LJ Martin exploded for a career-high 120 yards.

I really want to talk about LJ Martin.

The sophomore running back from El Paso finally broke free after an early-season injury sidelined him while the Cougars’ running back depth was tested. While Ropati, Moa and Navahin had their moments in the BYU backfield, Martin makes it clear who the top defender is in Provo.

Ollie Gordon, last season’s Doak Walker Award winner, torched BYU’s defense for 100+ yards and 3 scores, but I think Gordon’s star power may have blinded many with the brilliant play of number 27 in blue.

Only in his second game after injury, LJ rushed for 120 yards and a pair of touchdowns to add 4 to his season total.

It’s almost like when an NFL broadcast constantly shows Taylor Swift in the audience at a Kansas City Chiefs game. at least a close-up of Andy Reid). While Ollie Gordon’s best performance of the year captured the attention of commentators and analysts, LJ Martin outlasted OSU in the Cougars’ comeback win.

Martin’s 2023 season has been a bit of a rocky one, which has been typical for a football team that has struggled to find any semblance of consistency in its first Big 12 schedule. Poor O-Line play and predictable plays led to Martin being forced to give up the play and fight for every yard—nothing easy was offered to the rookie.

But in the Cougars’ breakout season, Martin is also improving his skills as he leads the Cougars’ ground attack.

Interestingly, Jake Retzlaff currently leads all Cougars in scoring this season, and much of that can be attributed to the absence of players like Martin due to injury. And although he only appeared in 4 games, LJ leads all running backs on the depth chart.

Flexible, agile and strong for his physique, Martin’s repertoire is reminiscent of DC’s Catwoman, able to slip through tight passages and comfortably navigate any treacherous situation LJ faces.

Of course he’s not entirely look like Catwoman, but that’s not the point.

We saw the first glimpses of Martin’s abilities against Arizona in his first return to the field. after injury. Ran for 49 yards on 11 carries and adding 45 yards through the air for 2 points on the Wildcats defense.

He’s shown significant improvement since his freshman campaign with the Cougars, and it’s no surprise why Martin has gained recognition as BYU’s leading running back. He’ll likely miss Retzlaff’s performance in BYU’s matchup with UCF this weekend and look to build on an already promising year.

BYU’s offense will need an immediate threat if it wants to advance to the Big 12 Championship game, a shockingly possible outcome at this point in the season. LJ Martin is the type of defender who can make something out of nothing while limiting turnovers and unnecessary plays like heroic balls.

When BYU marched down the field against Oklahoma State to tie the game at 21, the Cougars marched from their 31-yard line to the Cowboys’ end zone running the ball exclusively. If the running game can open up the pass to Jake Retzlaff, this offense could be explosive.

BYU has a rusher who can strike fear into the hearts of opponents, and his name is LJ Martin. Let’s hope he continues to thrive for the rest of the season.