Troy linebacker Carlton Martial tackling his way into NIL

Troy linebacker Carlton Martial is entering the NIL space with a statement. The redshirt senior announced on Monday he has signed with Jones Medical Supply for the upcoming season.

He initially signed on with the Durable Medical Equipment (DMEs) suppliers this past May. Now he’s making sure Troy fans know who they can rely on for sleep apnea concerns.

“Tackle sleep apnea with Jones Medical Supply because Carlton Martial said so,” the linebacker put out in a Twitter graphic Monday.

Martial is not the only Troy football player to sign on with the medical supply company. Freshman kicker Scott Taylor Renfroe has also inked a deal.

Jason Jones, the president of Jones Medical Supply, is a Troy athletics supporter who came up with the idea to offer the two athletes a NIL deal as brand ambassadors for Jones Medical Supply.

“First and foremost I’m a huge supporter of Troy University Athletics,” Jason Jones said in a release. “From a company standpoint, we’re their official oxygen provider. Eighty percent of our marketing budget goes to Troy Athletics.

“We’re a small community in southern Alabama and so the only time you’re going to get 30,000 people in one spot is a college football game. But more importantly we want to do what we can to help student-athletes.”

Carlton Martial’s growing college football profile

Martial had a standout season last fall, finishing with 127 tackles, 24 more than any other player in the Sun Belt Conference. He also had 10 tackles for loss with an interception and forced fumble. The linebacker was a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is presented annually to the nation’s top player who began his career as a walk-on.

The Mobile, Alabama native has 443 career tackles since arriving at Troy as a walk-on before the 2017 season. He redshirted as a true freshman, then started in each of the past four seasons, averaging 111 stops a season. Another 111 tackles this season would give him 554 for his career. The current record is 545 by Northwestern’s Tim McGarigle (2002-05).

“Regardless of what situation he’s been put in or where he’s been placed, he’s always found a way to be highly productive, highly successful,” Troy’s first-year head coach Jon Sumrall said of his linebacker.

Troy opens up the season on Saturday at Ole Miss. Kick is set for 4 p.m. ET.