Nov 18, 2023; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Oregon State Beavers running back Damien Martinez (6) escapes a tackle by Washington Huskies linebacker Carson Brunner (42) during the second half at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Vision
Damien Martinez has some excellent vision at the running back position. You can tell he can read a defense and knows where the blockers are designed to go but most importantly, he trusts them. Not many running backs seemingly do that anymore, so seeing Martinez trust the guys in front of him to create lanes is vital. Even when a running lane gets closed, he is able to find another lane for him to create in.
Breaking Tackles
With Damien Martinez’s big frame and overall size, he breaks tackles hilariously. He has no problem running through defenders to pick up extra yards, nor does he fear being a receiving target, partly due to his size. When he breaks tackles, the numbers show he can pick up extra yards, which can make or break a drive in many instances. In the NFL, this trait alone will earn him a meaningful third-down role but could easily turn into more.
Contact Balance
My favorite trait of Damien Martinez has to be his contact balance, bar none. He handles contact so well, his size helps, but his footwork is the trick. He runs through arm tackles without losing momentum and then shows on film he can handle full-blown tacklers as they come at him. The contact balance is going to be huge for him as he develops as a receiver after getting limited work in that area in college.
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