defender's stunt move when the left guard shoved Alonso into middle linebacker Jordan Mack in a combo move with Indiana center Hunter Littlejohn that saw Scott bounce towards the right side of the field to scoot the long distance for his first career touchdown from 40 yards out.
Mack tried to attack the B-gap in a blitz, but Martin neutralized the Cavalier, wheeling off that block to also stall rush end Aaron Faumui's attempt to get to the Hoosier quarterback before Ramsey located Nick Westbrook in the corner of the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown that gave Indiana a 20-9 lead at intermission.
Martin's Primary Blocking Assignment...WDE#91-Mandy Alonso (6:02-293)-Recorded three tackles in the game, but managed just two assisted stops while Martin was his assigned blocker.
Martin's Game Impact...The left guard was credited with eight key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered two touchdown-resulting blocks - one each for the running and passing game - with two blocks in the second level, compiling a 90% blocking consistency grade.
Virginia Game - Continued
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During eleven possessions, Indiana registered three touch-down drives, as they gained 237 yards with twelve first downs and one touchdown on 44 carries (5.39 ypc), completing 16-of-22 passes (72.73%) for 150 yards, seven first downs, two touchdowns and one interception, to finish with 387 yards on 66 total plays (5.86 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Virginia recorded 68 tackles (52 solos) with no sacks, six stops for losses of 19 yards, no quarterback pressures, no fumble recoveries, no forced fumbles, one interception for a one-yard return and five pass deflections.

Ball State...The Hoosiers dominated Ball State - a team with fifty Indiana natives on its roster - marching to a 38-10 victory over the Cardinals. BSU, which lost by a single score to Notre Dame the previous week, put the first three points on the scoreboard before the Hoosiers accounted for the next 31. IU's offense totaled 457 efficiently amassed yards, averaging a healthy 6.0 per play (including 5.8 on runs), and completed 75 percent its passes (24-of-32). They gained 255 yards on the ground, the second time in three contests that the Hoosiers rushed for 200 yards in 2018. They had two such performances during the entire 2017 campaign.
Stevie Scott carded his second consecutive 100-yard game with 114 yards on 18 attempts (6.3 average) and his first career two-touchdown game (two). He did not lose a yard on those 18 carries. Scott is the fastest true freshman back in IU history to reach the century mark twice. Thanks to stellar blocking from his offensive line, Scott became the fourth IU true freshman back to reach the 100-yard mark in consecutive weeks, joining Mike Harkrader (1976), Anthony Thompson (1986) and
Ball State - Continued
BenJarvus Green-Ellis (2003). Thompson holds the program record with five consecutive 100-yard games followed by back-to-back 100-yarders from Scott, Harkrader and Green-Ellis.
Martin Game Highlights...On Indiana's first big play from scrimmage, Martin drove weak-side linebacker Jaylin Thomas into nose tackle Chris Crumb on a jet sweep that saw Whop Philyor bounce outside and cut up the right side of the field on a 29-yard scamper to the Indiana 44. Thomas was also flagged and penalized fifteen yards, as he grabbed Martin's facemask before pulling Philyor down with another face mask grab. The game captain then contained defensive end Shannon Hall on a stunt, long enough for Peyton Ramsey to find Nick Westbrook with a 20-yard toss to the BSU 21, setting up the Hoosiers' first points for the day, a 21-yard field goal at the end of a 12-play, 85-yard possession.
With Ball State playing zone coverage, Martin rolled right with his quarterback, giving Ramsey needed protection until he completed a 22-yarder to tight end Matt Bjorson, as nose tackle Tuni Rupati was crushed by the left guard in an attempt to sack the Hoosiers passer. The drive ended with Stevie Scott scoring on a 1-yard rushing attempt.
Teaming with center Hunter Littlejohn, the duo cleared a huge rush lane utilized by Scott for an 18-yard jaunt late in the second quarter. The left guard took the legs out from under Shannon Hall to allow Ramsey room to toss a 15-yard pass to Luke Timian that placed the ball at the enemy 2-yard line. Two plays later, Ramsey took the ball in for a touchdown that extended Indiana's lead to 24-3 before the teams headed to the locker room at halftime.
On an 18-yard run up the gut by Ronnie Walker to begin second half action, Martin fired off the snap, latching on to two defenders to ride them out of the rush lane used by the ball carrier.
On a power run by Stevie Scott, the tailback followed Martin as he pulled along the line of scrimmage, turning inside to cut off the pursuit by defensive tackle Kyle Williams during Scott's 11-yard touchdown run with 10:11 remaining in the contest. The first unit then gave way to the reserves for the remainder of the game.
Martin's Primary Blocking Assignment...DT/E#56-Shannon Hall (6:01-258)-Recorded three tackles, including one for a 3-yard loss during the game, but was shut out in one-on-one battles vs. Martin;
DT#52-Fred Schroeder (6:02-273)-Recorded one assisted tackle during the game.
Martin's Game Impact...The left guard was credited with ten key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered two touchdown-resulting blocks for the running game. He also had two key blocks during Indiana's first scoring possession that resulted in a field goal, posting two of his blocks in the second level while compiling a 95% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During thirteen possessions, Indiana registered four touch-down drives and one possession that resulted in a field goal, as they gained 255 yards with thirteen first downs and four touchdowns on 44 carries (5.80 ypc), completing 24-of-32 passes (75.00%) for 202 yards, nine first downs, no touchdowns and no interceptions, to finish with 457 yards on 76 total plays (6.01 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Ball State recorded 78 tackles (62 solos) with no sacks, five stops for losses of 12 yards, one quarterback pressure, one fumble recovery for a 12-yard advancement, one forced fumble, no interceptions and five pass deflections.

