Running Back

Boise State

5-9 223

Draft board overall prospect rank: #30

Draft board overall running back rank: #2

Overall rating: 81 (borderline 1^st/2^nd round)

40 time: 4.47

Games watched: Boise State/Toledo, Boise State/Fresno State, Boise State/Arizona State

Positives

·         Runs with great pad level

·         Incredibly tough

·         Strong, powerful, tough to tackle in open field (28 reps of 225)

·         Good size (5-9 223)

·         Gets low and uses his blockers well

·         Good patient and vision

·         Tough, gritty player who fights for every last yard

·         Shifty, elusive player who cuts well

·         Good timed speed (4.47)

·         Two years of great production (2010: 201 carries for 1260 yards and 12 touchdowns 2011: 263 carries for 1299 yards and 16 touchdowns)

·         Great hands out of the backfield (28 catches in each of last 2 seasons)

·         Above average pass protector

·         Intelligent player who picks up blitzes very well for his age

·         High character, high motor player

·         Good work ethic and in great shape

·         Well and able special teamer

·         Returned a kickoff to the house in 2011 (while averaging 34 yards per return) and was one of Boise State’s best special teamers in 2008

·         Versatile athlete who played some cornerback in 2009 before moving back to running back

·         True 3 down back who can contribute on the 4^th down (special teams) if you want

·         Good goal line back

Negatives

·         A lot of tread on his tires already (617 career carries)

·         Senior season was inferior to junior season

·         Struggled with injuries as a senior, looked sluggish at times

·         Violent running style could be the cause of future injuries

·         Lacks elite burst

·         Doesn’t play quite as fast as his 40 time (4.47)

·         Lacks breakaway speed

·         Didn’t play an elite level of competition

Comparison: Mark Ingram

When I watched Martin against Toledo and Fresno State, I put him into that borderline 3^rd/4^th round range with power backs like Temple’s Bernard Pierce and Utah State’s Robert Turbin. This was because I thought he was just a power back. I was impressed with his toughness and grittiness and pad level to break tackles, but I didn’t see a whole lot of speed and explosion.

He had to break a ton of tackles because the defense could close on him so quickly. He had 70 yards on 19 carries against Toledo and 94 yards on 16 carries (with 55 of them one on carry) against Fresno State. He was averaging 4 yards per carry against weak competition and I didn’t see him as a potential feature back type in the NFL.

Turns out, he was playing hurt, further proving his toughness and grittiness. This injury did cost him a game against TCU (Boise State’s only loss of the season), but once he returned, he was much better. He finished with 115 carries for 543 yards and 7 touchdowns in his last 4 games and started looking more like the player he was in 2010 when he rushed for 1260 yards and 12 touchdowns on 201 carries.

I was particularly impressed with him against Arizona State, not too shabby an opponent, in Boise State’s bowl game. He started the game with a kickoff return to the house, but that wasn’t what impressed me. He continued to be a ferocious bowling ball of a running back, breaking tackles like Maurice Jones Drew or Ray Rice, but he showed more speed and burst. He still wasn’t elite in that area, but it was much better. He rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries, despite not breaking a gain of more than 21 yards all game. I felt he could be a steal on day 3 if he still fell that far.

However, he won’t fall that far. Looks like everyone else has taken notice that he’s healthy. Driven by a strong Combine performance, where he essentially benched his body weight (225) 28 times, ran a 4.47 40 at 5-9 223, up 8 pounds from his playing weight, and impressed in position drills, particularly as a blocker and a receiver (he also had 56 catches from 2010-2011).

Now he’s a legitimate early to mid day 2 prospect and is in the running with David Wilson and Lamar Miller to be the 2^nd back off the board after Trent Richardson. He probably won’t fall out of the 2^nd round. I have him 2^nd behind Richardson because, while I think Miller and Wilson are more explosive, Martin is bigger and tougher and will be better on 3^rd down. He looks like a true 3 down back right away and he can even contribute on special teams as well. A jack of all traits, Wilson played gunner on special teams, cornerback on defense, and kick returner on special teams, in addition to running back in his 4 years at Boise State.

As a prospect, I compare him to Mark Ingram. Ingram was the bigger name coming out last year (and going 28^th overall) because he played for Alabama and won the Heisman. However, they are similar players with similar backgrounds. In 2008, Ingram was a backup and rushed for 875 yards (5.5 YPC) and 13 touchdowns on 158 carries. In 2009, Wilson was a backup and rushed for 769 yards (5.9 YPC) and 15 touchdowns on 129 carries.

In 2009, Ingram had his best season and rushed for 1658 yards and 18 touchdowns on 271 carries (6.1 YPA). In 2010, Wilson has his best season and rushed for 1260 yards and 12 touchdowns on 201 carries (6.3 YPC). In 2010, bothered by injury, Ingram had a down year and rushed for 728 yards (5.1 YPA) and 12 touchdowns on 143 carries. In 2011, bothered by injury, Martin had a down year and rushed for 1299 yards and 16 touchdowns on 263 carries (4.9 YPA). Ingram ran a 4.53 at 5-9 215.

Wilson ran a 4.47 at 5-9 223. Both are gritty, tough backs who run with good pad level, break tackles, and play all 3 downs, but lack elite burst and breakaway speed. The main difference is level of competition, which is why Martin is a 2^nd rounder and Ingram is a 1^st rounder, but they are very similar prospects.

Ingram had a rough rookie year, but he’s still got time to turn it around. He’s far from a complete bust. Martin should have a better rookie season if he can stay healthy. Ingram’s problem as a rookie was injuries, something that could plague Martin based on his history of usage, his past injury history, and his style of play. Both Martin and Ingram, however, do have bright futures.