Center/Guard | Notre Dame | Senior
Height: 6 feet, 4 inches | Weight:299 pounds
College stats
2015: started all 13 games played at center; was named Notre Dame's Offensive Lineman of the Year, after helping the Irish make the Fiesta Bowl
Career:totaled 37 starts in 50 games played at multiple spots on the offensive line; served as a season-long captain in 2014 and 2015; Martin redshirted in 2011; played as a backup tackle and on special teams in 2012, started all 11 games he played at center in 2013 before suffering an injury; started first three games of 2014 season at center before shifting to left guard for final 10; started 13 games at center in 2015
Combine results
40-yard dash: 5.22 seconds
Bench press: 28 repetitions of 225 pounds
Vertical jump: N/A
Broad jump: 8 feet, 1 inches
3-cone drill: 7.57 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.72 seconds
Profile
Summary: Smart? Check. Versatile? Check. A recently proven pedigree? Check. That trifecta should only help Martin's draft stock. Martin, who played multiple positions at Notre Dame, is the younger brother of Cowboys two-time Pro Bowl guard Zack Martin. After Zack was selected 16th overall in 2014, he slid from left tackle to guard and was named All-Pro as a rookie. Nick has shown a similar versatility. He played backup tackle as a redshirt freshman, started as a center in his sophomore and senior seasons and slid to guard for the final 10 games of his junior season.
Stacking up:NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock ranked Martin as the second-best center in this year's crop of players. Counterpart Bucky Brooks combined his rankings of interior offensive linemen (centers and guards), with Martin coming in at fifth behind projected guards Cody Whitehair, Joshua Garnett and Vadal Alexander and center Ryan Kelly.
Senior Bowl impact:As a participant on the North squad in this year's Senior Bowl, Nick was able to receive coaching all week from the Dallas Cowboys staff that has coached Zack. Part of the practice for that game included taking snaps with quarterbacks under center, a contrast to the shotgun formation currently implemented at Notre Dame. Nick said at the combine that he felt playing in the Senior Bowl helped him better prepare for the NFL.
"Just let your personality come through," Nick said when asked what he most wanted to show scouts at the combine. "Obviously you've got to know your offense. I was in Notre Dame's offense for five years, same coach. I know that very well. I think the Senior Bowl really helped too. Being actually on the field and being able to show what you can do on the field, too."
