Brock Martin Talks D-Line Battles, Leadership and What Last Year’s Team Was Lacking

The biggest question mark for Oklahoma State’s defense this spring, and into fall camp, concerns its rebuilding defensive line.

Jim Knowles and Co. are tasked with replacing the production, depth and leadership of all six departing linemen with starting experience including long-tenured figures like Jordan Brailford, Cole Walterscheid and Darrion Daniels.

During Wednesday’s media availability, Mike Gundy talked about the group and that transition, at least what he’s been able to learn now two-thirds of the way through spring camp.

“Well, we don’t have a face [of the D-line],” said Gundy. “None of these guys have played. We lost a whole six guys. The group, I tell you, they’re coming on pretty good, but you just have to wait and see how they hold up. We gotta find three tackles and three ends. Gotta rotate ’em through. That’s what we’re trying to accomplish.”

But when asked if any of his young linemen were stepping up as leaders, the first name out of Gundy’s mouth was Brock Martin.

The redshirt sophomore DE sat out in 2017 due to redshirt and a shoulder surgery, then found himself behind OSU’s sack leader, Brailford, on the depth chart last year. But in 2019, Martin will be one of the more experienced Cowboys in the trenches.

“Everyone’s fighting,” Martin said on Wednesday. “Everyone wants to play. Me and Mike [Scott] right now are going back and forth. Nose guards, Brendan [Evers] and Sione [Asi] and Samuela [Tuihalamaka], everyone’s fighting for a spot. There’s no guarantees. We’ve still got freshmen that can come in and try to prove themselves.”

“We’re meshing good I think,” Martin continued. “I think we’re doing really well. Chemistry-wise we still got a lot of stuff to go. Everybody is new. Israel [Antwine] has transferred in. Me, Cam [Murray] and Brendan [Evers] played together last year, but not really a whole lot. We got a lot of shoes to fill. It’s going to be tough but we gotta do it.”

Martin was asked about finding his voice as a leader for an OSU defense that lost a total of eight starters from last year.

“I think I’ve progressed a bit as a vocal leader. Kevin Henry’s always been there. Amen [Ogbongbemiga]’s stepped up I think. I think I’ve heard his voice a little more this spring…”

“Pretty much all of high school I was one of the more vocal guys I guess. Sometimes I just decide to lead by example but sometimes I need to speak up when we really needed it. I’ve kind of always had that inside of me I guess, but in high school it was kind of just whenever we really needed it … Now I’m in the position to where I can say something and not feel like someone is going to shut me down.”

While the Cowboys lost a ton of bodies, production and experience from last year’s team, leadership, on the whole, was questioned after flat performances in losses to Kansas State and TCU, as well as that penalty-ridden meltdown in Waco.

“Last year, even though we had some many fifth-year — I think we had some sixth-year guys last year — Last year, no one was really vocal,” said Martin. “That’s where we kind of lacked a little bit.”

Martin conceded that guys like Kenneth Edison-McGruder, Justin Phillips and Darrion Daniels were leaders, but they’re all gone now. As OSU’s young defenders, like Martin, take the reins and attempt to lead the program into the future, establishing those roles will be crucial.

“We’re going to have to have some more guys step up if we’re going to be where we want to be come December.”