Miami RB Damien Martinez named top 25 Most Intriguing 2024 Non-QB

Longtime Sports Illustrated writer Pat Forde named Miami running back Damien Martinez one of "The 25 Most Intriguing College Football Non-Quarterbacks for 2024." Martinez transferred to Miami from Oregon State during the offseason and it set to be the top RB for the Hurricanes in 2024.

Martinez finished 19th nationally in 2023 averaging 98.75 rushing yards per game, finishing with 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns. With Mark Fletcher recovering from a foot injury, Martinez will be the top RB for Miami entering the 2024 season. As Fletcher progresses throughout the season they will share a greater load of carries.

Martinez should be a huge boost for the Miami run game. Miami finished 45th nationally in 2023 averaging 173.15 rushing yards per game. The Hurricanes were extremely inconsistent in 2023 with five games averaging below four yards per carry. Martinez's only 2023 game under four YPC was in a season-ending loss to Oregon.

Martinez has significantly exceeded his recruiting ranking as the 600th prospect, 48th RB and 89th player in the 2022 class when he signed with Oregon State. In his first season at Oregon State, Martinez was named the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and first-team All-Conference.

"8. Damien Martinez, RB, Miami Hurricanes
The Hurricanes haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2016, and haven’t even had a 700-yard guy since ’18...The transfer from Oregon State racked up 2,167 yards on the ground in his first two seasons of college ball, despite having only five games of 20 or more carries. (He’s five-for-five gaining 100 yards in those games.) At 232 pounds, Martinez has the heft to pound out first downs (39 carries of 10-plus yards last season) but also enough speed to break away (four carries of 40-plus yards)."

- Pat Forde, Sports Illustrated

Mark Walton was Miami's last 1,000-yard rusher in 2016, with 1,117 and 14 rushing touchdowns. Travis Homer was the most recent Miami 800-yard rusher with 985 in 2018. Homer had consecutive seasons with over 900 yards rushing. DeeJay Dallas, with 693 rushing yards in 2019, is the most for Miami since Homer.

Martinez should be the best Miami running back since at least Walton, with the potential to be the most productive since Duke Johnson. Miami is projected to have a balanced offense led by quarterbacks Cam Ward and Martinez. The presence of an elite QB and RB will make Miami difficult to defend.

If Martinez achieves his average rushing yards per season from Oregon State in 2024, he could rank among the top 10 best Miami running backs for a single year. His career total of 2,167 rushing yards would place him eighth in Miami's history. By replicating his performance at Oregon State, Martinez can become a legend for Miami in 2024.

Martinez and Ward will compete on the most talented rosters they have during their careers. Martinez should have more opportunities in the running game and Ward should have improved pass production. The Miami passing game should force defenses to play honestly and prevent opponents from packing the box,.,