Sherrod Martin leads Troy defense against Ohio State

TROY — From the near-win at LSU in 2004 to the overhaul in the offense in 2006. With two surgically repaired shoulders to boot, Sherrod Martin has seen it all for Troy.

That’s why they call him the old man of the defense.

Martin, who turns 24 in October, was the star of Troy’s defensive effort in a 65-0 win over Alcorn State. His three interceptions tied a school record and helped him get Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week.

“Honestly I don’t think it was nothing out of the ordinary,” said Martin, a fourth-year starting safety for the Trojans (2-0), who play at Ohio State (2-1) Saturday. “In the game atmosphere as a person, I feel like I’m supposed to make plays.”

But it was out of the ordinary. Though Martin has been a key cog for the defense since he became a starter in 2004, he hadn’t recorded an interception since 2005.

Part of that has to do with a tough 2006, where he missed the entire season after undergoing two shoulder surgeries to repair torn labrums. He had one surgery in December 2005 and the other in February 2006.

He didn’t recover in time for him to play that year, a year where Troy won the conference and the New Orleans Bowl. Even his mother saw more Troy games in person than he did.

“She’s been to every one of them, including Nebraska (a 56-0 Troy loss),” Martin said.

Last year, he broke his hand in Troy’s second game and didn’t return until the fifth. He had to wear a cast on his right hand, and as the nickelback he didn’t get many interception opportunities.

But he did his job, as Troy’s opponents’ scoring average dropped from 39.75 ppg to 12.6 with his return to the lineup. His 11 tackles and two sacks against North Texas after the death of his grandmother gave him SBC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He also forced six fumbles on the year.

“During practice I worked on catching with a cast,” Martin said. “As time went on, I was able to catch, but I never got the opportunity to catch one. My biggest thing was I caused a lot of forced fumbles, so I made up in some areas.”

But that didn’t compare to the pain after his shoulder surgeries, both physically and having to watch from the sidelines.

He said after the first surgery, he wasn’t sure he could go through with the second.

“I was up for two days with no sleep,” Martin said. “(Head trainer) Chuck (Ash) told me you’d get so tired to the point where you’ll fall asleep and when I did that, I only slept 30 minutes.”

Martin graduated high school in 2003, but didn’t enroll until 2004 as a grayshirt. Without the medical redshirt, he would have finished his eligibility last year.

Though he’s already graduated, he’s not taking the easy way out with classes this semester. His classes include sign language, computer concepts, intro to leadership and a photo studio class.

He’s one of the few college football players who go through five spring practices. He was a grizzled veteran once linebacker Bear Woods started seeing playing time.

“I’m glad he’s here with us,” Woods said. “I don’t care how long he’s been here, but I’m glad he’s here with this year.

“His athletic ability, you don’t find that everywhere. He’s overcome his injuries, he works hard in the weight room. He’s not going to let anyone outwork him, ever. He’s a great leader”

Since he’s been here this long, it will be a shock to not see him around next year.

“Hopefully, I’ll be watching him on TV (in the NFL),” Woods said. “I’m sure I will.”

Beanie out: Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel said Thursday that running back Chris “Beanie” Wells wouldn’t play Saturday against Troy.

Wells, one of the top backs in the nation, has been out since a foot injury suffered in the season opener.

Tressel also told reporters that he hadn’t settled on a starting quarterback. It will be senior Todd Boeckman or freshman Terrelle Pryor.