Michigan State...The Spartans scored two touchdowns in the first 9:25 – the second on a fortuitously tipped 69-yard pick-six – en route to a mostly methodical 35-21 victory. A Memorial Stadium crowd of 45,445 entered buzzing because of IU's 3-0 start this season but exited bummed as Indiana missed a chance to affirm and build belief outside its locker room. Indiana, meantime, rushed for just 29 yards against a MSU defense that was allowing only 34 yards rushing per game coming in. The Hoosiers' veteran offensive line, counted upon to carry the team early in the season and beyond, struggled up front much of the night, allowing five sacks as quarterback Peyton Ramsey finished 32-of-46 for 272 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. His 32 completions tie a career-high and share the eighth-most in school history.
Martin Game Highlights...Midway through the first quarter, Martin pulled towards the right side on a sweep, upending nose tackle Raequan Williams to spring quarterback Peyton Ramsey during a 12-yard run, but the quarterback was intercepted on the next snap, as MSU's Shakur Brown returned the pass theft 69 yards for a touchdown.
The second half saw Martin give up a sack, as Williams pushed the left guard back into the pocket before dropping Ramsey for a 5-yard loss. The quarterback was again sacked on the next snap.
Center Hunter Littlejohn and Martin teamed up to combo block nose tackle Naquan Jones and neutralize a blitz, as Ramsey fired a second-&-goal pass to split end Whop Philyor for an electrifying run that produced a 65-yard touchdown to close Indiana's deficit to 28-18 with 8:19 remaining in the contest.

Michigan State - Continued
Martin's Primary Blocking Assignment...NT#99-Raequan Williams (6:04-300)-Recorded three tackles, including a 5-yard sack and deflected two passes during the game, all during one-on-one battles vs. Martin; DT#72-Mike Panasiuk (6:04-288)-Recorded two solo tackles behind the line of scrimmage during the game, but was held to no tackles when matching up vs. Martin.
Martin's Game Impact...The left guard was credited with seven key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered one touchdown-resulting block for the passing game. He also had a second level block, but allowed his second sack for the season, compiling a 79% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During sixteen possessions, Indiana registered two touchdown drives and two possessions that resulted in field goals, as they gained 29 yards with one first down and no touchdowns on 32 carries (0.91 ypc), completing 32-of-46 passes (69.57%) for 272 yards, fifteen first downs, two touchdowns and two interceptions, to finish with 301 yards on 78 total plays (3.86 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Michigan State recorded 69 tackles (53 solos) with five sacks for minus 24 yards, nine stops for losses of 34 yards, one quarterback pressure, no fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, two interceptions for 73 yards in return with a touchdown and three pass deflections.

