LJ Martin’s path to greatness in ′26

There are several reasons LJ Martin returned to BYU for his senior season, with bolstering his NFL résumé at the top of the list. In addition, Martin cited a desire to spend another year of his life around his teammates and win a Big 12 championship.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound running back doesn’t talk about it a lot, but he knows where he sits among the best running backs in BYU history and the El Paso, Texas, native has a legitimate shot to finish at the top.

Today, Martin is No. 9 on the all-time list with 2,541 career rushing yards. So long as he stays healthy, the yards needed to pass the names in front of him are all within reach — Jeff Blanc (123), Lakei Heimuli (170), Taysom Hill (275) and BYU’s single-season rushing leader Tyler Allgeier (364). The names only get bigger with Jamal Willis (430) at No. 4, Curtis Brown (701), Harvey Unga (915) and the all-time leader Jamaal Williams (1,361).

Martin averaged 5.5 yards per carry and 100.4 yards per game last season and earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors. The numbers are even more impressive when considering the shoulder injury that knocked him out of the Iowa State game on Oct. 25.

Following a timely bye week, Martin returned to the lineup for the final five games of the regular season, including a pair of physical battles against No. 4 Texas Tech’s vaunted defense. He had surgery following the Big 12 championship game and missed the Pop-Tarts Bowl but still amassed 1,305 yards — the most in the conference.

LJ Martin didn’t return to BYU just to break rushing records, but he’s on track to do just that

Vowing to have his shoulder completely healed for the season opener against Utah Tech, Martin will launch into his senior year with a more experienced Bear Bachmeier at quarterback and a supersized offensive line. He will also face four teams who finished in the bottom five of the Big 12 in run defense (No. 12 Cincinnati, No. 13 Kansas, No. 14 Utah, and No. 15 Baylor).

To get to the top and celebrate the momentous achievement during BYU’s home finale, Martin will need to average 113.4 yards per regular-season game. Here is a path to how he could get there.

Sept. 5: Utah Tech — In his first game since his surgery, the Cougars will be cautious with Martin. The matchup against the Trailblazers is a perfect welcome-back opportunity. Martin will run for 80 yards in first half before calling it a day.

Sept. 12: Arizona — Last year in Tucson, Martin rushed 25 times for 162 yards and a touchdown in BYU’s double-overtime win. The Wildcats will be healthy and energized, but Martin still goes for 150 yards and passes Blanc and Heimuli into No. 7 all-time.

Sept. 19 at Colorado State — The threat of Bachmeier running the ball and that big offensive line will give the Rams too much to think about on defense. Martin roams free for 130 yards and passes Hill at No. 6.

Sept. 26 at TCU — After getting blown out last year in Provo, the Horned Frogs will play better defense in Fort Worth. Martin, who ran for 88 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown in BYU’s 44-13 win, still muscles out 65 yards and moves ahead of Allgeier at No. 5.

Oct. 9 Iowa State — Martin was knocked out of last year’s game in Ames with a shoulder injury after just five carries. He will be eager to reunite with the Cyclones, who bring a new coach and almost an entirely new team to Provo. Martin runs wild under the lights on a Friday night for 125 yards and passes Willis at No. 4.

Oct. 17 Notre Dame — Coming off a bye week to recharge, the Cougars will need their best effort to upset the Irish. Martin goes for 75 yards on a night where he and Bachmeier make for a formidable tag-team.

Oct. 24 at UCF — Martin rushed 22 times for 95 yards and three touchdowns against the Knights on a cold, late November game in Provo. Running in much warmer conditions, Martin will go for 125 yards in Orlando.

LJ Martin blasting his way toward top of the list of BYU workhorse legends

Oct. 31 Arizona State — Halloween at LaVell Edwards Stadium is a perfect setting for the Cougars to exorcise the lingering bad taste from their 2024 experience in Tempe. Martin wears the Sun Devils down in the second half and pounds out 130 yards rushing to pass Brown at No. 3.

Nov. 9 at Utah — Last year at LES, even as a Bear was “on the loose” in Provo, Martin hammered the Utah defense for 122 yards on 26 carries. Running at Rice-Eccles won’t come as easy, but he will still manage 80 yards against the Utes.

Nov. 16 Baylor — The Bears ranked second to last in the Big 12 in run defense last year. Martin will run all over them for 140 yards in Provo as he races past Unga at No. 2.

Nov. 23 at Kansas — BYU didn’t play Kansas last year, but Martin was on the field in 2024 when the Jayhawks upset the Cougars in Provo to keep BYU out of the Big 12 championship game. This is an interesting matchup on the road, but Martin will scratch out 75 yards on the ground.

Nov. 30 Cincinnati — Thanksgiving weekend with Cincinnati in Provo will give Martin one last blast in front of the home fans. He ran for a career-high 222 yards at Cincinnati last year. Entering this game with the all-time rushing record within reach, Martin will go for 186 yards to pass Williams and make history with 3,902.

A lot has to happen for all of that to happen, with Martin’s health, the health of his quarterback and offensive line as a primary requirement. Even if he falls short of Williams in the regular season, a trip to the Big 12 championship game, College Football Playoff or a bowl game will give him additional carries to get it done.

There have been thousands of football players who have suited up at BYU and when you consider their greatest accomplishments — a national championship, a Heisman Trophy, a Doak Walker Award and Halls of Fame — fans have witnessed just about everything.

What they haven’t seen before is a kid from El Paso, who first came to know of BYU by watching Allgeier’s infamous “punch-out” play against Arizona State on ESPN, become the program’s all-time leading rusher.

Martin’s got a shot to pull it off and leave a legacy for the next guy to pursue.

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.