Lost in No. 11 BYU’s 41-21 win over UCF on Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium and the ongoing debate over whether or not the 11-1 Cougars should be in consideration for an at-large berth in the College Football Invitational (er, Playoffs) was a decision by star running back LJ Martin that could have a big impact on next year’s team.
A junior with one season of eligibility remaining, Martin chose to participate in Senior Day activities before and after he became the first Cougar to rush for three touchdowns in a game since Tyler Allgeier in 2021 against UAB. It was the first indication from the blossoming superstar from El Paso, Texas, that he is seriously considering declaring for the NFL draft at season’s end.
“Yeah, just the feedback I’ve gotten … from coaches and stuff, so yeah. It was just suggested, so (he made that choice),” Martin said when he was asked by Mitch Harper of KSL Sports what led him to wanting to be honored Saturday.
Earlier in the week, NFL draft analyst Todd McShay said Martin would be among the first five running backs taken in the 2026 draft, if he declared early. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder has rushed for a career-high 1,229 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, and caught 29 passes for 224 yards.
Martin is a strong candidate to be named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year when the awards are announced later this week ahead of BYU’s 10 a.m. MST rematch with No. 5 Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Three other Cougars with eligibility remaining also chose to be honored Saturday: linebacker Isaiah Glasker, defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa and punter Sam Vander Haar. Of those, Glasker and Tanuvasa are considered to be NFL draft prospects. Vander Haar, who is from Australia and transferred to BYU from Pitt two years ago, is 28.
Since he arrived at BYU 10 years ago, head coach Kalani Sitake has encouraged players to explore their NFL prospects as underclassmen and then make the best decision for themselves. Last year, star receiver Chase Roberts did just that — and was honored with the seniors before the Cougars played Houston — before deciding to return.
“We are going to do what’s best for them,” Sitake said, when asked what advice he might have for players such as Martin. “What’s best for them is to make sure that we give them a farewell, rather than not get it covered (if they leave early). Chase did the same thing last year, and Mory (Bamba) did it, too.
“So we just want to make sure that we took care of them, that they had a farewell senior game … and a chance to get two blankets.”
Glasker briefly considered leaving after BYU’s 36-14 victory over Colorado in the Alamo Bowl last year, but returned and has battled nagging injuries all season. Tanuvasa has started in all 12 games as BYU has posted its first 11-win regular season since 2001, but has had some ups and downs.
“With LJ, Keanu, Glasker, all those guys, we want them to look at where they’re going to be in the draft, figure things out, talk to their families,” Sitake said. “But I’m always going to what’s best for them.”
If the soft-spoken Martin does leave (and BYU doesn’t get a home game in the CFP), his final game at LES was one for the record books. After rushing for a career-high 222 yards in last week’s 26-14 win over Cincinnati, Martin picked up 95 yards on 22 carries against the Knights, and added five catches for 35 yards.
“It has been awesome (playing with Martin),” said freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier. “Obviously, he is a veteran. I saw him walking out there at the end (in the Senior Walk), and I was wanting him to come back (next year). He’s another (set of) eyes in the backfield, and having him in the backfield has been great. Sometimes he will alert me on some pressures. Yeah, it has been great.”
A three-year starter, Martin is now 13th on BYU’s career rushing touchdowns list (22), having moved ahead of Eric Lane, Lopini Katoa and Jeff Blanc.
“I am more focused on wins and losses. I just want to make the most I can with my opportunities that I have been given and I am just glad that is being done and I think it is a cool stat for the O line,” he said of his surpassing the 1,000-yard season rushing plateau. “They are moving guys and getting the job done.”
In the 29-7 loss at Texas Tech, Martin was coming off a shoulder injury he sustained against Iowa State two weeks prior and was held to 35 yards on five carries and six catches for 29 yards.
“We are pretty excited (to face TT again),” he said. “We felt like it wasn’t our best showing, so to be able to go back out there and try to compete again and do our best, we feel like it is going to be a great opportunity and we need to go out there and be prepared.”