Rutgers...Indiana team came away with 24-17 win at Rutgers, holding on after building a 24-7 half-time lead via a decisive 17-0 second quarter. The result marked the program's first Big Ten Conference road-opening win since a 38-20 result at Iowa in 2007, eleven years ago to the day. That was the last year IU posted a winning season in football.
The Hoosiers out-gained the Scarlet Knights, 451-291, and had a 35:24-24:36 advantage in time of possession. Their 16-play, 88-yard touchdown drive that lasted 6:09 minutes in the first half was the longest play-wise and second-longest in yards and time this season. Quarterback Peyton Ramsey was 26-of-39 for 263 yards and a touchdown.
Martin Game Highlights...After seeing defensive tackle John Bateky slip off his block to sack Peyton Ramsey for a 7-yard loss, Martin fired off the snap, driving Bateky out of the B-gap that was used by Ramsey to break free for a 23-yard scamper off a base play, as the Scarlet Knights were surprised by the move, as they were expecting the quarterback to pass. Ramsey was again well-protected by Martin, who fought off several defenders in the backfield before his quarterback located J-Shun Harris with a 25-yard pass that placed the ball at the Rutgers 10 to end the first quarter. Action spilled over into the second stanza, where Martin took the legs out from under linebacker Deonte Roberts to kill the blitz as Ramsey followed his left guard into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown that capped a 16-play, 88-yard march on a fourth-&-goal snap.
On Indiana's next possession, Martin led the sweep to the right side of the field, as his scoop block took defensive end Kevin Wilkins out of action on a third-&-8 Ramsey completion to Ty Fryfogle that gave the Hoosiers the ball at the Knights' 27. When Bateky stunted, trying to get into the backfield off the left edge, he was met by Martin just before Ramsey located slot receiver Nick Westbrook with a 21-yarder to the Rutgers 6-yard marker. Martin was then substituted (by Harry Crider) on a 2-yard scoring lob from Ramsey to Harris that gave Indiana a 21-7 lead.
Just before halftime, Ramsey bolted up the middle of the field for an 18-yard keeper, as Martin led the charge by flipping nose tackle Justin Turner to the ground to clear the rush lane used by his quarterback on third-&-11, keeping an 11-play alive before the Hoosiers kicked a 44-yard field goal with twenty seconds left in the second quarter.
Martin's Primary Blocking Assignment...DT#95-John Bateky (6:03-298)-Recorded four tackles with a 7-yard sack and a quarterback pressure while engaging in one-on-one battles vs. Martin during the game.
Martin's Game Impact...The left guard was credited with ten key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered one touchdown-resulting block for the running game, along with a key block that helped set up an Indiana field goal just before halftime. He also had a second level block, but allowed his third sack for the season, compiling an 81% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During nine possessions, Indiana registered three touchdown drives and one possession that resulted in a field goal, as they gained 163 yards with eight first downs and two touchdowns on 42 carries (3.88 ypc), completing 27-of-40 passes (67.50%) for 288 yards, fourteen first downs, one touchdown and one interception, to finish with 451 yards on 82 total plays (5.50 yards per attempt).





Rutgers Game - Continued
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Rutgers recorded 84 tackles (40 solos) with one sack for minus seven yards, two stops for losses of eight yards, four quarterback pressures, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, one interception for zero yards in return and four pass deflections.

