Vaughn (6-4, 308) is a four-year defensive end/tackle in his fourth year with the Chargers.
Vaughn Martin’s rapid rise from the Canadian college ranks to becoming a premier NFL lineman took a major step forward in 2011 when he started 15 games at left defensive end. Originally expected to be a regular in the line’s rotation, Martin quickly moved into the starting lineup when Luis Castillo suffered a fractured left tibia just minutes into the season’s opening game against Minnesota. Martin started the Chargers’ final 15 games and posted a career-best 49 tackles, second among defensive linemen. Martin is a native of Lucea, Jamaica where he grew up playing cricket and soccer. When Martin was nine, his mother, Doreen, married a man who lived in Toronto and Martin and his mother moved to Canada. They lived in Toronto and then London, Ontario, which is where Martin learned to play hockey and football. He began playing high school football in the 10th grade and played just two collegiate seasons. In between, he played two seasons of summer ball in the Central Ontario Football League and played for Team Canada at the 2006 NFL Global Championships, where Team Canada went 5-0 and posted five shutouts while Martin was named to the All-Tournament Team. After high school, Martin spent a year at the Milford Prep School in New York. He was ticketed to attend Michigan State after prep school, but a mixup over his transcripts prevented him from becoming a Spartan. Instead Martin enrolled at Western Ontario, where as a freshman he led the Mustangs a conference title and Canada’s collegiate national championship football game. Martin applied for the NFL Draft despite having three seasons of college eligibility remaining, and he became the first Canadian underclassman to get drafted by an NFL team. Martin played defensive end and tackle at Western Ontario, and played fullback in the team’s short-yardage offense. Martin was one of the most intelligent players to emerge from the 2009 NFL Draft, scoring a 38 on the league’s Wonderlic Test.
Vaughn Martin, an import from the Canadian college ranks, could be poised for a breakout season in 2011 after two years of learning the nuances of the NFL.
Engaging and affable, Martin is a native of Lucea, Jamaica. As a youth, the primary sports that he played were cricket and soccer. When Martin was nine, his mother, Doreen, married a man who lived in Toronto and Martin and his mother moved to Canada. They lived in Toronto and later in London, Ontario, which is where Martin learned to play hockey and football. He didn’t play high school football until the 10th grade and played just two collegiate seasons. In between, Martin played two seasons of summer ball in the Central Ontario Football League and played for Team Canada at the 2006 NFL Global Championships. Team Canada went 5-0 and posted five shutouts while Martin was named to the All-Tournament Team.
After high school, Martin spent a year at the Milford Prep School in New York. Ticketed to attend Michigan State after prep school, a mixup over his transcripts prevented him from becoming a Spartan. Instead Martin enrolled at Western Ontario, where he led the Mustangs to the Vanier Cup, Canada’s collegiate national championship football game, as a freshman Teammates at Western Ontario had nicknamed the freshman sensation, “Vicious.” After the Vanier Cup, Martin applied for the NFL Draft with three seasons of college eligibility remaining. He became the first Canadian underclassman to get drafted by an NFL team. Martin played defensive end and tackle at Western Ontario, and played fullback in the team’s short-yardage offense.
Martin was one of the most intelligent players to emerge from the 2009 NFL Draft, scoring a 38 on the league’s Wonderlic Test.
TRANSACTION HISTORY: Fourth-round pick (113), April 26, 2009...signed four-year contract, July 25.
2011: Career-high eight tackles Week 12 against Denver.
2010: Sack on 3rd-down play in fourth quarter of 35-14 win vs. Denver Nov. 22...outstanding game with team-high three quarterback hits on Brodie Croyle in 31-0 shutout win over Kansas City Dec. 12.
2009: Game Ball Jan. 3 vs. WAS after playing season-high 48 snaps.
COLLEGE: Led team to 2008 Canadian National Championship Game (Vanier Cup)...GoodLife Fitness Athlete of Week following ’08 game vs. Queen’s University...finished career with 92 TT, 7.5 sacks, 17.5 TFL, 22 QB pressures and INT TD...social sciences major.
PERSONAL: Born in Jamaica...prepped at London South Secondary School in London, Ontario.
