DALLAS — For a second consecutive season, BYU running back LJ Martin has been named a preseason candidate for the Doak Walker Award as announced today by PwC SMU Athletic Forum.
Since 1990, the Doak Walker Award has been presented annually to the nation’s best collegiate running back. Former BYU consensus All-American Luke Staley won the prestigious award in 2001.
Earlier in July, Martin was named Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team by Athlon Sports for the upcoming football season. The 6-2, 220-pound running back from El Paso, Texas, wrapped up his sophomore campaign by being named the 2024 Valero Alamo Bowl Offensive MVP after leading BYU to a 36-14 win over Colorado.
Martin led BYU in rushing with 723 yards on 138 carries (5.2 per attempt) and seven touchdowns as a sophomore in 2024 and received College Football Network All-Big 12 honorable mention. In addition, he earned back-to-back Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week honorable-mention recognition for performances versus Arizona and Oklahoma State.
As a true freshman in 2023, he led the Cougars with 109 carries for 518 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Martin's four rushing touchdowns through the first five games of his freshman season were the most by a BYU true freshman running back since Staley had eight through five games in 1999.
Martin was also honored as a freshman of the week by the Football Writers Association of America in week three of the 2023 season after scoring two touchdowns and helping BYU to a 38-31 win at Arkansas.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists of the Doak Walker Award in early November. The national selection committee—consisting of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives—will announce the three finalists in late November. The recipient of the 2025 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec.12.
The award is named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. Each Tuesday during the 2025 season, PwC SMU Athletic Forum will announce a Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week.