Senior | 5’9″ 215 lbs | Mobile, Alabama | 04/11/1999

Carlton Martial is an undersized linebacker who isn’t fast enough to play safety, but may be able to overcome his poor physical traits with his motor and toughness.

Overview:

Carlton Martial came to Troy in 2017 a walk-on, who was a tri-athlete, playing football, baseball, and basketball at McGill-Toolen High School in Mobile, Alabama. He earned all-state, all-district, and all-city honors in both his junior and senior football seasons. However, he went unranked per 247 sports recruiting. He redshirted his freshman season, spending the time refining his game.

Martial enters into his senior season with a very well-established resume. He earned All Sun-Belt First Team honors at linebacker the last two seasons. He led the country in tackles with 113 last season and also has the most tackles in the country over the last two seasons with 239. Martial has played almost exclusively the box middle linebacker position at Troy in Brandon Hall’s 4-3 defense. He has also worked with the special teams unit in kick coverage, punt coverage, and field goal blocking.

Strengths:

• Highly competitive and tenacious defender. Physically plays with every bit of his frame and steps up to all challengers.
• Great toughness, willingness to crash downhill into gaps. Gutted through an ankle injury in one game.
• Above-average instincts. Great when dropping back in zone and taking time to read, diagnose and cover his zone, keeping plays in front of him. He is more limited in man defense.
• Great motor that has him constantly involved in plays.
• Good long speed, able to work sideline to sideline effectively and make plays.
• Possesses good short-area quickness, helps him to challenge and close quickly in pursuit.
• Good special teams experience where his speed and tackling can be used in kick and punt coverage.

Areas To Improve:

• Lacks the length to disrupt tight ends or running backs in man coverage, especially at the catch point.
• Stout and light frame that lacks strength. He struggles to shed blocks and can be eliminated on plays by linemen.
• Deficiencies in tackling due to short-radius and tendency to start his tackle early, over committing allowing opponents to read, avoid and leave Martial grabbing at ankles.
• Limited in the blitz game. Linemen have no problem getting hands on him and driving him away from QB.
• Limited bend and flexibility. Unable to take advantage of compact size and get low on blocks.
• Tight Hips, he’s clunky in the open field transitioning from reading a pass to flipping into man or getting into zone.

Injury Concerns:

• None

Projection:

Carlton Martial produced eye-popping statistics the last two seasons. But his translation to the next level is limited. He projects best in sub-package formations and not as a three-down linebacker in the NFL like Troy uses him. He can work down into the trenches but is best in a zone scheme where he can read, diagnose and attack, whether the run or the pass. His experience in special teams will help him to get a more permanent job at the next level.

Martial’s competitive drive and motor are great. But his size leaves a lot to be desired. His height and length make him a great mismatch for offenses to take advantage of in man-to-man situations. His missed tackles could become a liability if he doesn’t work on his form; he needs every bit of himself to make a good, stopping tackle. Martial should be considered a medium to high priority free agent, who can potentially make a roster based on being a key special teams piece. However, he lacks the size to play linebacker or athleticism to move to safety.

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