2022 Football Roster
Martin, Brandon
Jersey Number 7
Brandon Martin
- Position:
- Inside Linebacker
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-0 / 232
- Class:
- Graduate Student
- Hometown:
- Indianapolis, Ind.
- Prev School:
- Lawrence North HS
- High School:
- Lawrence North HS
- Major:
- Marketing
Bio
Awards and Honors:
2021 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Semifinalist
2020 Mid-American Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year
2020 All-Mid-American Conference First Team
2020 Academic All-Mid-American Conference
MAC West Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 16, 2020)
2020 BSU Defensive Player of the Year
2020, 2021 Mark Hays Inspiration Award
2018, 2020 Ball State Dave McLain Leadership Award
2017 Ball State Paul Schudel Strength and Conditioning Award
Career: In 2020, Martin became the first BSU player named MAC Defensive Player of the Year since punter Brad Maynard in 1996 and the Cardinals’ first traditional defensive player to win the award since linebacker Greg Garnica did it three straight years from 1987-89.
2021: Played in five games while battling through injury ... totaled 20 tackles and one interception ... had five tackles and one pass breakup in season opener vs. Western Illinois (Sept. 2) ... had 10 tackles and an interception at Northern Illinois (Nov. 10) ... had two tackles vs. Central Michigan (Nov. 17) in final game of his season.
2020: Selected the MAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and named to the All-MAC First Team … started all eight games at inside linebacker after missing all but one game the previous season to injury … led the MAC with 90 total tackles and ranked eighth nationally with 11.3 tackles per game … second on the BSU team with 6.5 tackles for loss, including a sack in the win at Central Michigan … reached double-digit tackles in six of the eight games … made a career-high 15 stops in the win over Eastern Michigan on his way to MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week honors … had 14 tackles, including 2.0 for loss, in the MAC West championship-clinching win over Western Michigan and 13 in the MAC Championship Game victory over No. 23 Buffalo … nominated for the Wuerffel Trophy for community service and named to the watch list for the Mayo Comeback Player of the Year Award … member of the football program’s leadership council … No. 1 on the team’s annual “Tough Cardinals” list.
2019: Played in the opener against Indiana but an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season … picked up six tackles against the Hoosiers … granted an extension from the NCAA following the season ... recipient of the Mary Etta Taylor-Rose Service Award from the Ball State Multicultural Center.
2018: Played in all 12 games with five starts at inside linebacker … started each of the final three games … tied for fifth on the team with 66 tackles … led the team in tackles three times including a personal-high 14 stops at Toledo on Oct. 31 … recorded two tackles for loss and his first collegiate sack at No. 8 Notre Dame on Sept. 8 … notched his first collegiate interception in the first quarter at Toledo.
2017: Made the transition from running back to linebacker in the spring … played in all 12 games with six starts at strongside linebacker … earned his first collegiate start on Sept. 16 against Tennessee Tech … finished third on the team with 55 tackles … notched a team season-high 13 tackles against Buffalo on Nov. 16 … posted six or more tackles in each of the final four games.
2016: Took a redshirt season.
HIGH SCHOOL: Earned three letters in football for coach Pat Mallory at Lawrence North High … played both running back and linebacker for the Wildcats … team captain … IFCA 6A all-state selection as a senior … two-time all-league honoree … holds the school record for longest touchdown run (98 yards) … posted more than 100 tackles along with 5 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 blocked field goals as a senior … also competed on the track team as a sprinter and in the long jump for two years.
PERSONAL: Son of Albert and Lisa Martin … has one brother.
2021 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Semifinalist
2020 Mid-American Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year
2020 All-Mid-American Conference First Team
2020 Academic All-Mid-American Conference
MAC West Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 16, 2020)
2020 BSU Defensive Player of the Year
2020, 2021 Mark Hays Inspiration Award
2018, 2020 Ball State Dave McLain Leadership Award
2017 Ball State Paul Schudel Strength and Conditioning Award
Career: In 2020, Martin became the first BSU player named MAC Defensive Player of the Year since punter Brad Maynard in 1996 and the Cardinals’ first traditional defensive player to win the award since linebacker Greg Garnica did it three straight years from 1987-89.
2021: Played in five games while battling through injury ... totaled 20 tackles and one interception ... had five tackles and one pass breakup in season opener vs. Western Illinois (Sept. 2) ... had 10 tackles and an interception at Northern Illinois (Nov. 10) ... had two tackles vs. Central Michigan (Nov. 17) in final game of his season.
2020: Selected the MAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and named to the All-MAC First Team … started all eight games at inside linebacker after missing all but one game the previous season to injury … led the MAC with 90 total tackles and ranked eighth nationally with 11.3 tackles per game … second on the BSU team with 6.5 tackles for loss, including a sack in the win at Central Michigan … reached double-digit tackles in six of the eight games … made a career-high 15 stops in the win over Eastern Michigan on his way to MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week honors … had 14 tackles, including 2.0 for loss, in the MAC West championship-clinching win over Western Michigan and 13 in the MAC Championship Game victory over No. 23 Buffalo … nominated for the Wuerffel Trophy for community service and named to the watch list for the Mayo Comeback Player of the Year Award … member of the football program’s leadership council … No. 1 on the team’s annual “Tough Cardinals” list.
2019: Played in the opener against Indiana but an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season … picked up six tackles against the Hoosiers … granted an extension from the NCAA following the season ... recipient of the Mary Etta Taylor-Rose Service Award from the Ball State Multicultural Center.
2018: Played in all 12 games with five starts at inside linebacker … started each of the final three games … tied for fifth on the team with 66 tackles … led the team in tackles three times including a personal-high 14 stops at Toledo on Oct. 31 … recorded two tackles for loss and his first collegiate sack at No. 8 Notre Dame on Sept. 8 … notched his first collegiate interception in the first quarter at Toledo.
2017: Made the transition from running back to linebacker in the spring … played in all 12 games with six starts at strongside linebacker … earned his first collegiate start on Sept. 16 against Tennessee Tech … finished third on the team with 55 tackles … notched a team season-high 13 tackles against Buffalo on Nov. 16 … posted six or more tackles in each of the final four games.
2016: Took a redshirt season.
HIGH SCHOOL: Earned three letters in football for coach Pat Mallory at Lawrence North High … played both running back and linebacker for the Wildcats … team captain … IFCA 6A all-state selection as a senior … two-time all-league honoree … holds the school record for longest touchdown run (98 yards) … posted more than 100 tackles along with 5 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 blocked field goals as a senior … also competed on the track team as a sprinter and in the long jump for two years.
PERSONAL: Son of Albert and Lisa Martin … has one brother.
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