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but we had him covering wide receivers 30 yards down the field," Alexander said. "His ability to run with these re- ceivers and his ability to play the ball are special." Defending the pass was a weakness for Notre Dame's middle linebackers in 2013, one that the Irish coaches have tried to bolster by seeking athletic and lengthy defenders in recent recruiting cycles. There's a chance that Martini will eventually play side by side with former high school teammate Doug Randolph, a freshman with good coverage skills who sat out this past season, in the mid- dle of the Irish defense. Their fellow Woodberry Forest alum, sophomore C.J. Prosise, switched from safety to wide receiver last spring. Mar- tini said those two have kept him in- formed and excited about joining them in South Bend. "Every chance I get I send them a text and just ask them how things are go- ing," he said. "They have only positive things to say. It's always good to hear them talk about it, and it makes me happy with my decision for sure." ✦ FILM ANALYSIS Strengths Martini possesses great size as a sophomore with the type of frame that will continue to add weight, but keep athleticism and mobility … Ca- pable of making plays both in the run and pass game due to field awareness and pursuit angles to the football … Sound from start to finish in regards to playing low by getting into a stance with a good base to shuffling to the ball carrier to striking and securing the tackle. Areas To Improve Speed is the most glaring area that needs improvement on tape, but he still has two years to work at it, and advancements in the strength department will help … Plays a bit flat footed at times, so footwork drills to stay up on his toes, react quicker, and work downhill will help tran- sition his skill set to an inside linebacker at the collegiate level.