Tennessee football: Five Ball State Cardinals to watch for against Vols
Linebacker. Brandon Martin. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Gr.-Senior. 1. player. 2246
6’0″ 232 pounds
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Given everything he’s dealt with through the years, it’s hard to believe Brandon Martin is not Mike Neu’s favorite player. Martin has battled injury after injury, and he’s now back for a sixth year of eligibility. Jaylin Thomas’ departure opens the door for him to fill the role he once had, and he could be a destructive force against Tennessee football in that role.
In Martin’s last full season at linebacker, 2020, he had six and a half tackles for a loss, a sack, a pass deflection and 90 tackles, 46 of which were solo. He had 121 total tackles, 65 of which were solo, his first two years at Ball State along with three and a half tackles for a loss, a sack and an interception, all as mostly a backup.
When Martin was set to finally emerge in 2019, his injuries kicked in, and he barely played that year. The same was true in 2021, where he registered just 20 tackles, 11 of which were solo. Still, he had an interception and a pass deflection, so he managed to be effective.
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On top of that, now that he’s fully healthy, he’ll be the biggest impact player Thursday. That health may not last, but it’s the opener, so Tennessee football has to be ready for him. Martin and Clayton Coll together could cause major problems for Josh Heupel and the offense, and that’s why they are so critical in this game.