Oklahoma State football: Brock Martin, Malcolm Rodriguez join wrestling team for offseason

Oklahoma State wrestling coach John Smith gained two multiple time individual state champion wrestlers during the second semester with football players Brock Martin and Malcolm Rodriguez.

Martin, a redshirt sophomore defensive end, was a three-time Oklahoma state champion at Oologah, and Rodriguez, a junior linebacker, won two state titles at Wagoner. Both joined the Cowboys wrestling team more than two weeks ago after the holiday break once they received permission from football coach Mike Gundy and Smith, according to Scott Wright of The Oklahoman.

Martin started seven of his first 13 games this past football season, and his 29 tackles (12 solo) tied for the second most among OSU defensive linemen. Rodriguez, who shifted from safety to linebacker in 2019, ranked fourth in the Big 12 with 103 tackles (60 solo) and had the game-clinching 26-yard interception in the Cowboys’ upset win at No. 23 Iowa State.

Martin and Rodriguez weigh 245 and 210 pounds, respectively, putting them between the 197-pound and 285-pound weight classes. Both haven’t competed on a mat since February 2017.

Returning All-American wrestler Dakota Geer (16-4) is ranked No. 11 in the country at 197, while the undersized Austin Harris (4-7) and Cornelius Putnam (0-2) have struggled at heavyweight.

Martin and Rodriguez, however, are not currently listed on wrestling team’s roster.

OSU’s wrestling team (8-2, 4-1 Big 12) will see two ranked heavyweights during their six-dual stretch to end the regular season with Iowa freshman Tony Cassioppi (13-0) and Wyoming junior Brian Andrews (22-6), who are ranked Nos. 3 and 22 in the country, respectively.

The No. 11 Cowboys’ postseason starts March 7-8 with the Big 12 Championship at the BOK Center in Tulsa and NCAA Wrestling Championship from March 19-21 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. OSU’s football spring game is April 20.