LSU Football: Three sleeper players for the Tigers in 2023

LSU Football sleeper: Marlon Martinez

Position: Offensive lineman

Class: Senior

Ht/Wt: 6’5″, 330 lbs.

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale (Fl.)

The LSU Football offensive line depth chart appears set with Charles Turner at center, Garrett Dellinger and Miles Frazier at guard, and Will Campbell and Emery Jones at tackle. True freshman Lance Heard is also expected to push the Tigers’ starting five O-linemen to play.

Nevertheless, we think that Marlon Martinez is the big-bodied sleeper in Baton Rouge this season.
Injuries are an unfortunate byproduct of every college football season. Indeed, the LSU offensive line will deal with injuries in 2023. We hope for nothing long-term, but when they occur, Martinez is ready to step up and plug into the offensive line.

Heard is the likely candidate to fill in at either offensive tackle position, but he doesn’t have the versatility to play along the interior. Conversely, Marlon Martinez is versatile enough to play any position among the Tigers’ front five. The senior was developed as an offensive tackle in Baton Rouge but started games at guard as a sophomore.

While Turner was recovering from injury, Martinez spent LSU’s spring practices as the starting center. Indeed, the Fort Lauderdale product looked good when sandwiched between Dellinger and Frazier.

Martinez considered entering the transfer portal this offseason but opted to remain in Baton Rouge. We think that his extended look with LSU’s first-team offense influenced his decision.