Oregon State transfer running back Damien Martinez adds experience and proven production as a featured player in the backfield. Expect Martinez to be the primary ball carrier for Miami in 2024. The addition of Martinez is critical for the success of the Miami offense in 2023 with Mark Fletcher recovering from a Lisfranc foot injury.
Fletcher was injured in the Pinstripe Bowl loss to Rutgers and missed spring practice. Martinez was named first-team All-Pac-12 in his two seasons at Oregon State. As a freshman in 2022, Martinez was the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.
Martinez ran for 2,167 yards and 16 touchdowns and added 15 receptions for 187 yards in his two seasons at Oregon State. Fletcher had 504 yards rushing and five TDs last season, Ajay Allen, Don Chaney Jr., Fletcher and Henry Parrish each had at least 70 carries during the 2023 season.
If Fletcher is healthy, expect him and Martinez to receive the vast majority of the carries during the 2023 season. Allen, who also missed spring practice with an injury, will be the projected third RB in the Miami rotation in 2024. Miami is extremely inexperienced behind Allen, Fletcher and Martinez.
Mark Fletcher gives his thoughts on transfer RB Damien Martinez coming to Miami pic.twitter.com/dughOxC1mB
— NMD Grant (@NMDgrant) May 23, 2024
Allen ran for 361 yards and five TDs in 2023 as the third RB in the Miami rotation. Even with one less RB in the projected 2023 rotation, Allen should receive close to the 70 carries he had last season. Three young RBs will wait their turn behind Allen, Fletcher and Martinez.
Redshirt freshman Chris Johnson had 11 carries for 73 yards and a TD last season. Miami signed Jordan Lyle and Chris Wheatley-Humphrey in the 2024 class. Fletcher and Lyle flipped from Ohio State to Miami. The Miami RB room should be strong in 2024. Expect Miami to have a balanced offense led by Martinez on the ground.
