Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1414190
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 2, 2021 51 IRISH IN THE PROS weight on, at least for me," said Mar- tin, who is listed at 6-foot, 313 pounds. "I've got to eat to keep my weight up, so there are a lot of meals where you just are forcing it down." 'FAMILY' REUNION Martin's season debut in Los Angeles with the Cowboys against the home- town Chargers featured a bevy of former Irish players on both sides. Linebacker Jaylon Smith started for Dallas in the game, while defen- sive tackle Jerry Tillery started for the Chargers. Safety Alohi Gilman and line- backer Drue Tranquill were also rota- tional players on the LA defense. And those brotherly ties remain tightly knotted, evidenced by the hugs and smiles shared after the game. Tillery, Smith and Tranquill played together on Notre Dame's 2015 team. Tillery, Tranquill and Gilman played to- gether at Notre Dame in 2017-18. Mar- tin and Smith were Irish teammates in 2013. Martin arrived at Notre Dame out of Bishop Chatard High School in India- napolis as a four-star recruit, the No. 22 offensive tackle and the No. 2 player in his state, per Rivals. After redshirting as a freshman in 2009, Martin started 52 straight games for Notre Dame from 2010-13 and set the program record for career starts by an offensive lineman. A two-time Irish team captain, Mar- tin became so dominant that he fittingly earned MVP honors in his last game at Notre Dame at the 2013 Pinstripe Bowl after a 29-16 Irish win over Rutgers — the first offensive lineman to win MVP in any bowl game since 1959. More recently, Martin was named to the NFL All-Decade Team for the 2010s. Now in his eighth professional sea- son, Martin remains one of only five NFL guards all time to receive a Pro Bowl in- vite in each of their first six seasons. When Martin (the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft) is paired with Indianapolis Colts All-Pro and former Irish all-American Quenton Nelson (the No. 6 overall pick in 2018), Notre Dame boasts two of the best, and wealthiest, offensive guards in the league. Nelson signed a four-year $23.9-mil- lion rookie contract with the Colts in 2018 that included a $15.4-million sign- ing bonus — with plenty more loot to come — while Martin inked a six-year, $84 million contract extension in 2018 that keeps him a Cowboy through 2024 and made him the highest-paid guard in the league. ✦ MEMORABILIA Call 877-630-8768 to advertise in Blue & Gold Illustrated! Want a prayer published? Call 800-421-7751 Vintage Notre Dame Memorabilia Augie's Locker Room ND Stadium Items, Jerseys, Helmets, Autographs and One-of-a-Kind Rockne Items. COME INTO THE STORE TO SEE OUR RARE NOTRE DAME HELMET DISPLAY, 1900 - PRESENT!! Voted Best Notre Dame Collectibles in the Country! 1811 South Bend Ave. South Bend , I n 46637 574-277-NDND (6363) www.augieslockerroom.com FACEBOOK.COM/AUGIESLOCKERROOM NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL GAMES on VHS or DVD for sale, from 1928 to present. Contact Peter Rahas at 7700 Golden Filly St., Las Vegas, NV 89131 or call 1-702-395-2974 NOTRE DAME IN THE NFL: WEEK 2 HIGHLIGHTS • Chase Claypool (Played at Notre Dame from 2016-19), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: Had three catches for 70 yards — including a 52-yarder — on nine targets and one rush for minus-three yards in the Steelers' 26-17 home loss to Oakland. • Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers: Made six tackles as a backup safety and special teams player in the Chargers' 20-17 home loss to Dallas. • Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings: Started and made nine tackles in the Vikings' 34-33 loss at Arizona. • Jaylon Smith (2013-15), LB, Dallas Cow- boys: Started and made a team-high nine tackles in the Cowboys' win over the Chargers. • Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DT, Los Angeles Chargers: Started and made seven tackles with 0.5 sacks in the Chargers' loss to the Cowboys. Martin, a former two-time Irish captain, has earned All-Pro recognition six times in eight NFL seasons and also was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2010s. PHOTO COURTESY DALLAS COWBOYS