Malcolm Rodriguez and Brock Martin Have Joined the OSU Wrestling Team

Scott Wright of the Daily Oklahoman reported this week that OSU defensive end Brock Martin, and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez have joined the wrestling team.

They needed permission from coaches on both sides. And they had to organize workout schedules with strength coach Rob Glass, who is overseeing winter conditioning for all the football players this time of year.

“The coaches gave them the go-ahead, but said, ‘You’ve still have to report to Coach Glass at 6:30 every morning and do all your strength training,’” said Robert Martin, Brock’s father. “(The football coaches) said they weren’t worried about the conditioning, because Lord knows they’re gonna be conditioned enough when they get in wrestling.” [NewsOK]

According to the Oklahoman, both started practicing a few weeks ago after receiving the blessing from Coach Smith and Coach Gundy.

Rodriguez, the starting middle linebacker and leading tackler this season, was a two-time state champion at Wagoner high school, competing at 182 as a junior and going 27-0 his senior year at 195. Martin was a three-time state champion at Oolagah, and went undefeated his senior year at 220.

Both are listed on the football roster at over 200 pounds and would be expected to compete at heavyweight. The Cowboys only have two heavyweights on the current roster with Austin Harris and Neil Putnam. The pair have shared starting duties to this point in the season. Austin Harris is 4-7 while Cornelius Putnam is 0-2.

This isn’t unprecedented as the Big 12 has a few other athletes who have recently shared the mat and football field successfully. Fresno State’s Josh Hokit scored nine touchdowns for the football team this fall and was an All-American at 197 last March on the wrestling team.

We’ve also seen this go the other way for OSU when Steve Mocco played football in the early days of the Mike Gundy era.