Ohio State...The outcome might have shown Ohio State winning this 49-26 encounter, but heading into the fourth quarter, the Hoosiers trailed OSU by a 35-26 score, but couldn't stay close as the third-ranked Ohio State squad dominated down the stretch. It has been thirty years since the Hoosiers beat the Buckeyes.
The frenetic first half produced a combined 668 yards and 48 points (38 coming in a wild and wooly second quarter), with Ohio State taking a somewhat tenuous 28-20 lead into intermission. Indiana quarterback Peyton Ramsey went 26-of-49 for a career-high 322 yards and matched a career-high with three touchdowns. It is the seventh multi-touchdown game of his career and his fourth of the season. Ramsey also set a career-high with his 49 attempts.
Martin Game Highlights...Martin wasted no time introducing himself to All-Big Ten's Dre'Mont Jones, taking the legs out from under the defensive tackle in the backfield before Jones could get to Peyton Ramsey, who completed a 16-yard pass to J-Shun Harris during the game's first play from scrimmage. When Stevie Scott broke free around the left corner, the sight of Martin blocking in the second level froze linebacker Pete Werner in his tracks, allowing the tailback to pick up 45 yards down the left sideline, but the drive then stalled and Indiana kicked a 37-yard field goal.
On the next possession, Martin turned Jones sideways with a log block, allowing Ramsey to slip out of the backfield for an 11-yard keeper.
When Ramsey rolled out to locate a target, Martin dropped into the backfield to protect his quarterback, as his hand punch jolted defensive end Jonathon Cooper on a 15-yard toss down the left sidelines that slot receiver Nick Westbrook snagged. That 75-yard early second quarter series ended with Martin pushing Jones and nose tackle Davon Hamilton in-line. Ramsey then connected with tight end Peyton Hendershot for a 32-yard score.
Ramsey again rolled out, heading towards the left sideline before firing a pass that J-Shun Harris caught for 12 yards over the middle. That mid second quarter drive ended with Martin holding off Jones and linebacker Tuff Borland long enough for Ramsey to complete a 19-yard touchdown pass for Westbrook to give Indiana a 17-14 lead with 7:04 remaining in the first half.
On a shovel pass from Ramsey to Stevie Scott, the tailback picked up ten yards around left end after his left guard knocked down nose tackle Robert Landers. Indiana would march 59 yards and kick a 37-yard field goal with forty seconds left in the second quarter.
Martin alertly picked up the blitz, riding rush end Jonathan Cooper and Borland away from Ramsey, who connected with Nick Westbrook on a 38-yard toss along the right sideline, setting up Ramsey's 3-yard scoring lob to Donavan Hale with less than five minutes left in the third frame.
Martin's Primary Blocking Assignment...DT#86-Dre'Mont Jones (6:03-286)-Recorded two tackles with a stop for a 4-yard loss, causing a fumble and recovering another, but in one-on-one battles vs. Martin during the game, he managed just one assisted tackle and a quarterback pressure.
Martin's Game Impact...The left guard was credited with eleven key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered two touchdown-resulting blocks for the passing game, along with two second level blocks for the ground game. He also had a key block that helped set up an Indiana field goal while compiling a 90% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During fourteen possessions, Indiana registered three touch-down drives and two possessions that resulted in field goals, as they gained 84 yards with four first downs and no touchdowns on 21 carries (4.00 ypc), completing 26-of-49 passes (53.06%) for 322 yards, fourteen first downs, three touchdowns and no interceptions, to finish with 406 yards on 70 total plays (5.80 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Ohio State recorded 43 tackles (39 solos) with three sacks for minus 11 yards, six stops for losses of 16 yards, two quarterback pressures, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, no interceptions and eleven pass deflections.










Iowa...Hawkeyes' quarterback Nate Stanley finished with a robust 199.0 quarterback, hitting 21-of-33 passes for 320 yards and six touchdowns as Iowa defeated their hosts, 42-16, making for a very dispiriting Hoosier Homecoming. Given how dominant Iowa proved on both sides of the ball, and given how Stanley played, once the game commenced there probably wasn't much chance for IU coaching to further influence the outcome. Former Indiana (2012-15) and current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nate Sudfeld served as today's honorary game captain.
Martin Game Highlights...Indiana closed the gap with a 33-yard touchdown toss from Peyton Ramsey to Ty Fryfogle early in the second quarter, as Iowa was clinging to a 14-10 lead. The left tackle dropped into the backfield, taking of defensive tackle Sam Brincks and driving him into fellow line-man Brady Reiff as the Hoosier quarterback benefited from the time Martin bought him to locate the sophomore flanker.
Martin's Primary Blocking Assignment...DT#90-Sam Brincks (6:05-279)-Recorded four tackles with an assisted stop for a 2-yard loss, but in one-on-one battles vs. Martin during the game, he managed just two tackles.
Martin's Game Impact...The left guard was credited with seven key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered one touchdown-resulting block for the passing game while compiling an 84% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During eleven possessions, Indiana registered two touchdown drives and one possession that resulted in a field goal, as they gained 67 yards with eight first downs and one touchdown on 25 carries (2.68 ypc), completing 31-of-42 passes (73.81%) for 263 yards, ten first downs, one touchdown and two interceptions, to finish with 330 yards on 67 total plays (4.93 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Iowa recorded 63 tackles (47 solos) with two sacks for minus 14 yards, six stops for losses of 26 yards, no quarterback pressures, no fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, two interceptions for 19 yards in return and five pass deflections.

