Martin becomes disruptive force

Nebraska defensive end Eric Martin (center) will have to step up for the Cornhuskers against Wisconsin on Saturday because of an injury to defensive tackle Baker Steinkuhler.
Nebraska defensive end Eric Martin (center) will have to step up for the Cornhuskers against Wisconsin on Saturday because of an injury to defensive tackle Baker Steinkuhler.

— Eric Martin’s high school teammates used to call him “Caveman.”

The nickname didn’t stick for long at Nebraska, even though his teammates say it suits the senior defensive end.

Linebacker Alonzo Whaley thought a moment when asked if Martin has a moniker nowadays.

“Crazy Man Eric Martin?” Whaley said. He paused. “I usually call him by his name.”

After the performance Martin gave last week against Iowa, Wisconsin offensive coaches, linemen and quarterback Curt Phillips should know his name as they prepare for Saturday night’s Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis. If not his name, they surely know his number: 46.

Martin has gone from backup the first two games of the season to All-Big Ten first-team pick by the media.

He’s been a terror coming off the edge, racking up 8 1/2 sacks and 16 tackles for loss. With defensive tackle Baker Steinkuhler out because of injury, Martin will be counted on even more to help contain a strong running game headed by Montee Ball.

“He brings a lot of energy,” Wisconsin Coach Bret Bielema said. “He’s a very powerful guy that’s got a lot of quickness and suddenness. He’s going to be a guy that we need to take care of.”

Iowa had no answer for Martin, who alternated as a down lineman in the Huskers’ base 4-3 defense and as an outside linebacker when they went to a 3-4. He was in the Hawkeyes’ backfield all afternoon and finished with 7 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack, 2 quarterback hurries and 1 forced fumble.

“If guys are going to try to block him one-on-one, it’s going to be pretty difficult,” linebacker Will Compton said.

Martin said he played with extra energy because the Hawkeyes’ offensive linemen kept shoving him after the whistle. Martin figures they were frustrated. He let out a hearty laugh at the thought.

“Somebody has to be the big brother in the game, and we have to be the big brother, so we had to take over,” Martin said. “We can’t let the little brother win. You let them get in a few pushes and shoves here, but you’ve got to take over after a while.”

Martin, no doubt, does his part to get under his opponent’s skin. He is known for having one-sided conversations with players lined up across from him. Teammates say he mostly talks nonsense.

“He’s in left field half the time,” Whaley said.

Defensive line coach Rick Kaczenski said: “He can make a long day for a left tackle, that’s for sure.”

Martin built his reputation on special teams. In 2010 he made a team-leading 13 special-teams tackles and was suspended for a game after a blind-side hit on Oklahoma State’s Andrew Hudson during teammate Niles Paul’s 100-yard kickoff return. Hudson sustained a concussion.

For a while, Martin was worried that the hit on Hudson would be all he would be remembered for.

Martin’s breakthrough came when he moved from linebacker to defensive end last year. He started twice, knocked Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa out of a game and played his best at the end of the season.

Sports, Pages 24 on 11/29/2012

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