Why did Oklahoma State football's Nick Martin play through arm injury? 'Part of the game'
STILLWATER — Nick Martin walked off the field after Oklahoma State’s first spring football practice Tuesday evening wearing a cast on his left hand that came halfway up his forearm.
A recent injury for the Cowboys’ leading tackler?
No, he initially suffered some ligament damage in his wrist last September, in the third game of the season, then injured it more significantly in the Houston game in mid-November, yet kept news of it quiet all year.
So that means while recording the most tackles in a season by any OSU player in 40 years, Martin played the vast majority of the year with an injury that required discreet but firm bracing and tape every week.
Martin says it only hurt when his hand would get twisted while grabbing a ball-carried, or when he took on an offensive lineman, or when he fell on it awkwardly — a list of activities that sound like the kind of things a linebacker does nearly every snap of a game.
“It’s part of the game — it’s a warrior’s game,” Martin said, humbly downplaying the level of toughness and pain tolerance required to accomplish what he did with such a significant injury. “If you can play, you play.
“Pain is all mental, to a certain level.”
Martin says he’s in the “healing phase” now, and though the cast limits his involvement in spring practice, he’ll be cleared well before August camp.
With the Cowboys in the first week of spring, here’s a look at the linebacker position:
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Season rewind
Martin finished the year with 140 tackles, including 16.0 for loss and 6.0 sacks, leading the team or tied for the lead in each category. Collin Oliver tied him in sacks, playing a hybrid outside linebacker/edge rusher role.
It was Oliver’s first season as a stand-up linebacker, and while he had some minor growing pains, he settled into his new position well, finishing with 73 tackles.
After a so-so 2022 season, Xavier Benson found a comfort level at the other outside spot and saw his production increase, totaling 65 tackles in his final season.
Overall, linebacker play was solid in the first season of coordinator Bryan Nardo’s new defense.
While the starting trio got the vast majority of the work, totaling more than 2,700 snaps between them, backups picked up some valuable experience along the way as well.
More: Which Oklahoma State football players have most to gain in spring practice?
Roster management
Who’s out: Xavier Benson
Who’s in: Temerrick Johnson, Fr.*, Jonathan Agumadu, Fr., Gunnar Wilson, Fr.
*-Already on campus
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The take
Martin and Oliver each return for another season together after forming a dangerous duo with Martin anchoring the middle and Oliver on the edge.
The Cowboys lost Benson, so that position becomes one of the most important competitions in spring.
Veteran backup Jeff Roberson was the second-stringer last year, so he’s sure to get a strong look. Donovan Stephens backed up Oliver and could get a look on the opposite side as well.
One intriguing option the Cowboys will entertain is moving Kendal Daniels to linebacker. The redshirt junior is listed at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, yet looks even bigger, which suggests he’s on his way to outgrowing his safety position — if he hasn’t already.
While Martin proved indispensable at middle linebacker, he has depth behind him, too, with the return of Justin Wright as a seventh-year senior, plus Stillwater product Gabe Brown, who helped on special teams but also got in at middle linebacker.
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Depth chart: OSU linebackers
The starters
Collin Oliver, Sr., 6-2, 235
Nick Martin, RJr., 6-0, 210
Jeff Roberson, RSr., 6-2, 225
The reserves
Justin Wright, RSr.*, 6-3, 230
Gabe Brown, RSo., 6-2, 240
Donovan Stephens, RJr., 6-0, 220
Poasa Utu, RFr., 6-0, 210
Ike Esonwune, RFr., 6-0, 225
Temerrick Johnson, Fr., 6-3, 195
Chance Clements, RSo., 6-1, 195
Elijah Wright, RSr., 5-10, 230
Andrew McCall, RFr., 6-0, 220
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State football's Nick Martin reveals wrist injury from 2023