Penn State...Indiana played right with – and sometimes beyond – 18th-ranked Penn State, only to fall, 33-28. It certainly constituted a more competitive performance than the previous week's Homecoming loss to Iowa. The host Hoosiers out-gained PSU by a significant chunk of real estate, 554-417, and amassed 32 first downs to the Nittany Lions' 20.
However, two lost fumbles after halftime really hamstrung the home team. Their offensive line really struggled in the second half, as the Nittany Lions' defense recorded six sacks, including four by rush end Skaka Toney. Indiana never surrendered and pulled within the single-score final margin with 49 seconds left.
Martin Game Highlights...The left guard was flagged for three holding calls during the game.. Late in the first quarter, his penalty negated a third-&-10 run for 15 yards by Michael Penix out of the wildcat formation, with the versatile back leaving the field after he hurt his leg on the play. Martin was again flagged in the closing minutes of the first half, nullifying a 13-yard catch by Donavan Hale at the PSU 17 on third-&-10. The second half opened with his third holding call that cost Indiana ten yards from their own 34.
The Hoosiers' first series for the day featured a nifty play by Peyton Ramsey. The quarterback took the snap and pitched the ball to tailback Reese Taylor, who was in motion off the right side of the field. As Taylor headed left, Martin upended defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos, causing a logjam of Nittany Lions defenders off-guard, as Taylor pitched the ball to Whop Philyor on the left corner. Martin then raced to the right side of the field with Philyor, who turned the right corner just as Martin knocked down linebacker Cam Brown, racing 26 yards to the PSU 5. On the next snap, Stevie Scott used a drive block by Martin on Brown to run into the left side of the end zone for a 5-yard score that capped a 75-yard, 8-play march.
On the next drive, Ramsey decided to keep the ball on third-&-11, picking up a first down and a 13-yard gain around the left corner after Martin pushed defensive tackle Kevin Givens into Cam Brown.
Scott bolted for an 18-yard scamper when Martin again flattened Givens to open the rush lane used by the tailback five minutes into second quarter action.
Penn State Game - Continued
Penix returned to action midway through the third quarter and from wildcat formation, he used a hole that Martin created for a 13-yard gain, but again had to be helped off the field when PSU's Garrett Taylor was flagged for targeting. Ramsey came back in at quarterback and on first-&-goal, Scott followed Martin into the end zone for a touchdown that gave Indiana a 21-20 lead. The left guard had stood up Brown and used him as a weapon, pushing the Nittany Lion into two other defenders to give the tailback the room needed to score.
Martin's Primary Blocking Assignment...DT#30-Kevin Givens (6:01-289)-Recorded no tackles, but deflected one pass vs. Martin during the game.

Penn State - Continued
Martin's Game Impact...The left guard was credited with ten key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered two touchdown-resulting blocks for the running game, adding two second level blocks for the ground game. Despite three holding penalties, he still compiled an 87% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During sixteen possessions, Indiana registered four touchdown drives, as they gained 224 yards with thirteen first downs and three touchdowns on 45 carries (4.98 ypc), completing 35-of-55 passes (63.64%) for 330 yards, seventeen first downs, one touchdown and one interception, to finish with a season-high 554 yards on 100 total plays (5.54 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Penn State recorded 91 tackles (67 solos) with six sacks for minus 44 yards, eight stops for losses of 47 yards, one quarterback pressure, two fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, one interception for a one-yard return and three pass deflections.

Minnesota...Minnesota withstood a furious Indiana comeback to prevail, 38-31, despite the Hoosiers scoring 22 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to forge a 31-31 tie with 3:24 left. Indiana didn't score its first touchdown until 13:24 was left in the game, on a perfect 43-yard pass from Peyton Ramsey to Donavan Hale. The quarterback completed 29-of-44 passes for 232 yards and two touch-downs, as he also rushed eight times for 57 yards.
Martin Game Highlights...The Hoosiers kicked a 33-yard field goal at the end of their 13-play, 60-yard game-opening possession. The field position for the successful three-pointer was set up when Martin looped around his left tackle to deliver a cross block that neutralized defensive end Jerry Gibson as Peyton Ramsey raced around the left side for a 10-yard keeper deep into Gophers' territory.
Another Indiana field goal from 24 yards out was set up by a 14-yard scamper from Stevie Scott. Martin crushed defensive tackle Royal Silver to spring his tailback through the gap between left guard and tackle to set up the second field goal in the first frame.
The Indiana defense remained quiet until a three-touchdown explosion in the fourth quarter. With 10:04 remaining in the contest, pressure from the Gophers' front wall flushed Ramsey out of the pocket. Martin dropped into the backfield and stationed himself as a ride-side protector for his quarterback, winning a hand-to-hand battle that staved off defensive tackle Gary Moore's attempt to capture Ramsey, who located flanker Ty Fryfogle with a 37-yard touchdown toss to cap a 63-yard, 6-play march.
Martin's Primary Blocking Assignment...DT#97-Royal Silver (6:03-307)-Recorded one assisted tackle for a 1-yard loss while Martin was his assigned blocker
Martin's Game Impact...The left guard was credited with eight key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered one touchdown-resulting block for the passing game, adding two more key blocks, including one in the second level on running plays that helped set up a pair of first quarter field goals, as he compiled a 90% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During fourteen possessions, Indiana registered three touch-down drives and three possessions that resulted in field goals, as they gained 153 yards with nine first downs and one touchdown on 30 carries (5.10 ypc), completing 29-of-44 passes (65.91%) for 232 yards, eleven first downs, two touchdowns and two interceptions, to finish with 385 yards on 74 total plays (5.20 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Minnesota recorded 62 tackles (48 solos) with one sack for minus six yards, five stops for losses of 17 yards, no quarterback pressures, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, two interceptions for zero yards in return and five pass deflections.

