Top prospect path from breakout freshman at Oregon State to an impact player at Miami ultimately led to his selection by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Given his impressive production and physical tools, NFL analyst Field Yates called the pick a major steal for Seattle.
Top star in the seventh round?! What a find for the Seahawks!
At 6’0″ and 217 pounds, he has been a force at every stop in his college career. In 2024 with Miami, he topped 1,000 rushing yards for the third time, adding 10 touchdowns along the way. During his two years at Oregon State, Martinez racked up 2,167 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging 6.1 yards per carry — accolades that earned him back-to-back First-Team All-Pac-12 honors and Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.
Although Miami’s offense primarily ran through No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, Martinez showcased his growth as a pass-catcher. He finished last season with 17 receptions for 204 yards, easing some scouts’ concerns after modest receiving production (15 catches for 187 yards) during his time with the Beavers.
Despite proving himself as a more complete back, Martinez still slipped to the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Day 3 was packed with running back selections, including notable names like Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State), Cam Skattebo (Arizona State), and Dylan Sampson (Tennessee), all taken before Martinez finally heard his name called.