Damien Martinez

Oregon State star running back Damien Martinez will reportedly enter the transfer portal during the spring window. He will be one of the best running backs in college football in 2024.

Martinez will be a heavily coveted player with the resume he’s built in two seasons at Oregon State, rushing for over 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns. He’s got an elite blend of size, speed, cutting ability and toughness. Martinez shows impressive maturity for a young runner with his patience at the line of scrimmage and then an explosive burst once he sees daylight.

Martinez has been an All-Conference player in his two seasons in Corvallis and has the ability to be a high-round draft choice. Martinez might not have the run-away speed that elite first-rounders possess but he’s got plenty of juice for a 6-foot, 230-pound rusher.

He will have multiple strong options in the transfer portal, as his game correlates to any offense with his strength and power in a gap scheme or his cutback ability in zone running formations.

Martinez was top 12 in Power 5 football in terms of yards after contact, missed tackles forced and runs of 15 yards or more in 2023. He had six games of 100 yards or more, plus his best performance against No. 5 Washington with 123 yards on 26 carries and two scores.