Celebrating 25 Years of FBS Football – Carlton Martial, NCAA Tackle King

TROY, Ala. – The first time Carlton Martial showed up to a Troy football practice, he didn't look like the type of player who would one day own an NCAA record. At 5-foot-9, with no Division I scholarship offers and a jersey that didn't even carry his name at first, Martial blended into the background.

But then the ball was snapped.

"He was everywhere," former Troy head coach Neal Brown said. "You'd turn on the tape, and this kid who was supposed to be undersized and overlooked was in on every single play. It didn't matter what the depth chart said. He forced you to notice him."

That was the beginning of one of the greatest careers in Troy and NCAA history, a career that ended in 2022 with Martial's name etched atop the record book: the NCAA's all-time leader in tackles with 577.

A Walk-On's Gamble
Martial grew up in Mobile, Ala., playing linebacker at McGill-Toolen Catholic, one of the state's powerhouse high school football programs. His production in high school was undeniable, but recruiters kept coming back to the same knock: too small.

"I heard it from everybody," Martial said. "Too short, not fast enough, won't hold up in Division I. But I knew what I could do on the field."

When Troy offered him the chance to join the program as a preferred walk-on in 2017, Martial jumped at the opportunity. He redshirted that first season, grinding through practices while waiting for an opportunity. By 2018, opportunity came knocking.

Martial earned a scholarship midway through his freshman season and rewarded the faith by posting 76 tackles and three interceptions that year. He was no longer just a depth piece; he was a cornerstone in the making.

Consistency and Production
Over the next four years, Martial became the most dependable defensive player in the Sun Belt and, eventually, the nation. He racked up tackles with machine-like regularity, diagnosing plays before they developed and exploding through ballcarriers.

2019: 126 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, three interceptions
2020: 113 tackles, three forced fumbles
2021: A career-high 127 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions
2022: 121 tackles while leading Troy to a Sun Belt Championship

By the time his career ended, Martial had collected:

577 career tackles – NCAA record
50.5 tackles for loss – second-most in Troy history
10.5 sacks, nine interceptions, six forced fumbles, seven recoveries

He logged four 100-tackle seasons, including 19 double-digit tackle games in 2021 alone.

"You could build a defense around him," Jon Sumrall, Troy's head coach in 2022, said. "He wasn't just a stat-sheet guy. He changed games."

Recognition at the Highest Level
Martial's production made him more than just a local star. National honors followed:

Five-time All-Sun Belt selection, the only player in program history to achieve the feat
2021 All-American, recognized by multiple outlets
Two-time finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, awarded to the nation's top player who began as a walk-on

The Burlsworth honor resonated deeply. The award, named after former Arkansas lineman Brandon Burlsworth, celebrates players who embody perseverance and overachievement.
"Being
a finalist for the Burlsworth twice meant a lot," Martial said. "It was proof that my story connected with people. It wasn't about being overlooked, it was about never letting that stop me."

The Legacy at Troy
Martial's career coincided with one of the most transformative periods in Troy football. After the program weathered a coaching transition, his leadership anchored the defense. By 2022, the Trojans captured a Sun Belt Championship and closed the year with a Cure Bowl victory over UTSA, cementing a 12-win season, tied for the most in school history.

That legacy is evident not only in the record book but in the respect Martial earned from opponents. Sun Belt coaches repeatedly called him the hardest player to scheme against, a linebacker who seemed bigger than his listed size because of his instincts and intensity.

Bigger Than Inches

The numbers tell one story, but the journey tells another.

Martial arrived at Troy with no stars, no scholarship, and no assurances. He left with an NCAA record, All-America honors, two Burlsworth finalist nods, and his name mentioned among the greatest players in program history: DeMarcus Ware, Osi Umenyiora, Leodis McKelvin, and others who made Troy a household name.
His height, once a question mark, became part of the legend. Every tackle, every game, every award was a reminder that heart, preparation, and toughness measure more than inches.

"I wanted to leave a legacy," Martial said. "I think people will remember I didn't let anything hold me back. I played the game the right way, for my teammates and my school. That's all I could ask for."

Carlton Martial may not have looked the part when he first walked onto Troy's campus. But six years later, he walked away as the all-time tackles leader in NCAA history and the embodiment of Troy football's spirit.

The giant he became was never measured in height; it was measured in history.

Troy University Athletics

Celebrating 25 Years of FBS Football – Carlton Martial, NCAA Tackle King

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