Marcus Martin

SLIPPERY ROCK — Marcus Martin is finding himself alone among freshmen this postseason.

The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Slippery Rock University defensive end is the lone freshman to gain Daktronics All-America recognition, being named to the second team.

He is also the only frosh among the 70 finalists — 38 Division II players, 18 Division III and 14 NAIA — for the Cliff Harris Award, which recognizes the nation’s top small college defensive player. That winner will be announced Wednesday.

“He’s been on awards lists that for a freshman are just unheard of,” SRU coach George Mihalik said. “It’s incredible, what he’s done in his first year.

“When we recruited him, we knew what kind of player Marcus was. We knew he’d have a great career here. But no one could have anticipated this kind of start. We’ve never had a freshman make All-American.”

Martin, from West Mifflin, shattered The Rock’s single-season sack record with 16. The previous mark was 12. He led the PSAC with his sack total and his 22.5 tackles for loss.

In fact, Martin’s 118 loss yards from sacks and 136 lost yards in tackles for loss led all of Division II. He was also second on SRU’s defense — behind Mars graduate Austin Miele — with 68 tackles. He had 10 quarterback hurries and three pass break-ups as well.

“It was the brotherhood, really,” Martin said. “We all played freely. I could fly after guys in the backfield, knowing a teammate had my back if I missed. We often communicated that way.”

Martin is second team All-American and one of only four players selected from Super Region One. The others are first-team safety Colin Kimball of Mercyhurst, second team tight end Tim Brown of West Chester and linebacker Justin Shirk of Bloomsburg.

Even Martin admitted surprise over some of the accolades coming his way.

“I woke up this morning and got a bunch of text messages from teammates offering congratulations,” he said. “It’s surreal, in a way, to still be getting rewarded after you haven’t played for a month or so.”

Martin is excelling in the classroom as well, compiling a 3.6 grade point average this semester as a safety management major.

“Marcus is a good example of what can happen for a player when he works hard in the classroom, in the weight room and on the practice field,” Mihalik said.

“It’s great seeing a young kid with his kind of work ethic getting recognized at the national level.”

Last year’s Cliff Harris Award winner, cornerback Pierre Deseri of Lindenwood, was drafted in the fourth round by the Cleveland Browns.

“That guy was a three-time All-American, had 24 interceptions in his career ... That’s the kind of player we’re talking about,” Martin said. “To even be considered for that award is something I could never have imagined.”

He can, however, imagine breaking the PSAC single-season sack record of 18.

“That’s my main goal for next year, plus becoming first team All-America,” Martin said. “You set goals within reach and once you get there, you set new ones.

“I felt like I had a shot at the school sack record this year. When you get close, you’re fueled to go after it. You do what fuels you and chasing goals definitely fuels me.”