NCAAF · 1 year ago

CFB Transfer Portal: 5 Landing Spots for Damien Martinez

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

5. Ole Miss Rebels
Lane Kiffin is the self-proclaimed “Portal King,” and Ole Miss has made it clear: they are all in on the 2024 season. The Rebels have a loaded roster, a terrific coaching staff, and a schedule conducive to making a run at a playoff berth. They lost Quinshon Judkins to Ohio State but still have Ulysses Bentley IV (5.7 yards per carry in 2023), redshirt freshman Kedrick Reescano, and LSU transfer Logan Diggs. Adding Damien Martinez and his physical running style could get them back to having the deep platoon-style backfield they had with Judkins in the fold. It’s unclear if there is any interest on either side, and Martinez is probably looking for more of a feature role, but it could be interesting.

Ole Miss 2024 Win Total: 9.5
1, Michigan State Spartans
Oregon State star running back Damien Martinez ran for over 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns in Corvallis and helped the Beavers to two bowl seasons as a battering ram runner. After Oregon State was left adrift when the PAC-12 dissolved, there were rumors about the Martinez departing despite being reported to make more than $400,000 in NIL money. Those rumors became a reality when Martinez announced he was entering the transfer portal. The first destination that comes to mind is Michigan State. Former Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith is now leading the Spartans, and returning running back Nathan Carter, while solid, is not an irreplaceable star. Carter averaged 4.31 yards per carry but lacked dynamism. Martinez reuniting with Smith and quarterback Aidan Chiles would make sense for all parties.

Michigan State 2024 Win Total: 5.5
2. Utah Utes
Utah is one of the best programs in the West, and Kyle Whittingham is one of the best coaches in the country. The Utes get quarterback Cam Rising back after he missed 2023 with an injury and are considered one of the favorites to win the Big 12 and earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. Utah has terrific fan support, and Damien Martinez would have an opportunity to lead the backfield after Ja’Quinden Jackson transferred to Arkansas as the starter. Jaylon Glover is ideally suited as a change-of-pace backup, something he could do with Martinez acting as the physical bell cow.

Utah 2024 Win Total: 9.5
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
One of the teams expected to be incredibly active in the spring transfer portal window is the Alabama Crimson Tide. They have resources ready to be unleashed in the post-Nick Saban era, and running back is a position of need for head coach Kalen DeBoer. The running backs in 2023 were not exceptional for Alabama. Still, Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams are gone (one to the NFL, one to Florida State), and they could use a veteran physical presence like Damien Martinez. If the Crimson Tide wanted to pair Martinez with quarterback Jalen Milroe, they would have the NIL power to make it appealing for the former Oregon State Beaver.

Alabama 2024 Win Total: 9.5
4. Colorado Buffaloes
Damien Martinez is used to playing for a program that is typically under the radar and out of the national spotlight. If he wanted the attention of a program that gets talked about a lot, Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes would make sense. Colorado’s offense is led by a good quarterback and a trio of excellent receivers, but they struggled to run the ball. They believe the offensive line has improved, and Martinez would balance Coach Prime’s attack.

Colorado 2024 Win Total: 5.5
5. Ole Miss Rebels
Lane Kiffin is the self-proclaimed “Portal King,” and Ole Miss has made it clear: they are all in on the 2024 season. The Rebels have a loaded roster, a terrific coaching staff, and a schedule conducive to making a run at a playoff berth. They lost Quinshon Judkins to Ohio State but still have Ulysses Bentley IV (5.7 yards per carry in 2023), redshirt freshman Kedrick Reescano, and LSU transfer Logan Diggs. Adding Damien Martinez and his physical running style could get them back to having the deep platoon-style backfield they had with Judkins in the fold. It’s unclear if there is any interest on either side, and Martinez is probably looking for more of a feature role, but it could be interesting.

Ole Miss 2024 Win Total: 9.5
1, Michigan State Spartans
Oregon State star running back Damien Martinez ran for over 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns in Corvallis and helped the Beavers to two bowl seasons as a battering ram runner. After Oregon State was left adrift when the PAC-12 dissolved, there were rumors about the Martinez departing despite being reported to make more than $400,000 in NIL money. Those rumors became a reality when Martinez announced he was entering the transfer portal. The first destination that comes to mind is Michigan State. Former Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith is now leading the Spartans, and returning running back Nathan Carter, while solid, is not an irreplaceable star. Carter averaged 4.31 yards per carry but lacked dynamism. Martinez reuniting with Smith and quarterback Aidan Chiles would make sense for all parties.

Michigan State 2024 Win Total: 5.5

CFB Transfer Portal: 5 Landing Spots for Damien Martinez

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