Maryland...Indiana's offense effectively capitalized on the first three takeaways by their defense, turning them into seventeen big points to seal a hugely important 34-32 win over Maryland. Behind a stout offensive line, the running game was solid, but it was the downfield passing game featuring quarterback Peyton Ramsey and his trusty receivers that was revelatory. Ramsey averaged 15.2 yards per completion, a huge number. He entered the contest averaging 9.2 yards for the season.
"They were just giving us those down-the-field throws," Ramsey said. "For me, it was really just a matter of letting Ty (Fryfogle), Donavan (Hale) and Nick (Westbrook) go make plays. And they did a really good job."
On two of those downfield throws, Ramsey was accorded outstanding protection from his left guard, as Martin posted eight knockdowns for the day. The game also the fifth time that Martin had received blocking consistency grades of 90% or better.




Maryland Game - Continued
Martin Game Highlights...Early in the second quarter, Martin retreated into the backfield, sustaining a key block to foil a bull rush by nose tackle Oluwaseun Oluwatimi, giving Peyton Ramsey time to unleash a go-route down the left sideline that Donavan Hale pulled in for a 37-yard touchdown that capped a 6-play, 90-yard possession.
Martin pulled along the line of scrimmage, reversing course to turn inside and cut off defensive tackle Mbi Tanyi, riding his assignment wide-right to flush any Terrapin out of the rush lane, allowing Stevie Scott to bolt up the gap between his left guard and tackle for a 2-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter.
A loop around by Byron Cowart saw the rush end slip past left tackle Coy Cronk, but the ever-alert Martin reached around and managed to stay in front of the pocket, protecting Ramsey before the quarterback located split end Nick Westbrook with a 19-yard touchdown toss.
Scott gained 22 yards during a fourth quarter scamper, breaking free for his last ten yards after Martin reached the second level to take down linebacker Isaiah Davis.
Davis was again the victim of Martin's second level block as Scott repeated the previous carry with a 27-yard gain to the UMD 33. The drive later stalled and Indiana kicked a 42-yard game-winning field goal with 2:32 remaining in the contest.
Martin Record Watch...The game marked the fifth time this season that Martin recorded a blocking consistency grade of 90% or better. That ties Ian Beckles (vs. Toledo, Northwestern, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois in 1989) for the second-highest amount of excellent blocking consistency grades by an Indiana interior lineman.
Martin's Primary Blocking Assignment...DT#50-Mbi Tanyi (6:01-292)-Recorded four tackles (2 solos) and a pressure during the game, but was limited to one solo tackle and a hurry when Martin was his assigned blocker; NT#91-Adam McLean (6:02-309)-Recorded three solo tackles with a 5-yard sack, but did not register any hits when Martin was his assigned blocker.
Martin's Game Impact...The left guard was credited with eight key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered two touchdown-resulting blocks for the passing game and one more for the rushing attack, adding two second level blocks, including one that helped set up the game-winning field goal. He finished the game compiling a 95% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During fourteen possessions, Indiana registered five touch-down drives and one possession that resulted in a field goal, as they gained 131 yards with seven first downs and two touchdowns on 30 carries (4.37 ypc), completing 16-of-28 passes (57.14%) for 243 yards, eight first downs, two touchdowns and one interception, to finish with 374 yards on 58 total plays (6.45 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Maryland recorded 55 tackles (41 solos) with four sacks for minus 21 yards, five stops for losses of 22 yards, three quarterback pressures, one fumble recovery, no forced fumbles, one interception for zero yards in return and three pass deflections.

