Player Profile-Doug Martin-Boise State

It's late at night. I can't sleep. I'm bored. I haven't blogged in a while. Let's go...


Doug Martin is the best college football player you've never heard of. If you're hearing his name for the first time - remember it. He's the starting tailback for the Boise State Broncos. He's about 5'10", 215 pounds, junior running back and he leads the league in awesomeness.

Why haven't you heard of him?

Doug Martin showed up at Boise State in 2007 ready to redshirt. There was a logjam as it is at the running back spot with D.J Harper and Jeremy Avery getting ready to play as true freshman. But most notably, Ian Johnson was suiting up for his junior year with the Broncos. Even as a redshirt, there were comments made by some anonymous players that Doug Martin (not Ian Johnson) was the best running back on the team.

In 2008, playing as a redshirt freshman, Doug Martin saw little time in the backfield due to the depth of the running back position. Ian Johnson was now a senior and DJ Harper and Jeremy Avery had proved themselves as worthy backups. Still Doug Martin impressed.

By the time 2009 rolled around Avery and Harper had established themselves in the offense. Ian Johnson was now gone but the coaches knew a player as talented as Doug Martin shouldn't be kept off the field. In the spring of 2009, Martin agreed to make a move to defense at a position called "nickelbacker", a hybrid position of a defensive back and linebacker. Winston Venable won the starting job but in the first couple games Doug Martin received valuable playing time in his new defensive role. In the third game of the season, DJ Harper tore his ACL against Fresno State. With depth now a concern at running back, the coaches had no choice but to have Martin return to offense to play his original position. The position he had played all his life until the 2009 season.


Doug Martin was already becoming a fan favorite before he was thrust back onto offense but his popularity among Bronco fans skyrocketed when we got our first real glimpse at would Dougie could do. For the rest of the season, Doug Martin split carries with starting running back, Jeremy Avery. In 2009, "Doug Mad, Doug Smash" ran for 765 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. On top of that, he averaged six yards per carry. After coming back to offense, the Doug Martin Hype Machine didn't disappoint. He punished defenders for the next 10 games. If you were in his way, you were ran over. If you gave him space, he ran around you.

In 2010, Doug Martin was named the starting running back despite Jeremy Avery being the starter in 2009 and running for over 1,100 yards. Doug Martin, now known as the "Muscle Hamster" (probably because of his 400 pound bench press) according to his teammates, has been stellar in 2010. Martin may not get feature back like carries because Boise State blows out so many opponents but there's no reason to fret.

Doug Martin will be around for a while. Once he's done playing on Saturdays, start looking for him on Sundays.


Some facts about Doug Martin:

He's from Stockton, California
He's a good dancer
He owns a Fiesta Bowl ring
He once gave a round house kick to Chuck Norris. Chuck nodded in approval
He's the proud owner of two snakes
The snakes are afraid of him


Here's Martin's highlight video from 2009. Check out the Muscle Hamster...