Since Damien Martinez is the finest running back in Miami football, Duke Johnson
Transfer to Oregon State Since all-time great runner Duke Johnson, Damien Martinez ought to be the Miami football team’s top running back.
Damien Martinez, a running back transfer from Oregon State, should lead the Miami Dolphins in rushing yards since 2014’s Duke Johnson amassed 1,652 yards. With 3,519 yards in 2014, Johnson established a new career record for Miami in terms of rushing yards. In 2023, Martinez amassed 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns via running.
As a true freshman in 2022, Martinez rushed for 982 yards and seven touchdowns. The latest Miami player to dash for 1,000 yards is Mark Walton, who finished 2016 with 1,117 yards and 14 touchdowns. Travis Homer took Walton’s place as the primary running back. Despite failing to surpass 1,000 yards, Homer rushed for more than 900 yards in 2017 and 2018.
For Miami’s past two seasons, Henry Parrish was the team’s top rusher. In 2022 Parrish ran for 625 yards, and in 2023 he ran for 616. In 2022, Parrish transferred from Mississippi, and this spring, he returned to Oxford. Since Homer, Parrish was the only player to lead Miami in rushing in two straight seasons.
The second-ranked 2024 transfer running back is Martinez. Quinshon Judkins, the number one-ranked transfer running back, came from Mississippi to Ohio State. Martinez was listed as one of the “10 running backs to know ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft” by Pro Football Focus’s Max Chadwick in a report that was published on Tuesday.
Miami’s top rushers since 2015
Yards
Joe Yearby (2015)
1,002
2016 Mark Walton
1,117
Travis Homer in 2017
966
2018 Travis Homer
985
DeeJay 2019
693
2020 Ron Harris
643
2021 Jaylan Knighton
541
Henry Parrish in 2022
616
Henry Parish in 2023
625
Martinez will be able to run without opponents stacking the box because he will be a part of a balanced offence. Sam Brown, Jacolby George, and Xavier Restrepo are the wide receiver trio who Cam Ward projects to provide Miami an incredibly flexible and well-balanced offence in 2024.
Martinez can be a power and speed back at 6’0″ and 232 pounds. Martinez has 68 carries of 10 yards or more during the previous two seasons, according to Chadwick. Since Johnson was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Martinez may be the highest-drafted Miami running back.
Martinez’s eligibility will last until 2025, thus after the 2024 season, he must pick a choice. Martinez should have more options in the draft if he and Miami live up to their 2024 forecasts. If the Hurricanes contend for a spot in the ACC Championship Game and perhaps make it to the College Football Playoffs, Martinez has the ability to leave a lasting legacy for Miami in only one season.
