An in-state defensive linemen, Sean Martin is in his third season with West Virginia. After playing primarily on special teams his first year, Martin earned an expanded role on last year’s team. Martin was expected to play an even larger role this season, and he’s about to see his hard work pay off.
Martin did not start either of the first two games of the young season, but he impressed enough in his time on the field to earn more playing time.
“Sean Martin deserves to play more at defensive end. He will play more,” Neal Brown said Tuesday. “Maybe even start in the game. He deserves to play more.”
In the first two games of the season, Martin has six tackles, three tackles for a loss and a sack, all while playing in a reserve role. His three TFL’s also lead the team.
Defensive Coordinator Jordan Lesley also recognized Martin as a player who was a standout in the early season.
“If there was a guy that played well up front it was Sean, his role will increase, and it needs to. He’s ready for that, he understands what he can be now, there’s some positions we can get him in up front that will help us, particularly against a team like that,” Lesley said.
Part of the reason Martin was in a reserve role for the first two games was due to a broken finger he suffered during training camp, which held him back. He played with a club on his hand in the Pitt game, but took it off for the Kansas game and said he feels more comfortable now.
“I really didn’t perform the last two weeks of camp, because I was too worried about my hand, being able to take the club off, I feel normal now,” Martin said on Tuesday.
The Mountaineers have struggled with stopping the run in the early season, giving up 200 rushing yards and two rushing TD’s to Kansas. The defense has also struggled with missing tackles when they have been able to get to the ball carrier. Martin excels as a run stopping linemen and rarely misses tackles when he gets the opportunity. And he is craving that opportunity.
“My mom always tells me to take advantage of my opportunities,” Martin said. “The coaches always speak on it. I just got to do the right things, and do the little things, and get better each and every day.”
