Western Mustangs defensive lineman Vaughn Martin has declared his eligibility for the 2009 National Football League draft.
Martin, 22, is one of 61 underclassmen who have declared for the late-April draft.
Defensive lineman Vaughn Martin, right, tackles an opponent during a Mustangs football game.
Represented by former Mustang receiver Matt Baxter as his agent with Enter-Sports Management of Atlanta, Martin and the staff with the Western Mustangs have sent film to 24 of the NFL’s 32 teams.
He will hold pro days in Windsor, Ont., and London, Ont., in March, allowing scouts an opportunity to evaluate him.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for me and I want to give it my best,” says Martin. “We’ll see what happens. I’ll either be back at Western next season for a run at the Vanier Cup or in the NFL.”
Martin is not eligible for the Canadian Football League draft until 2011. He said he plans to train in Atlanta as soon as the school year is over, and that he will either be playing in the NFL or be back at Western next season, depending on the outcome of the draft.
The six-foot-three, 328 pound lineman has been working hard with Western’s strength and conditioning coach Jeff Watson in the off-season.
Western Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall says the NFL teams have been “pretty serious” about their interest in Martin.
“I’d love to have Vaughn play at Western again for his full five years, but this is an opportunity for him,” says Marshall. “He has been working out hard, he’s focused … we like to provide opportunities for our players, either in football, educational opportunities or otherwise, it’s not just about winning championships.”
According to Baxter, Martin is in the 99th percentile for someone of his size and weight. Scouts from the New York Jets and Houston Texans have even come to London to measure his height and weight.
Professional scouts who came to watch Martin this season often spoke about how impressed they were with the mobility of the lineman.
Martin, who finished his sophomore season, came to Western after playing at Milford Academy in New York State. The native of London, Ont., is a former all-star and played in last year’s East-West Bowl in Hamilton, Ont.
Originally committed to Michigan State, Western coaches Mickey Donovan and Greg Marshall were able to woo Martin to return to play closer to home at Western.
With three years of eligibility remaining, he could return to Western.
Unlike NCAA football players who declare their candidacy for the draft, CIS players are able to return to play at their school.
The Jamaican-born Mustang was a member of the Forest City Thunderbirds and Team Canada at the 2006 NFL Global Junior Championship in Detroit prior to coming to Western.
In the 2008 regular season, Martin had 20.5 total tackles and 1.5 sacks along with two fumble recoveries. He also ran the ball in Western’s big package for short yardage situations, rushing two times for six yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Then in the 2009 playoffs, Martin helped Western to win the national semifinal Mitchell Bowl over Saint Mary’s and then was one of the top Mustangs in the 2008 Vanier Cup against Laval.
Martin finished the playoffs with one solo sack, six solo tackles, a forced fumble and a number of hurries. Often, he was doubled on the line.