NEW HAVEN, Connecticut — BYU running back LJ Martin was today named to the preseason watch list for the prestigious Walter Camp Player of Year Award, presented annually since 1967 by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
The player of year award watch list includes 41 offensive players, along with nine defensive players. A total of 38 different schools, representing 11 conferences and independents, are represented in the watch list.
Martin, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior from El Paso, Texas, rushed for 1,305 yards to rank No. 11 nationally in 2025. He was also No. 12 nationally in average yards per game (100.38) and No. 13 in all-purpose yards per game (120.0). Martin’s 1,305 yards rushing were the seventh-most in school history for a single season.
At the conclusion of the 2025 season, Martin was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Big 12 running back. He also received Pro Football Network second-team All-America honors and was a semifinalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award. In addition, he was named All-Big 12 by the Pro Football Network, Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solutions.
Martin was recently selected as the 2026 Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and was named preseason All-America by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. He was also named a candidate for the Maxwell Award and was selected preseason All-Big 12 by Phil Steele, Athlon Sports, Pro Football Network and Sports Info Solutions.
The Walter Camp Player of Year watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists in early November, with three finalists being announced in early December. The 2026 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, voted on by the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced in the second week of December.
BYU kicks off the 2026 football season against Utah Tech on Saturday, Sept. 5 at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with the kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. MDT