A transfer from Oregon State to the Sunshine State at Miami, Damien Martinez has begun to find his footing as 2024 works into fifth gear. A powerful yet elusive talent that has remained on evaluators’ radars for multiple campaigns, his recent success has raised eyebrows across football, raising his projectability for the future.
At 6-foot flat and 215 pounds, Martinez combines a compact, powerful body with excellent vision, patience, and contact balance. With traits that allow him to create plays both as a power back and an elusive runner who can shed tackles in tight spaces, Martinez’s full skill set remained on display in Miami’s most recent win over the Florida State Seminoles. A Week 9 performance that saw him rush for 148 yards and two trips to paydirt, Martinez’s ability to create chunk plays—something that was lacking in his game early this fall—was evident all evening long.
An athlete who has consistently demonstrated the ability to make tacklers miss in the open field, the Lewisville, Texas native has quickly begun to see his name thrown in the mix with the long list of projected day-two draft-eligible ball-carriers. It’s not just because of his success against the Seminoles, either. Rather, it’s Martinez living up to expectations for prospective NFL clubs in search of a potential bellcow ball-carrier next April. He’s got a knack for finding seams even against stacked defensive fronts and plays with a high physicality and toughness, but he also has great vision and lateral agility for an athlete of his size—traits that scouts view as must-haves for a running back at the next level.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Martinez's game is his ability to serve as a true three-down back. He has reliable hands in space (caught 11 of 14 targets so far in 2024), and, when asked, also isn’t afraid to stand up a blitzing linebacker to keep Hurricanes QB, and potential top-three pick Cam Ward, upright.
As conversations continue to occur within league circles, there’s growing consensus that Martinez could land as a day-two selection, especially if he maintains his current trajectory. His performances against Louisville and Florida State the last few weeks have showcased his true potential when given the snaps, and considering Miami’s arc as a program currently, the spotlight will only continue to expand surrounding Martinez as the season wears on.
Some scouts have noted that Martinez reminds them of past day-two gems like Javonte Williams (Broncos) and David Montgomery (Lions), backs who entered the league with high floors and well-rounded skill sets. Given his ability to handle significant workloads without compromising his efficiency, Martinez could quickly find himself in a featured role on Sundays.
While the 2025 running back class looks historic from top to bottom, Martinez’s physical frame and explosive skill set offer something unique. Away from his production (2,700 career rushing yards), he’s also proven himself in both pass-catching and pass-protection situations, setting him apart as a potential do-it-all-back within an NFL offensive architecture. Though he may not carry the same hype as others in the class, Martinez’s size and production as a lead back, combined with his adaptability across various offensive systems on either end of the country has made him one of the more talked about prospects at his position, and a rising candidate to hear his name called on day two (should he declare) when April arrives.
