The excitement and joy that Brodric Martin displayed on the day the Detroit Lions drafted him has not been dulled by the rigors of training camp.
As the Lions closed out their last practice before the preseason finale later this week, Martin looked back on how much he enjoyed camp, and what it meant in his desire to win a spot on the Lions' roster.
"It's been work," Martin said "I came here to work -- working on my craft trying to be better every single day. It's been a grind for sure.
"I loved it, I love training camp. I got to practice with the team. It's fun."
View photos from Detroit Lions practice on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds (8) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Chase Cota (88) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Jerry Jacobs (39) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Trinity Benson (19) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai (72) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Dylan Drummond (83) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (59) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (50) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Cameron Sutton (1) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Jerry Jacobs (39) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Jerry Jacobs (39), Detroit Lions wide receiver Dylan Drummond (83), Detroit Lions defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson (2) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Cameron Sutton (1) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16), Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Charles Harris (53) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (0) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Starling Thomas (49), Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13), Detroit Lions safety Brandon Joseph (40) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Benny Snell (38) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11), Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Scottie Montgomery, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87), Detroit Lions cornerback Jerry Jacobs (39) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Defensive Line Coach John Scott Jr. during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Brodric Martin (98) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (0) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
The Lions drafted Martin late in the third round out of Western Kentucky. It was higher than he was projected to be by many draft analysts, but the Lions were intrigued by his size. At 6-5 and and 330 pounds, he is a prospect who could develop into a dominating defensive tackle.
Martin knows there are parts of his game that he needs to work on.
"I need to work on my pad level a little more," he said. "I need to get lower. It's the nature of the game. The lowest man always wins.
"I've got to train my body to stay low through the whole play."
Martin appreciates the help he has gotten from the veterans.
"A lot," he said. "They talk to me every practice – what I need to work on, and how I can play a block better. Stuff like that."