Michigan...Indiana took the lead three times vs. the Wolverines during the first half before Michigan rallied in the final quarter to go home with a 31-20 victory over the Hoosiers. Michigan's defense entered allowing foes just 219.8 yards per game, best in the nation - Indiana gained 385. Michigan had allowed just 103.8 yards rushing per game, but surrendered 190 to the Hoosiers. U-M, also the nation's leader in pass defense, averaging 116.0 yards per game, say Indiana collected 195 aerial yards vs. their secondary.
The Wolverines hadn't allowed more than ten completions in five-straight games before the Hoosiers' Peyton Ramsey posted sixteen successful tosses. One of those tosses resulted in a touchdown, thanks to the blocking expertise of the Hoosiers' left guard, as Martin produced a pair of touchdown-resulting blocks in the loss.
Martin Game Highlights...Talk about heads-up football!. Early in the first quarter, it appeared that Peyton Ramsey was about to be sacked. Defensive end Kwity Paye had latched on to the quarterback's leg and started to drag him down, but Ramsey's body never touched the ground. Seeing his teammate about to be sacked, Martin - the strongest lineman in the league - merely swatted the 6:04, 260-pound Paye off Ramsey's leg. Suddenly, Ramsey was "off to the races," with Martin executing a second level block after the initial hit to spring the quarterback for a 15-yard scamper - 11 yards after Martin's second block - for a first down at the Indiana 43.
A cutback move by Stevie Scott saw the tailback turn a first-&-10 carry into a 13-yard touchdown later in the first frame, as Scott ran behind Martin, who used a sensational thrust forward to rock back linebacker Josh Ross near the goal line to clear away the final obstacle on that scoring burst that gave Indiana a temporary 7-3 lead.



Michigan Game - Continued
When weak-side linebacker Devin Gil tried to blitz through the B-gap, Martin lowered his pads, extending his reach and drove the Wolverine sideways, giving Ramsey time to locate Nick Westbrook down the right sidelines for a 41-yard reception late in the second quarter. That 9-play, 75-yard drive ended with Ramsey flipping a 7-yard touchdown toss to Ty Fryfogle along the left corner of the end zone. At the snap, Martin rose from his stance in a hurry, locking on and standing up All-American defensive end Rashan Gary and controlling the Wolverine with his shoulder while Ramsey hid behind his left guard until he found his open target.
Martin Record Watch...The game marked the sixth time this season that Martin recorded a blocking consistency grade of 90% or better. That broke his tie with Ian Beckles (five 90% grades vs. (vs. Toledo, Northwestern, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois in 1989) for the second-highest amount of excellent blocking consistency grades by an Indiana interior lineman.
His six blocking consistency grades of 90% or better now ties the school season-record that was first set by Dan Freeney in 2015 (vs. Southern Illinois, Florida International, Wake Forest, Rutgers, Michigan and Purdue).
The Big Ten Conference regular season record for blocking consistency grades of 90% or better was
nine by Orlando Pace of Ohio State in 1996 (vs. Rice, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Penn State, Purdue, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois).
Martin's Primary Blocking Assignment...NT#90-Bryan Mone (6:04-339)-Recorded one solo tackle during the game (Martin was the assigned blocker); DE#3-Rashan Gary (6:05-283)-Recorded nine tackles (6 solos) with 1.5 sacks for minus 11 yards during the game, but he did not register any of those stops while Martin was his assigned blocker (knocked down three times by the left guard).
Martin's Game Impact...The left guard was credited with eight key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered two touchdown-resulting blocks - one each for the running and the passing game, as he posted two second-level blocks and compiled a 93% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During eleven possessions, Indiana registered two touchdown drives and two possessions that resulted in field goals, as they gained 190 yards with ten first downs and one touchdown on 40 carries (4.75 ypc), completing 16-of-35 passes (45.71%) for 195 yards, eight first downs, one touchdown and one interception, to finish with 385 yards on 75 total plays (5.13 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Michigan recorded 67 tackles (37 solos) with two sacks for minus 17 yards, five stops for losses of 24 yards, six quarterback pressures, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, one interception for zero yards in return and four pass deflections.

