A look at the schools that could be best fits for one of the portal's top players.
Brad Crawford
Oregon State's Damien Martinez, one of college football's top returning running backs, intends to enter the transfer portal next week,and will have a bevy of potential options. The All-American ball carrierwas reportedly expected to be the Beavers' highest-paid player in NIL next season and now takes 2,000-plus yards rushing with him to a new destination.
Several Power conference programs in need of a high-end ballcarrierare expected to reach out given Martinez's proven productivity. He'll be rated right up there with Ohio State signee and former Ole Miss standout Quinshon Judkins along with ex-Florida ballcarrier Trevor Etienne, who signed with Georgia, as the top transfer at the position. The 247Sports Transfer Rankings will slot Martinez as the No. 2 running back in the transfer portal with a 94 grade, right behind Judkins.
According to Beaver Blitz,Martinez previouslystated hewas all-in with Oregon State despite transfer portal interest from other programs. During an interview with 247Sports in November, Martinez said he was not interested in playing elsewhere even with coach Jonathan Smith leaving for Michigan State. That has changed with spring ball coming to a close.
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Here's a look at possible destinations for Martinez, who will be a hot commodity next week.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
After failing to sign a running back in the transfer market during the winter window and only landing one in its 2024 signing class in JUCO product Johnnie Daniels, Mississippi State will be fishing for talent at the position. First-year coach Jeff Lebby made his intentions clear as soon as he stepped on campus that this 2024 roster would be littered with new faces thanks to assistance from transfers. And there's still more to add in Starkville.
Kentucky Wildcats
Mark Stoops and his staff already swiped several instant-impact starters from the portal, so why not go after another big fish from Oregon State? Ohio State'sChip Trayanum should have a spot leading the two-deep as a grad transfer and former NC State transfer Demie Sumo-Karngbaye returns for his senior season with the Wildcats as a scat back of sorts in the No. 2 role. Martinez could come to Lexington and be a plug-and-play starter immediately.
Miami Hurricanes
A top-end running back is a priority for the Hurricanes,and odds are Miami will be in contact with Martinez.The ACC's worst-kept secret is that the Hurricaneswill go hunting for a difference-making ballcarrier given thedepth concerns in the backfield following a decisionfrom Henry Parrish — the team's second-leading rusher last fall — to transfer. The Hurricanes have just three scholarship players available at running back this spring after injuries to Mark Fletcher and Ajay Allen.
The addition of Martinez would give Miami several new playmakers from the portal within the 2024 two-deep, including elite Washington State transfer Cam Ward at quarterback. Ward decided to skip the 2024 NFL Draft for another year in the college ranks and reap NIL benefits as a result. On paper, with Martinez in tow, Miami's offense would look considerably more potent than last season's personnel.
Ole Miss Rebels
Lane Kiffin isn't panicking considering he signed the No. 1 transfer class in December and added to that group since, but watching Judkins leave for Ohio State in January was undoubtedly a significant blow given his production through his first couple seasons in Oxford. He's not a five-star transfer for nothing. Being able to land Martinez would mean the Rebels get near equal production and a player who can make plays in the passing game, too.
As it stands nearing the end of spring,Ulysses Bentley IV or LSU transfer Logan Diggs will be RB1 at Ole Miss on an uber-talented offense. Kiffin will be able to sleep better this summer if Martinez comes to the Ship through NIL advantages. He would strengthen a roster that's already the most-talented in program history for a team that should be ranked inside the preseason top 10, unanimously.
Tennessee Volunteers
Josh Heupel anxiously awaited the start of spring practice to get a second-helping of his running back room after the new-look Vols debuted in the Citrus Bowl win over Iowa. Tennessee welcomes back Dylan Sampson and Cameron Seldon, but the rest of the group is essentially unproven. Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small leaving left a sizable hole at the position group in Knoxville and Martinez would be a welcomed addition if Tennessee jumps in the sweepstakes for his services.
Like most other destinations, Tennessee could offer an immediate "start now" offer in the backfield and the Vols' are one of the perceived leaders in NIL scope, too. And like other coaches in assessing transfer portal needs, Heupel said during the fall that he would "evaluate every position" this spring before going to his roster board and filling holes. While there's been promise in the backfield over recent practices, Martinez would take this Tennessee offense from potentially good to great.
Transfer Portal Scouting Report on Damien Martinez
From 247Sports' Clint Brewster:
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 blue-blood 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 five 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.
Expect Martinez to be a premier back in 2024 college football that will have a grade of 94 overall once he officially becomes a transfer, making him the second- ated running back behind Quinshon Judkins in the portal.
