The tenth in an 11-part series. Tomorrow: specialists.
Sydney Brown is a giant hitter, Jartavius Martin is a hawk, and each ex-Illinois security guards are mind-readers.
OK, perhaps that last description is not true, but there actually gave the impression to be an unspoken communication between the 2 after they played over 50 games side-by-side as Illinois advanced from the team with two wins before their arrival within the eight-bowl winner eventually season.
Each embodied this system motto of “smart, tough and dependable” (sound familiar, Giants fans?), which Illinois head coach Bret Bielema introduced in 2021 after he left Joe Judge’s East Rutherford headquarters to take over the helm in Champaign, Illinois.
“Sydney knows what I’m considering and I do know what he’s considering, often,” Martin, often known as “Quan”, told The Post. “It allowed us to play fast and at a high level.
Brown and Martin – two of the highest assistants in a class that won’t considered deep draft – are about to tackle a recent challenge, switching their field partners for the primary time in six years.
The shape of those two could be a sure pick in the primary round, but teams just like the Giants who need safety as a substitute must resolve whether or not they are out there for a downhill shooter with sharp instincts like Brown or a defensive back with a 44″ vertical jump and ranged marking skills resembling Martin (who doesn’t label himself as either a free-back or an auto-defender).
Have them describe what each of them envies most concerning the other skills.
“His ability to play within the corner,” said Brown. “Being as versatile as he’s, there are such a lot of advantages that will be held in several systems.”
![Sydney Brown](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Sydney-Brown.jpg?w=1024)
“The speed with which he plays,” said Martin. “He does every little thing 100 mph.”
Brown and his twin brother Chase – who will likely be drafted as a runner – were raised in Canada by a single mother (their father is former CFL player Darren Isaac) who was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease once they were 16.
The three were living in a homeless shelter and relied on the support of the boys’ grandparents when fate intervened with a number family (Yates) who agreed to maneuver into their home two teenage strangers who attended a personal school in Bradenton, Florida.
“Once you’re north of the border, it’s almost such as you’re blind to a number of American scouts, especially college scouts,” Brown said. “I do not even know what I’d be doing immediately – plumbing someone’s toilet or some type of occupation. But we went to Florida with the motivation to go to varsity and play soccer, and we found ourselves in the proper position. When you may learn from successful people, you often pick up on their habits pretty quickly. We did exactly that.”
![Jartavius Martin](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Jartavius-Martin.jpg?w=1024)
At the identical time, about two hours away, near Fort Myers, Florida, Martin was showing off his jumping skills in one other arena, making him one in all the largest winners on the NFL Mix.
“My highschool basketball team used to begin the sport alley-oop, and I used to be the one [dunk] guy,” said Martin, who made an initial visit to the Giants facility. “It goes hand-in-hand with football and the security role of the nickel – with the ability to bump the ball gives you a bonus over a number of guys.”
With Brown, Martin and defender Devon Witherspoon (probably in the highest 10 overall) in the identical secondary masked relationship in Illinois, they made aggressive calls and led the nation with 24 interceptions last season.
The 2 assistants were roommates on the mix, sharing notes on team visits to maintain one another comfortable each time circumstances allowed.
“Once you’re at the height of your profession, you should show you can perform,” Brown said. “Lights don’t shine in your face and also you’re pissing in your leg. I can handle the pressure. The best respect you may earn is that you just are a trustworthy person.”
![Devon Witherspoon](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Devon-Witherspoon.jpg?w=1024)
There’s a friendly competition between all of the Illini alumni to see who gets elected first.
“As soon as I hear Quan’s name, it hits near home,” Brown said, “because I do know his path and I understand how hard he’s worked to be where he’s.”
In spite of everything, the Brown twins, Martin and Witherspoon helped one another get up to now.
“Everyone will live their very own dream and do their very own thing,” said Martin. “I just wish all of them one of the best. Possibly I’ll see them soon some Sunday or Thursday.