Tennessee Tabbed as An Ideal Fit For Damien Martinez

Oregon State Beavers running back Damien Martinez is currently in the NCAA Transfer Portal, and a national writer thinks the Tennessee Volunteers should pursue him.

Oregon State Beavers running back Damien Martinez is currently in the NCAA Transfer Portal, and a national writer thinks the Tennessee Volunteers should pursue him.

Oregon State running back Damien Martinez entered the NCAA Transfer Portal on Tuesday. The official spring portal window opens on April 15, and major suitors are already lining up for the talented running back. Martinez tallied 2,354 all-purpose yards and 16 touchdowns during his two seasons with the Beavers.

He finished No. 2 in rushing across the Pac-12 last season, totaling 1,185 rushing yards. On3's Jesse Simonton tabbed five programs as potential fits for the talented back: Miami, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. The Vols lost backup running back Cameron Seldon for the spring and summer, though he will be back in the fall. Simonton dove into Martinez's potential fit with the team.

"While the offense is known for producing explosive passing plays, the Vols actually led the SEC in rushing last season," Simonton wrote. "Jaylen Wright was awesome (1,013 yards, 7.4 yards per carry), and Jabari Small was solid in a reserve role (475 yards), but both are off to the NFL Draft. Tennessee is very high on (604 yards, seven touchdowns in 2023), but the Vols could use another bell-cow back to pair with the rising junior. The in-between-the-tackles running game is what fuels Tennessee’s go-go offense, and Martinez is excellent at producing yards after contact (3.8 in 2023, per PFF). He would provide Heupel with another valuable weapon to support quarterback Nico Iamaleava."

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