Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Upon Further Review todd D. burlage Routinely called a "mauler" and considered the toughest player on the team, Watt is listed by NFLDraftCountdown.com as the fourth-best offensive guard in the country and projected as a third- or fourth-round pick next spring in the NFL Draft. Offensive tackles are as good as gold in the NFL and Martin ranks as the second-best in the country, which will guarantee him respect and riches even if he is not selected in the first round. Yet, these two potential millionaires in waiting couldn't be pulled away from the university they love so dearly, passing on the NFL riches after last season to play together at Notre Dame one final time. "To have another opportunity to play here with my teammates and with Zack for another year is just amazing," Watt said. "The decision to come back was an easy one." Like any brothers or best buddies, the friendly fire never stops between these two. Martin calls Watt a slob. Watt counters with stories about Martin being a dorky Batman fanatic, right down to the superhero nightlight and shower mat in his bathroom. Watt and Martin are classmates, teammates, linemates, roommates, best friends, and two of the most durable players ever to wear blue and gold. Martin is on pace to finish his career with 52 starts in 52 career games played. He's a vocal leader, a team captain, and expected to be a finalist for the Outland Trophy after this season as the best lineman in the country. Barring something unforeseen, Watt will leave Notre Dame with just one game missed because of injury in his four seasons as a regular player and three as a starter. Perhaps most impressively, Martin and Watt started next to each other on the left side of the offensive line 34 straight games before the streak ended Nov. 2. With these two standouts protecting the blind side of quarterback Tommy Rees — not the most mobile of college quarterbacks — Notre Dame entered its game with Pittsburgh ranked sixth in the country in pass protection with just seven sacks allowed in the first nine games. Only Tulsa had given up fewer sacks with more pass attempts than the Irish. Stats are fine, but like any good offensive linemen, these guys prefer wins and anonymity instead of headlines and personal accolades. And when it comes to squeezing everything out of their time at Notre Dame, Chris Watt and Zack Martin have latched onto every opportunity, leaving here in about month for professional pursuits with their degrees in hand, the support of lifelong friends in place, and no regrets for spending one last year together as football players and best friends — all while defining exactly what being a model Notre Dame student-athlete is all about. ✦ Todd D. Burlage has been a writer for Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 2005. He can be reached at tburlage@blueandgold.com