Promotion
Canadian selected in round 4

Canadian selected in round 4

By David Naylor

By David Naylor, from Monday's Globe and Mail

Vaughn Martin was on his way to the grocery store Sunday morning when his phone rang with some important news.

It was the San Diego Chargers calling and Martin, a 6-foot-4, 334-pound defensive lineman from the University of Western Ontario, never made it to his destination.

The Chargers were calling to tell him they would use their fourth-round selection, the 113th pick overall, to bring him to the West Coast. And in that instant, Martin went from being a sleeper prospect to a player who will have a shot to be a mainstay on the Chargers defence.

Martin's selection is the highest for a Canadian university player since Queen's offensive lineman Mike Schad was taken with the 23rd overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 1986.

"I knew they were interested but I never projected anything the whole time," said Martin, from London, Ont., where he and some friends were celebrating Sunday afternoon. "I wasn't worried about what round I would be drafted. I ran this morning and then went to the steam room and then was on my way to the grocery store for barbecue [items] when I got the call. But I never actually made it to the store."

Martin had remarked before the draft how well he got along with Chargers head coach Norv Turner during a visit two weeks ago to San Diego. The Chargers also sent a private detective to London last week to check out Martin's background and reputation.

Obviously they had no problems with what they found about the recently turned 23-year-old whose stock seemed to improve the more teams learned about him.

Of particular interest to teams such as the Chargers was Martin's remarkable combination of size and speed, which is well-suited to the 3-4 defensive scheme played by San Diego and an increasing number of NFL teams.

"[Turner] has a great sense of humour and I liked the whole staff out there," Martin said. "They want me to end and learn tackle. I don't have a problem with that. How quickly I play will depend on how quickly I learn. I know I have a lot to learn but I think I can contribute if I work hard at it."

The Chargers last season stumbled to a 4-8 start, then won their final four regular-season games to earn a playoff berth. They then knocked off the Indianapolis Colts in a wild-card game before falling to the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC divisional playoff game.

The Chargers' biggest problem last season was a defence that ranked 25th in the NFL.

"Those guys are hungry, hungry and want to take the next step to win a Super Bowl," Martin said. "I'm just happy to be a part of that process."

Though the Chargers may have been the most aggressive team in pursuing Vaughn, they were far from alone. And while NFL teams are often shy about taking chances on players from Canadian schools, in Vaughn's case they were able to see past it.

"Obviously he played at a lower level of competition than the typical Division I [U.S.] college, but our guys loved how he showed flashes of dominance," John Spanos, San Diego's director of college scouting, said on the team's website. "He moves like a guy that is smaller. He has tremendous upside and his best football is ahead of him."

"Our northeastern scout [Tom Gibbons] went up to Canada for a workout that was attended by multiple teams. We looked into everything about his background and ability on the field. We felt lucky he was still there when we picked because we liked him all along."

Martin will be in San Diego this weekend for a Chargers' rookie training camp, where he will wear No. 92.

"I guess I've become less of an April Fool's joke," Martin said. "I think [scouts] thought when they came to see me I'd be 5-foot-11 and 280 pounds. But I've never been caught up in the whole process. I'm just a big goofball. ... I'm really humbled by it all."

At least one other Canadian will be getting an opportunity to crack an NFL roster this summer.

Jamaal Westerman, a defensive end from Brampton, Ont., who played at Rutgers University, signed a free-agent contract Sunday evening with the New York Jets.