Western Kentucky defensive tackle Brodric Martin is a dominant presence. Martin is an extremely powerful player that defeats single blocks with consistency. Martin utilizes core power and natural strength to neutralize double-team block attempts. Martin is versatile enough to play the zero and 1-technique positions.

Martin recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about his imposing skill set, the importance of stuffing the run, and more. Martin’s unique abilities are a must-have in today’s NFL.

JM: I thought you looked great at this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl. How big was that opportunity to debunk the “small-school” narrative and prove you could compete alongside the best of the best?

Brodric Martin: It was literally like the perfect situation for me. Having played at both North Alabama and Western Kentucky, I only got to play against a handful of big-time schools on a yearly basis.

It was great for me to get out there at the Shrine Bowl and compete against guys from Penn State, UCLA, Arkansas, and all of the other talented offensive linemen that were in attendance. It was a beautiful event. I’m thankful for everybody that made it happen.

I proved that I could compete with anybody. It was a great experience to be coached by NFL coaches. I believe everything happens for a reason. I was supposed to be at the Shrine Bowl. That was a great event for me.

JM: It’s a special environment. You’re one of the most dominant run-stoppers in the 2023 NFL Draft. What do you enjoy about stopping the run?

Brodric Martin: When a team wants to run the football against you, I find that to be disrespectful. They think they can just run the ball down our throats? They think they can do whatever they want? That’s disrespectful. I take it personally.

It allows me to play with a chip on my shoulder. When you stop the run, you’re making the offense one-dimensional. One of my coaches told me this once, and I took it to heart. A team could have 500 passing yards and still lose the game. You see it happen all the time. But if a team has 500 rushing yards, they won that game. And I know 500 rushing yards is a bit unrealistic, but I think you get the point. They’re not created equal.

As a defense, you can’t allow yourself to get physically manhandled. We have to dominate the offensive line. You do that by stopping the run. You have to make the offense consider their other options.

JM: You play with a ton of passion. It’s obvious on tape. Walk me through how you take on single blocks differently from double teams. You saw a ton of double teams at Western Kentucky. You dominated single blocks, the few times you got them.

Brodric Martin: I rarely got those single blocks. When it comes to single blocks, I don’t believe anybody can block me one-versus-one. I can’t let a single person on this planet block me one-on-one. It can’t happen.

Therefore, the rare times I get those single blocks, I have to win. I have to make a play every single time I get a single block. I get excited when I get those looks.

I feel a little disrespected as well. The offense thinks they can block me one-on-one? Wow. They must not think highly of me. I have to show them otherwise. A single block is very disrespectful. I rarely got single blocks in college though. I was always getting those double teams. There’s a different energy and mindset to those single blocks.

I made a lot of plays in college against double teams. If I didn’t get a single block, that meant I got a double team. I had to make those plays every single time.

JM: I love your approach. Talk to me a little about your pass-rush arsenal. Do you feel like it’s being underrated throughout this process?

Brodric Martin: I do kind of feel like it’s being underrated. I can understand why people got that impression though. I believe I put some good pass-rushing reps on tape. I just didn’t get many opportunities to rush the passer.

I played in a 3-3-stack defense. I played the 0-nose and 1-tech position as a run stopper up the middle. We were in that 3-4 [defense] look 90% of the time. I see why people have questions about my ability to rush the passer. I didn’t get to showcase that as much as I would have liked to in college. I didn’t get to rush off the edge.

That’s just how it went. I didn’t feel any way about it though. I know I’ll be able to showcase what I can really do [rushing the passer] once I get to the league.

JM: The sky’s the limit for you. Have you completed any private workouts, Top 30 visits, or virtual meetings?

Brodric Martin: I had private workouts with the Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets. The Pittsburgh Steelers [defensive line] coach came down to see me. The New York Giants coach did the same.

I had Top 30 in-person visits with the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, Colts, Detroit Lions, and Giants.

JM: There’s a lot of interest in you and it’s easy to see why. That’s a busy schedule. We’ve appreciated your time. Why should a team use one of their draft picks on Brodric Martin?

Brodric Martin: Whichever team drafts me is going to be an amazing run-stopper. I’m going to play that role for us. I love playing in the trenches and doing the dirty work for our defense in the run game.

I’m going to add a ton of value to the defensive line. I’m so much more than a role player. I’m going to add depth and competition. They’re going to get a hard worker. I’m a dog, man. I want to dominate anybody in front of me.

I’m very coachable. I want to learn. That’s why somebody should draft me. It’ll be worth it.