LJ Martin was arguably the best offensive player in the Big 12 conference last season. He led the conference in rushing with 236 attempts, 1305 yards and 100.4 yards per game. As we enter the summer portion of the 2027 NFL Draft cycle, this article will assess Martin as a prospect ahead of his senior year with the Cougars.
LJ Martin 2027 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report
Career Statistics
- 2537 Rush Yards
- 5.3 Yards Per Carry
- 77.0 Yards Per Game
- 23 Touchdowns, 4 Fumbles
- 119 Missed Tackles Forced
- 1720 Yards After Contact
- 78.5 Average Offensive Grade (Pro Football Focus)
- 82.1 Average Rushing Grade (Pro Football Focus)
- 61.7 Average Receiving Grade (Pro Football Focus)
Player Background
- 6’ 2”, 225 lb. frame
- 3-star recruit, 37th ranked running back in 2023 recruiting class (24/7)
- Dual-sport athlete who competed in track and field while shining on the gridiron in high school
- Committed to BYU despite receiving offers from Baylor, Texas Tech and Stanford
- 2024 Alamo Bowl Offensive MVP
- First Team All-Big 12 and the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2025
- 2026 Preseason First Team All-Big 12 selection
Best Tools for LJ Martin
- Jump cut quickness and lateral agility to shake defensive linemen in the backfield to avoid negative yardage
- Uses good vision to quickly identify clogged lanes and bounce runs outside where he gets to his top speed with little wasted time
- Possesses a workhorse build that is not afraid of contact; incredibly tough to bring down one-on-one in the open field
- Third down utilization is promising for his future; strong hands as a receiver and has good technique as a blocker
BYU RB LJ Martin is a player to watch. Smooth athlete at 6'2"/220 pic.twitter.com/eFjAs7XQss
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) September 5, 2025
Tools to Improve for LJ Martin
- Naturally high runner with his height listed at 6-foot-2
- Has more explosive speed rather than a true “home run hitting” third gear
- Relies too much on lowering the shoulder and winning with physicality in the open field rather than mixing in agility
- Lower half doesn’t play with the same strength as his upper-half; struggles to use his legs to drag/drive defenders forward
Early NFL Prospect Summary
LJ Martin has led BYU in rushing yards and touchdowns over the last two seasons and that won’t change in 2026. He has the build that can withstand a heavy workload at the next level but will enter the 2027 NFL Draft with a lot of wear on his tires. If Martin can finish his collegiate career off with a strong senior season, he should lock in an invite to the Senior Bowl while solidifying himself as one of the top running backs in this class.
Main Image: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
