Transfer Bio Blast: Damien Martinez

The spring transfer portal window of the offseason officially opened on Tuesday. We’ve already seen some modest player movement. Teams are working rapidly to get targets on campus for visits over the next two weeks to close these fast-paced recruitments over the next four or so weeks. Kentucky will host a key visitor next week.

That player will likely be the best one to come available in the spring window.

Oregon State tailback Damien Martinez surprised many when he announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal last week reportedly turning down what was a $400,000 deal from Oregon State’s NIL collective. The junior with two years of eligibility officially put his name in the transfer portal and worked quickly to schedule visits.

Kentucky will get an opportunity to make their pitch to a top-15 player in the transfer portal. Let’s dig in and learn some more about the high-profile transfer.

Late Rising Recruit

Playing for Lewisville (Texas) High, Damien Martinez had a quiet recruitment that ended with a commitment to Oregon State in May during his junior season. The 6A tailback in Texas rushed for 2,010 yards and 30 touchdowns as a junior. Martinez followed that up with 1,712 yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior.

Late in the recruiting process, Martinez received a solid bump from three of the four major recruiting services to become a high three-star prospect. With an 11.37 time in the 100m, there was good speed testing to go along with high-level production and tape.

Martinez was an excellent recruiting win for Jonathan Smith’s staff at Oregon State. The Beavers found a high-level player in a competitive recruiting area, zoned in on Martinez, and recorded a commitment before the ranking bump came later in the process.

All-Pac-12

Damien Martinez did not wait long to make a splash at Oregon State. As a true freshman, Martinez became RB1 in Corvallis rushing for 982 yards and seven touchdowns. The rookie tailback earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors after the season. Martinez’s rookie season was highlighted by six consecutive 100-yard rushing performances in conference play.

The production remained excellent on a heavier workload as a sophomore in 2023.

Martinez finished second in the Pac-12 in rushing yards per game (98.75) and was one of 35 tailbacks in college football to log at least 194 carries. The Lonestar State native recorded six 100-yard games in 12 starts and scored four touchdowns in a 62-17 win over Stanford in November. The sophomore would again earn first-team All-Pac-12 honors.

In two seasons, Martinez has accumulated 2,167 rushing yards (355 carries) on 6.1 yards per rush with 16 touchdowns. The true junior is one of the most productive running backs returning to college football in 2024.

Scouting Notebook

Damien Martinez was a true RB1 at Oregon State for two seasons. To find out more about the latest Kentucky transfer target, I dove into some 2023 tape. The tailback transfer is a bonafide big-time player.

Here is my scouting write-up on the Pac-12 transfer.

Damien Martinez (6-0, 232) was a star tailback playing in Jonathan Smith’s pro-style scheme that included a zone-heavy rushing approach with numerous under-center looks. The sophomore posted career highs in carries (194), rushing yards (1,185), rushing touchdowns (11), success rate (51%), and explosive rate (20.1%) in 2023. Decisive runner who makes quick cuts and gets north/south with aggression. Runs behind his pads. Good feel for zone scheme flashing feel, timing, and jump cuts to find the bubbles created by the blocking scheme. Shows some long speed at 230+ pounds. Possesses good leg drive upon contact and finishes runs. Good feel in slip screen actions both before and after the catch. A plug-and-play stater with All-American potential. Martinez is likely a lock to become a draft pick in 2025 with a high Day 2 ceiling.

Kentucky wants more efficiency in the run game. Damien Martinez can provide that. The transfer is a big, bruising tailback who does a good job of setting up blocks and finishing runs. Martinez is a safe bet to be a 1,000-yard rusher at his next school as long as the offensive line situation is not dire.