Martin, Notre Dame's 18th two-time team captain, is currently projected as a third- or fourth-round pick
in the 2014 NFL Draft.
photo courtesy notre dame media relations
"He's played through a myriad of
shoulders, knees, ankles, elbows and
back. He keeps playing," Kelly said.
"I'm not saying a lesser guy would be
out of the lineup, but his mental and
physical toughness is off the charts.
That's why he's going to have a long
career in the NFL."
Martin is currently projected as a
third- or fourth-round pick in this
spring's NFL Draft, which is about
the same place most experts had him
pegged last year if he decided to forego
his fifth season. The Indianapolis native
didn't put the combine and the draft on
hold for a year to try to raise his stock.
Martin said he chose to come back to
Notre Dame mostly for the opportunity
to play with his brother on the same
offensive line. By doing so, he gave himself one more year to finish laying what
Kelly called the foundation for a long
run of success on the Irish offensive line.
When Martin was a high school
junior in 2007 sorting through scholarship options, Notre Dame's line allowed an NCAA-record 58 sacks. They
were the team's "whipping boys," Martin said. Since he took over on the line
four years ago, the Irish have allowed
