LJ Martin

NFL Draft Profile: LJ Martin

Position: Running Back | School: BYU | Class: Junior

Height: 6'2" | Weight: 225 lbs | Archetype: 3-Down Back (Power / Volume Hybrid)

College Career Summary

LJ Martin entered Provo as a highly-touted recruit from El Paso and immediately lived up to the billing, leading BYU in rushing as a true freshman. However, his 2025 campaign was his true breakout, where he was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Martin served as the engine for a BYU team that reached a #12 national ranking and an 11-2 record.

Martin’s season was a masterclass in "bell-cow" usage. He displayed a rare combination of size and receiving touch, eclipsing 1,300 rushing yards and becoming a focal point of the passing game. His season ended prematurely due to a shoulder surgery following the Big 12 Championship, causing him to miss the Pop-Tarts Bowl, but his body of work has solidified him as one of the top RB prospects for the 2026 class.

2025 Regular Season Stats

• Rushing: 236 Carries, 1,305 Yds, 12 TD (5.5 avg)

• Receiving: 36 Receptions, 255 Yds, 0 TD

• Career Totals: 2,541 Rushing Yds, 23 Rushing TD, 57 Receptions

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Stats (Rush/Yds/TD)	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	vs Portland St	8/131/0	A	Extremely efficient; showcased breakaway speed on limited touches.
2	vs Stanford	18/110/0	B+	Physical, downhill running; wore out the Cardinal defense.
4	@ East Carolina	14/101/1	A-	The Closer. Secured the road win with tough late-game yards.
5	@ Colorado	15/58/0	C+	Stifled by a fast defense; found more success as a receiver (36 yds).
6	vs West Virginia	21/90/2	A-	Red-zone dominance; used his 225lb frame to bully LBs.
7	@ #21 Arizona	25/162/1	A+	Season Peak. Career high in yardage; total control of the game.
8	vs #15 Utah	26/122/0	A	Holy War Hero. 127 total yards in a high-pressure rivalry win.
9	@ Iowa State	5/15/1	D	Injury Game. Exited early with a shoulder injury; missed 1.5 games.
11	@ #4 Texas Tech	10/35/0	C-	Clearly limited by the shoulder; lacked his usual "pop."
12	vs TCU	21/88/1	B	High volume; worked through pain to provide offensive balance.
13	@ Cincinnati	32/222/2	A+	The Demolition. Absolute bell-cow performance; hit the 200-mark.
14	vs UCF	22/95/3	A	Senior Day. Found the end zone three times; elite vision.
CC	vs #4 Texas Tech	19/76/1	B-	Gritty effort in a tough loss; final appearance before shoulder surgery.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 98/100

• Leadership: A quiet leader by example; consistently praised by Kalani Sitake for his work ethic and humbleness.

• Mental Toughness: Played through a shoulder injury for the final third of the 2025 season to lead BYU to a title game.

• Competitor: Wants the ball in high-stakes moments (Utah/Cincinnati games).

• Star Power: The clear identity of the BYU offense; when he plays, the team wins.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 95/100

• Height/Weight: 6'2", 225 lbs. (Elite size; well above the 215lb threshold).

• Stamina: Exceptional; handled 30+ carries in a single game without losing efficiency.

• Durability: Generally reliable, though the shoulder injury in late 2025 required surgery.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 91/100

• Ball Security: Solid. Only one fumble in 272 total touches in 2025.

• Vision: Elite. Uses his height to see over the line; patient in the "Slow Mesh" and zone concepts.

• Contact Balance: Exceptional. He has a "slippery" quality for a big man; rarely goes down on the first hit.

• Catching: Natural hands. 36 catches in 2025 prove he is a legitimate check-down threat.

• Pass Block: High effort; uses his 225lb frame to stone blitzing safeties effectively.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 87/100

• Speed: Functional speed. Not a 4.3 burner, but has enough "long speed" to pull away from LBs in the open field.

• Agility: Very good for his size; uses "micro-adjustments" to slip through narrow creases.

• Change of Direction: Good one-cut ability; can plant and go north-south instantly.

• Acceleration: Good initial burst, though he takes a few steps to reach top speed.

• Break Tackle: Strength. Uses a devastating stiff arm and lower-body drive to finish runs.

IQ (.20) — Grade: 96/100

• Awareness: High processing speed; rarely makes mistakes in blocking assignments or route depths.

NFL Scouting Report

• Strengths: Prototypical "bell-cow" size; Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year production; natural pass-catching ability; elite contact balance and finishing power.

• Weaknesses: Shoulder surgery recovery will be a talking point during the draft process; lacks elite "home-run" speed to outrun NFL secondaries.

• Scheme Fit: Ideal for a Zone-blocking or Power scheme (e.g., Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders, NY Giants).

• NFL Comparison: David Montgomery / James Conner.

Scout's Final Word

"LJ Martin is a throwback to the true workhorse running back. He is a 'grinder' with 21st-century hands. His tape against Cincinnati and Arizona shows a player who can carry an entire franchise on his back. While the shoulder surgery ended his season, his 1,300+ yard campaign in the Big 12 proved he is ready for the Sunday load. Projected: Round 3–4."