ANALYSIS: What Miami is getting in transfer running back Damien Martinez

After losing two of their three top rushers from last season to the transfer portal and with the health of tailback Mark Fletcher being uncertain heading into the fall, there was no question that the Miami Hurricanes needed to make a splash at the running back position in the transfer portal.

They did just that Saturday night by landing former Oregon State star RB Damien Martinez, who is the No. 14 ranked prospect and No. 2 running back in the On3 Transfer Portal Industry Ranking . With Henry Parrish, who rushed for a team-high 625 yards last season, now at Ole Miss, and Don Chaney Jr., who rushed for 478 yards at Louisville, the Hurricanes backfield had some holes to fill, and Martinez should star in this offense.

“It’s on!” Martinez posted on his social media accounts in the middle of his Miami official visit “305, it’s that time.”

As for what Miami just landed? Well, it sure looks like a bigtime playmaking back with the size, speed, power and hands to make an impact in the running and passing game.

A 6-foot, 230-pound tailback, Martinez rushed for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns en route to earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors as a sophomore at Oregon State last season.

Turn on the tape and you see great balance to go with his physical skills, which helped him dominate in his two years in the Pac-12. In both his freshman and sophomore campaigns, Martinez averaged 6.1 yards per carry, which was the 22nd highest among ball carriers last season in college football.

As for his Pro Football Focus metrics? A sign of his relentless running style is averaged 3.48 yards after contact as a freshman and 3.82 last year. For comparison, Fletcher averaged 3.81 YCO/A last year and Parrish 3.41. Martinez graded out at a stellar 83.1 percent overall last year (elite 88.1 run grade) and 85.9 percent overall in 2022 (90.2 run grade). If he had a weak area it was helping as a pass protector/blocker (65.1 block grade in 2022 and 54.1 percent last year).

Coming out of high school, Martinez was a former 3-star industry prospect out of Lewisville (Tex.) in the Class of 2022. He quickly played well above his ranking as he burst onto the scene his freshman season, earning Freshman All-American honors after running for 982 yards and seven touchdowns.

Watch the above and it is easy to see why the Beavers feature back from last season was one of the most sought-after prospects once he entered the transfer portal. When carrying the ball, Martinez has shown the ability to not only run through defenders but past them as well. He is a north / south runner who won’t come down easily at the line of scrimmage.

While Martinez is mostly known for his work on the ground, he has also shown flashes as a pass catcher out of the backfield, hauling in 11 receptions for 126 yards.

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In six of Oregon State’s 12 contests in 2023, Martinez eclipsed the 100-yard mark, which included a 122-yard, two-touchdown performance against national championship runner-up Washington. In the Beavers matchup against the Huskies, Martinez displayed on multiple occasions his ability to fight for extra yards on the ground after contact and make defenders pay for arm tackling behind and at the line of scrimmage.

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Once he reaches that second level, Martinez has also shown his outstanding ability to make a linebacker or defensive back miss with a swift cut upfield or a spin move, among other nifty moves.

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Martinez will now join a running back group led by first-year coach Matt Merritt that includes Fletcher, who rushed for 514 yards and six touchdowns as a true freshman (assuming he is healthy), speedster Chris Johnson Jr., and freshmen tailbacks Chris Wheatley-Humphrey and Jordan Lyle.

Behind an offensive line that returns three of its five starters from last season (Jalen Rivers, Anez Cooper, and Francis Mauigoa), which helped Miami finish in the top-50 in the nation with 173.2 rushing yards per game on the ground, the Hurricanes rushing attack has the potential to be one of the most potent in the country, with an experienced back like Martinez now in the fold.

While staffers inside Miami’s program are no doubt happy about the addition of Martinez, new Hurricanes starting quarterback Cam Ward should be too.  During his final season at Washington State, the Cougar’s run game was nearly nonexistent, with the team’s leading rusher totaling 321 yards and the entirety of the team rushing for 1,020 yards last season.

With a proven tailback and a strong offensive line, Miami’s run game will be able to relieve some pressure off the Canes’ passing attack and keep defenses on their toes at all times.

CANESPORT’S TAKE

This offseason, Miami has now added two of the Pac-12’s most explosive offensive threats, Martinez and Ward, to an offense that will look to take another step in the right direction under second-year coach Shannon Dawson, who now has multiple offensive weapons at his disposal heading into the 2024 season.  Good luck to opposing defenses trying to slow down this talented Miami attack that now has top end proven talent at every offensive position other than tight end, which has promise of its own with Elijah Arroyo back off injury and freshman Elija Lofton expected to make a big immediate impact.

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