Jartavius Martin

Illinois SAF

Games Watched: Wyoming, Chattanooga, Minnesota

Summary: Jartavius Martin projects best as a nickel defender, but he has all the traits to suggest he could succeed as a free safety as well. He plays incredibly fast, and is agile enough to guard receivers in man coverage. He has great instincts and ball skills, which led to a lot of ball production in college. Martin is also a good tackler who can also deliver big hits. Martin is on the smaller end, however, and sometimes overestimates his speed in pursuit. There are also concerns of where he will align for traditional defenses.

Pros

  • Great play speed
  • Fluid hips and change of direction skills allow him to man up against receiver
  • Amazing instincts that lead him towards the ball
  • Phenomenal ball skills especially when reaching around receivers to bat the ball away
  • Tracks the ball well
  • Reliable wrap up tackler who also delivers big hits when he can

Cons

  • Takes risky angles in pursuit
  • Below average play strength
  • Might be restricted in terms of where he can play

Grade: Jartavius Martin gets an early 2nd round grade. He’s an incredibly athletic player with a nose for the football making him my top safety.