Martin’s recovery on target for Notre Dame

Various draft experts have projected former Notre Dame offensive tackle Zack Martin to be selected somewhere in the middle of the first round when the NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night in New York City.

And how does Nick Martin, Zack's younger brother, view those projections?

"To me it's Zack. It's my brother," Nick, Notre Dame's starting center, said. "It's one of those things, I don't see it any differently. We're excited and just kind of waiting to see where he's going to go."

Nick Martin appears to be ready to go after missing spring practice because of a knee injury suffered late last season.

Martin, who spoke Sunday while at a team charity event, said he's been running.

"I feel good. I feel great," said the 6-foot-5, 295-pound Martin, who will be a senior in the fall but retains two seasons of eligibility. "I'll be back full bore ready to go."

First, though, is the draft, which begins with the first round on Thursday and then follows with two more days of selections.

"We're just ready, ready to find out where he's going to go," Nick Martin said, "and we're excited and can't wait."