Chargers take Western Ontario's Vaughn Martin in 4th round
Last Updated: Sunday, April 26, 2009 | 7:55 PM ET
CBC Sports
University of Western Ontario Mustangs' Vaughn Martin was selected in the fourth round of the NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers. (Dave Chidley/Canadian Press)The San Diego Chargers chose Canadian Vaughn Martin on Sunday in the fourth round of the NFL draft, 113th overall.
The defensive lineman from the University of Western Ontario Mustangs declared for the draft with three years of university eligibility remaining.
"We're really happy and excited for Vaughn," Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall said.
The 22-year-old isn't even eligible for the CFL Canadian college draft until 2011.
But after working out for 15 NFL teams, Martin clearly impressed. At his pro day, the six-foot, three-inch, 328-pounder bench-pressed 225 pounds 32 times and posted a 40-yard dash time of 5.04 seconds.
Scouts travelled to London, Ont., to watch Martin work out in March and meet with his mother.
Martin was a surprise pick, especially since he didn't even start playing football until he was in Grade 10. He started out as a running back and linebacker, until he put on more weight and earned a spot as a defensive lineman.
Although Martin's selection caught many analysts off guard, his university coach thought he deserved it.
"I'm not surprised Vaughn was taken in the fourth round," Marshall said. "I got a lot of calls from a lot of teams about him and things had really been picking up the last two weeks."
It's rare that a Canadian college player is drafted by an NFL team, and Martin's selection is the second-highest ever for a player from the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport). Only Mike Schad of Queen's went higher, when he was drafted in the first round by the Los Angeles Rams in 1986.
"They [the Chargers] said they would start me out at right defensive end, then work my way to nose [tackle]," Martin said on the Chargers' website. "I'm excited to play both positions and to play with the personnel they have."
Martin was selected ahead of any player from such big-time U.S. programs as Michigan and Notre Dame.
"Obviously he played at a lower level of competition than the typical Division I college," San Diego's director of college scouting, John Spanos said. "But our guys loved how he showed flashes of dominance."
"He moves like a guy that is smaller. He has tremendous upside and his best football is ahead of him."
One big difference Martin will have to adjust to is getting into his stance right on the line of scrimmage instead of lining up a yard off the ball like he did at Western. But Marshall doesn't see that as being a problem.
"The one thing Vaughn has is a good burst off the line," Marshall said. "You can teach hand position and other defensive line techniques but you can't teach quickness."
"And I know teams were really impressed with his football intelligence when they talked to him. He has only played two years [at Western] but the upside is his body hasn't taken a beating compared to other players and he's fresh."
With files from The Canadian Press
