Cleveland Browns reportedly set to sign local high school grad

A fourth-round pick of Washington in 2019, the 6-foot-3, 315-pound Martin has played 38 games in the NFL with 11 starts. The guard spent his first two seasons in Washington and returned to the Commanders last season after a year with the New York Giants.

Cleveland.com reported Martin is expected to add depth to a Browns offensive line that has been one of the best in the league in recent seasons.

Prior to entering the NFL, Martin was a two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten player at Indiana, where he started 43 of 50 career games.

“He brings everything you want in a football player in the league — tough, smart, dependable,” Indiana coach Tom Allen said of Martin during Big Ten Football Media Days prior to Martin’s senior season in 2018. “A guy who cares about the game as much as anybody I’ve ever been around, a guy you can count on, a guy you would feel very comfortable having your daughter date.”

At the same event, Martin spoke highly of his hometown and recalled spending his summers working on a local dairy farm.

“I love it to death,” Martin said of West Milton. “It’s a typical Midwestern small town. A lot of farming going on. It’s a farming community. A lot of hunting and fishing, that kind of stuff.”

Martin was one of 12 area players in the NFL last season, a group that includes seven offensive linemen.

Along with Martin, the other area NFL offensive linen last season were Ryan Kelly (Lakota West/Colts), Josh Myers (Miamisburg/Packers), Taylor Decker (Butler/Vikings), Joe Thuney (Alter/Chiefs), Jackson Carman (Fairfield/Bengals) and Adam Pankey (Hamilton/Jets).

The others were linebacker Jordan Hicks (Lakota West/Vikings), cornerback Josiah Scott (Fairfield/Eagles), defensive lineman Michael Hoecht (Oakwood/Rams), defensive lineman Ifeadi Odenigbo (Centerville/Buccaneers and Colts) and linebacker Aaron Patrick (Meadowdale/Broncos).