BYU running back finished the 2024 season strong and healthy, just the way he started the first day of fall camp.
Kalani Sitake waited a dozen games to catch a glimpse of the real LJ Martin and in the 13th and final battle against No. 23 Colorado, he watched him steal the show. Martin rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 31 yards in a dominating 36-14 victory.
The difference between the Alamo Bowl and the other 12 games can be summed up in one word — health.
“That was the first game where I felt healthy the whole season,” Martin said following BYU’s first practice of fall camp on Wednesday. Answering a follow-up question on whether that was the “real LJ” in San Antonio, for former Texas prep star smiled and said, “I would like to say so. That’s when I felt my best.”
“This offseason I’ve felt really good, and I feel good about this year. I want to get in the best shape as possible and be the best version of me. That’s all I can really ask for.”
BYU running back LJ Martin
Martin injured his shoulder during spring drills in 2024 and required surgery. He had a cautious fall camp and ran for 67 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against Southern Illinois. The next week, at SMU, Martin suffered a high ankle sprain that dogged him for the rest of the regular season.
It wasn’t until the month between the Big 12 finale against Houston and the bowl game, that the 6-foot-2, 225-pound sophomore finally had healthy legs underneath him and the Buffaloes couldn’t keep up.
Martin took control of the game in his first nine touches:
- First: 5-yard run
- Second: 6-yard run
- Third: 10-yard run (negated by penalty)
- Fourth: 7-yard run
- Fifth: 28-yard reception
- Sixth: 1-yard touchdown run
- Seventh: 6-yard run
- Eighth: 9-yard run
- Ninth: 11-yard run
Running healthy, Martin remained on the attack right through his final three carries, which produced a 23-yard run, a 9-yard touchdown run and a 5-yard run. After a good spring and surgery-free summer, the junior appears ready to run like a senior this fall.
“This offseason I’ve felt really good, and I feel good about this year,” Martin said. “I want to get in the best shape as possible and be the best version of me. That’s all I can really ask for.”
So far in his young career, running through Colorado has been the “best version” of Martin. His efforts also offset a tough day for quarterback Jake Retzlaff who managed just 12 completions for 151 yards with two interceptions.
Even as bumps, sprains and bruises slowed him down, Martin still finished with 723 rushing yards, 98 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. The notion of a healthy Martin becoming BYU’s first 1,000-yard runner since Tyler Allgeier (2021) is not only within reach, but it would come at a perfect time as the Cougars break in a new quarterback.
“I always want to do a little bit more,” Martin said. “All four of those (quarterbacks) are ballers. No matter who is back there, it’s no different for me. I saw them all make throws during spring practice, and I saw Bear throw for the first time (Wednesday) — he looked good. Whoever is back there I think we’ll be fine.”
Fine — as long as Martin keeps running behind a big offensive line with a full head of steam and a healthy body — just as he did against Colorado.
Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar,” available at deseretbook.com.
Category: General Sports
