CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — BYU running back LJ Martin, the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, was today named Sporting News second-team Preseason All-America.
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 prestigious Maxwell Award and was selected preseason All-Big 12 by Phil Steele, Athlon Sports and Sports Info Solutions.
First published in 1886, The Sporting News is one of five outlets used to determine consensus All-American status at the conclusion of each college football season.
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