CB, North Dakota State
Twitter handle: @dremartinjr
Rankings: NFLDraftScout: 59th-ranked cornerback, #554 player overall, free agent grade with 6th-7th round upside.
Scouts Inc: 96th-ranked cornerback, rated as a free agent. Grade: 30, borderline draft prospect.
Biography/honors:
2012: (North Dakota State) Started 13 of 15 games at cornerback. 51 tackles, 6 pass break-ups and one interception, which came in the Division 1-AA championship game.
2011: (Northern Iowa) Played in 13 games in a backup role, with 17 tackles.
2010: (Northern Iowa) Started all 12 games at free safety. 77 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 5 interceptions (one returned for TD), 5 pass break-ups and a forced fumble. Honorable mention academic all-Missouri Valley Conference.
2009: (Northern Iowa) Started all 11 games at cornerback. 44 tackles, 2 interceptions, 3 pass break-ups.
2008: (Northern Iowa) Redshirted.
Major: has a bachelor's in gerontology and transferred to NDSU to go for his master's.
Injuries:
2011: missed most of fall training camp due to a lower back injury.
Pro day results: (NFL Combine CB averages in parentheses)
4.46 40 (4.49)
1.65 10-yard split
35.5” vertical jump (35.5”)
9'10" broad jump (10'3")
6.94 3-cone drill (6.88)
4.28 20-yard shuttle (would have been bottom-5 time at Combine; CBs averaged 4.16)
17 bench press (would have tied for 3rd at Combine; CB average was 13)
Positives: Student of the game. Very intelligent, reads offenses well. Good closing speed. Aggressive, good against the run, isn't afraid to hit. Plays physically and shows he can get off WR blocks. Tackles well in open field. Plays hard all the time. One of the scouts at his pro day timed him at 4.39. Had at least four teams interested in him.
Negatives: Build-up speed, lacks get-off. Lacks quickness and explosion. Doesn't show great change of direction. Only two teams attended NDSU's pro day and he was the only player working out. Not sure if he projects in the pros as an undersized safety or a corner without very quick twitch. Almost nothing available on him for an amateur scout to review.
Compares to: Jerome Murphy
Fun Facts: Andre's a St. Louis native who graduated from McCluer High School, and, no offense, but his family is probably smarter than yours. His wife Nadia also has a master's degree, in public policy. Andre ran 100m and 200m for NDSU's track team but skipped the conference meet, where he was a favorite to win, to attend Rams rookie tryouts. And I shouldn't have to remind you of the importance of undrafted free agents from Northern Iowa in Rams history.
RamView: The Rams appeared to get good draft value athletically when they signed Martin; he seems about average compared to the Combine performances of most of the drafted defensive backs. He just seems to have been set back by his junior-year injury. He's already survived the first round of rookie tryouts, and his smarts and work ethic could make him one of those players who are enjoyable to coach and stick around because of it. He appears to have the bonus of safety/cornerback versatility that improves his roster opportunity, but he's still got a lot of competition in front of him, limiting his upside to practice squad for the time being.
Chance of making team: 30%.
Sources: NFLDraftScout, ESPN.com, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead (N.D.), WDAY-TV and WDAY-AM (Fargo), The Dickinson (N.D.) Press, NFL.com, North Dakota State University athletics, University of Northern Iowa athletics, Waterloo-Cedar Falls (Ia.) Courier, Bisonville.com
Photo: The Dickinson Press
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