Like most Boston College offensive linemen in recent years, Marten has the versatility and skills to play a variety of positions on the front wall. He will probably shift to right tackle at the pro level to take advantage of his long frame and drive blocking skills. He played that position as a redshirt freshman before shifting to left guard for his sophomore and junior seasons. With the graduation of Jeremy Trueblood, Marten was again on the move in 2006, taking over the demanding left tackle chores.

Marten earned 2001 All-Midwest honors from SuperPrep and PrepStar at Brebeuf Jesuit High School. He was a two-time all-state Class 3A and all-county choice. He was named to the Indiana Football Coaches Top 50 in 2001 and was also a member of the North-South All-Star team.

The team captain also competed on the Braves' basketball and track and field teams. He helped the basketball team capture the state Class 3A title in 2000. In track, he competed in the discus and served as team captain during his senior year.

Marten enrolled at Boston College in 2002, spending the season competing on the scout team as an offensive tackle. He appeared all 13 games, earning his first career start (only one for the year) at right tackle against Colorado State in the San Francisco Bowl. He earned a full-time starting job at left offensive guard in 2004. He helped the team rush for 1,579 yards and throw for 2,594 more, as he totaled 60 knockdowns.

In 2005, Marten was named All-Atlantic Coast Conference second team. He registered 72 knockdowns for a unit that averaged 25.8 points and 387.8 yards per game in total offense. He started 12 games at left guard as part of a front wall that allowed only 15 quarterback sacks (1½ by Marten).

Marten took over left tackle duties as a senior. He was again named All-ACC second team, allowing only 1½ of the 22 sacks given up by the offensive line. The team averaged 354.15 yards per game and also averaged 26.0 points, as Marten collected a career-high 84 knockdowns. In 50 games with the Eagles, he would finish his career with 38 consecutive starts. He produced 222 knockdowns/key blocks in the games he started.

Positives: Has a tall, thick frame with room to add at least another 25 pounds of bulk … Has thick thighs, very long arms, adequate muscle tone and good timed speed … Shows a competitive nature and good toughness, staying with the play until the whistle … Durable player who will not hesitate to mix it up in the trenches … Fights on every play and makes every effort to spring the running back … Smart player who knows his assignments, but is more alert picking up the defender at the line of scrimmage than on the move (lacks second level awareness) … Holds ground when setting up in pass protection and does a decent job of picking up adjustments on stunts … Lacks suddenness or quick-twitch moves, but shows patience waiting for movement to come to him … Generally will finish his blocks, as he knows how to gain position and use his long arms in attempts to sustain … Has the big body to occupy the defender and hold ground at the point of attack … Better as a position blocker, as his feet are too sluggish moving in space (has good short-area quickness, but speed tapers off considerably moving to the second level), but is a decent plodder who knows how to lean, push and hold the rush lane … Has the long arms to make reach blocks, extend, anchor and hold off the pass rusher … His best asset is his punch and lockout ability with his hands, as he keeps them active, gets good placement and is quick to reset and recoil (may overextend at times, but usually recovers) … When he extends those hands to punch, he puts enough force behind his hits to control the defender … Not used on pulls and traps due to stiff hips, but does take good (but slow) angles … Stays with the play and uses his reach to ride defenders away from the pocket … Does a decent job picking up stunts and blitzes, using his hands effectively to defeat counter moves.

Negatives: Very slow coming off the ball into the second level and is too tall in his stance to be used on pulls and traps, making him a liability at offensive guard … Lacks the quick feet to mirror edge rushers in pass protection at left tackle, but will need to add bulk to his frame for a possible move to right tackle (so they can cover up his pass protection deficiencies vs. the speed rush, he is better suited for the right side) … Lacks suddenness to gain movement on contact … Too clumsy moving in space and will generally cross his feet and fall to the ground due to poor balance issues on the move … Plays with a wide base and his feet tend to die when he has to retreat in pass protection (often beaten off the edge) … Too stiff in his hips to redirect, and while he has a strong hand punch, he needs to use it more often as he lacks consistency shocking the defender with pop on contact … Is too tall to sink his weight and with marginal leg drive, he can be pushed back into the pocket … Lacks knee bend and drops his head too much on the move, struggling to locate second level defenders.

Compares To: Jeremy Trueblood, Tampa Bay Buccaneers … Marten is a Trueblood clone -- a college left tackle who is too slow-footed to pull and trap as a guard and has some strength and lateral movement issues that make him a liability at left tackle … With additional bulk, Marten might be a better fit at right tackle … He is a good short-area drive blocker with a strong hand punch and placement, but at right tackle his pass protection deficiencies against edge rushers can be covered up better than when isolated on the left side.

No injuries reported.

Campus: 5.16 in the 40-yard dash … 345-pound bench press … 400-pound squat … 300-pound power clean … 27-inch vertical jump … 34-inch arm length … 9¼-inch hands … Left-handed … Wears contacts.

Attended Brebeuf Jesuit (Indianapolis, Ind.) High School, playing football for head coach Mark Newlin … Earned 2001 All-Midwest honors from SuperPrep and Prep Star … Two-time all-state Class 3A and all-county choice … Named to the Indiana Football Coaches Top 50 in 2001 and was also a member of the North-South All-Star team … The team captain also competed on the Braves' basketball and track and field teams … Helped the basketball team capture the state Class 3A title in 2000 … In track, he competed in the discus and served as team captain during his senior campaign.

Earned his bachelor's degree in finance and marketing from the Carroll School of Management in May 2006 … Presently pursuing a masters degree in administrative studies in the Woods College of Advancing Studies … 2005-06 recipient of the John F. Walsh Family Football Scholarship … Son of Dr. Sue Lanter and James W. Marten … Born James P. Marten on April 18, 1984 … Resides in Indianapolis, Ind.