Purdue...The in-state battle saw Purdue hand the Hoosiers a 28-21 loss in the season finale for Indiana, even though their offense tallied 487 yards to the Boilermakers' 440. Martin closed out his career in record fashion, as this not only marked his seventh contest with a blocking consistency grade of 90% or better for the season, but it was his fourth consecutive game reaching that level of excellence.
Martin Game Highlights...Late in the first quarter, the massive thud heard throughout the stadium came from an emphatic block by Martin that crushed defensive tackle Keiwan Jones. the left guard fired off the snap and drove into Jones' hip, scrambling into his opponent before using his big hands to send Jones crashing to the ground. That cleared out a rush lane used by tailback Stevie Scott to race from the Indiana one-inch line to give the Hoosiers some breathing room after a 39-yard scamper.
With 7:33 left in the contest, quarterback Peyton Ramsey faked a handoff to Scott, but he saw Martin flatten defensive tackle Anthony Watts, taking off behind his left guard, who widened the rush lane that Ramsey utilized for a 23-yard touchdown run on a keeper that ended an 8-play, 79-yard possession.
Jones and Watts tried to stunt, but Martin rode Jones away from the pocket, long enough for Ramsey to connect with Nick Westbrook on a 21-yard pass play with 2:28 remaining in the contest. Ramsey would go back to the split end with a 40-yard touchdown toss three plays later, as Martin pulled along the line of scrimmage to locate and "aim for the numbers" of Watts, sending the defender sprawling in the backfield, with no chance to get to Ramsey before he completed that scoring strike with 1:17 left on the game clock.
Martin Record Watch...The game marked the seventh time this season that Martin recorded a blocking consistency grade of 90% or better (vs. Virginia, Ball State, Ohio State, Minnesota, Maryland, Michigan and Purdue). That broke his tie with Dan Freeney, who recorded six such performances in 2015 (vs. Southern Illinois, Florida International, Wake Forest, Rutgers, Michigan and Purdue).


Purdue Game - Continued
Martin's seven 90% blocking performances was two shy of the Big Ten Conference regular season record of nine by Orlando Pace of Ohio State in 1996 (vs. Rice, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Penn State, Purdue, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois).
Martin's Primary Blocking Assignment...DT#44-Anthony Watts (6:04-296)-Recorded six tackles (3 solos) during the game, managing three stops (one solos) while Martin was his assigned blocker; DT#50-Keiwan Jones (6:02-289)-recorded just a quarterback pressure, but was held to no statistics when Martin was his assigned blocker.
Martin's Game Impact...The left guard was credited with ten key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered two touchdown-resulting blocks - one each for the ground attack and the passing game, as he posted two second level blocks while compiling a blocking consistency grade of 94%.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During eleven possessions, Indiana registered two touchdown drives and two possessions that resulted in field goals, as they gained 190 yards with ten first downs and one touchdown on 40 carries (4.75 ypc), completing 16-of-35 passes (45.71%) for 195 yards, eight first downs, one touchdown and one interception, to finish with 385 yards on 75 total plays (5.13 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Purdue recorded 71 tackles (59 solos) with two sacks for minus 10 yards, four stops for losses of 13 yards, three quarterback pressures, no fumble recoveries, no forced fumbles, one interception for zero yards in return and two pass deflections.

Wow lots of people on the ground  
Rjanyg : 2/23/2019 5:04 pm : link
He either stones them at the LOS or flattens them. Nice job on stunts and second level combo blocks.

I’d like him with one of our 4th rounders.
Thanks for the great info as always, Dave and Sy.  
Mike from SI : 2/23/2019 5:06 pm : link
What round(s) are your sleepers projected to go in? Thanks again!
Wonder if Martin could play center  
idiotsavant : 2/24/2019 8:33 am : link
That might be an interesting left side .
MIKE FROM SI  
nflscouting : 2/24/2019 4:05 pm : link
I'm a Day Three Kinda guy. Most of my sleepers are going to be those that wait by the phone a few days. After the draft, I will be putting up a bunch of reports at;

facebook.com/nfldraftreport

NOTE-Adderley, while a sleeper, has skyrocketed, so the safety could go Round 2
TOIDIOTSAVANT  
nflscouting : 2/24/2019 4:07 pm : link
He was actually recruited to be the Indiana center & yes, I agree, he could move there. Actually, he's being tutored by Jason Kelce. Wes Martin can also deep snap.
You know what they say - the two best things you can have is a great woman & a good deep snapper. Now, if the woman can snap.....Marry Her!
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