Texas A&M OL Koda Martin hoping to continue legacy of excellence

Torrents of perspiration flooded down Koda Martin’s face, into his soaked beard and then drizzled into a pool at his massive feet. Texas A&M’s spring football practice session on Monday must have been particularly grueling.

Or not.

“I’m a sweater,” Martin said in the air-conditioned indoor practice facility. "If I’m not the sweatiest guy on the team, it’s got to be close. I can fill a couple of buckets.”

The Aggies just hope he can fill some big shoes. No single position has been more celebrated at Texas A&M in recent seasons than left offensive tackle. The last four starters there include three first-round selections in the NFL draft and an All-SEC selection.

Martin is expected to be the next in line to uphold the standard set by Luke Joeckel, Jake Matthews, Cedric Ogbuehi and Avery Gennessy. Ironically, he doesn’t seem to be sweating it.

“We’ve had some really good ones come through,” said Martin, a 6-6, 310-pound junior. “So I’m working my tail off to fill those shoes. I’ve learned and learned a ton from the guys who were ahead of me the last three years. I’m ready to get after it my last two (years) and really fight.

“There’s two really good defensive ends across the ball from me. Just fighting to learn how to pass protect against those guys really helped me improve my game and get a lot better. I feel like I’m ready to go against other good defensive ends in the SEC and be a really good player myself.”

Martin was always projected to be a really good player, it’s just taken a little while for him to get a chance to prove it.

He arrived at A&M as a 245-pound tight end out of Manvel with enormous potential as an offensive tackle. But he’d never played that position. To complicate matters, he had three offensive line coaches in his first three years.

Last season he was projected to start at right tackle until the last week of August camp. Then, Jermaine Eleumunor shifted there from guard. Martin was relegated to a backup role.

“It’s not easy thinking you’re going to be the guy – fighting through spring ball as the guy, fighting through summer camp as the guy – and toward the end of it not getting to get that role on the team. It was rough,” Martin admitted.

“I really leaned on my faith at that time. I prayed a lot. I felt peace that this was going to have to be a season of work. I used that year to focus on fundamentals. I grew in my faith. I grew in my game. I grew in my leadership ability as I stepped into that role toward the end of the year. I was excited to start a few games and participate as I was needed.”

Martin started at right tackle against South Carolina, New Mexico State and Kansas State and at tight end against LSU. He played well, too. Yet, he’s confident he’s become much better this spring under the tutelage of offensive line coach Jim Turner.

“I’m miles better,” Martin said. “I was pretty good last year. We had some really good offensive tackles. Both guys (Gennessy and Eleumunor) participated in the (NFL) combine.”

He added: “Left tackle is not an easy position to learn how to play, but I’ve taken it in stride. Coach Turner has been awesome. He works hard to make sure we’re violent and physical and working together as a team.”

Violent and physical would seem to suit Martin, who with his size, long hair and beard looks like a WWE candidate. But some might suggest he’s a gentle giant, though he says that’s not the case. Not when it matters, any way.

“I’m able to flip a switch.” he said. “Off the field, I’m a strong Christian, and I’ll be one of the nicest guys that you know. As I would step on the field in high school people would say, ‘Is that you? That doesn’t even look like you.’

“Just learning the offensive line position has made it difficult to just let loose like I did when I was experienced. But learning fundamentals, learning technique, being able to pick that up has allowed me to really cut it loose and be violent this spring.”

A violent spring is good because he’s going to have much softer summer. He’s getting married to former A&M volleyball star Jazzmin Babers in July.

“It’s going to be fun to be a husband and playing for this university at the same time and growing and enjoying life with her,” he said.

Don’t worry, though. The honeymoon will end well before August camp and for Martin to regain that violent streak.

“Turner is a lot about being violent and being physical, so I need to learn more technique things, work my craft and get as good as I can on the little things,” Martin said. “I don’t want to pat myself on the back just yet, but I’m looking forward to having that spot, and I’m excited for the coming season.”