BREAKINGS NEWS :Miami Hurricanes Score Big: RB Transfer Damien Martinez Joins the U…

Damien Martinez, a former Oregon State 1,000-yard rusher, is among the top players available on the transfer portal, and Miami acquired him on Saturday.

The 6’2″, 232-pound Texas back, who was named the Pac-12’s Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2022, gained 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns in his second campaign. Martinez traveled to Coral Gables on Thursday after stopping in Arizona and Mississippi State.

Miami boasts five scholarship running backs; however, the two most experienced backs on the team, redshirt sophomore Ajay Allen (361 yards) and sophomore Mark Fletcher (514 yards in 2023) missed the spring due to injuries.

Coach Cristobal now has a legitimate No. 1 running back in Martinez to go along with quarterback Cam Ward, who departed Washington State after tossing for 3,735 yards and 25 touchdowns, chose to return to school in Miami for one more season, and then joined the NFL Draft.

The Hurricanes are excited to have return three of their five offensive line starters along with two of the greatest receivers in the ACC in Xavier Restrepo (85 catches, 1,092 yards in 2023) and Jacolby George (57 catches, 864 yards).