> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Seahawks 90-Man Rundown: Damien Martinez Brings Physicality, Ruggedness to RB Room
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-seahawks-90-man-rundown-damien-martinez/
- Published: 2025-07-18T22:18:08.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T06:19:12.000Z
- Author: Corbin Smith
- Tags: Analysis, Seahawks, Damien Martinez, 90-Man Rundown

\[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="2578"\]

![  Damien Martinez of the Seattle Seahawks takes the practice field prior to an organized team activity session at the VMAC. Credit: Corbin Smith/Emerald City Spectrum  ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/img_3556-jpeg-format-original-1.jpg)

Damien Martinez of the Seattle Seahawks takes the practice field prior to an organized team activity session at the VMAC. Credit: Corbin Smith/Emerald City Spectrum \[/caption\]

With their offseason program now complete, the Seattle Seahawks will open training camp at the VMAC on July 23, marking the start of the upcoming season before fans have a chance to blink.

In preparation for year two under coach Mike Macdonald, I’ll be detailing every member of the Seahawks' 90-man roster over the next several weeks, sharing fun facts, exploring best- and worst-case scenarios, and predicting what to expect from each player entering the 2025 campaign. 

Returning to the Pacific Northwest two years after starring at Oregon State, will Damien Martinez crash the backfield party and put pressure on backups Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh for reps as a rookie?

### Damien Martinez

**Height/Weight**: 6-0, 217 pounds

**2024 Stats**: 1,002 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns

Earning three-star distinction coming out of Lewisville, Texas, Martinez chose to commit to Oregon State over Georgia Tech, Kansas, and several other FBS programs, quickly finding his way into the lineup in Corvallis. Becoming an immediate starter as a true freshman for the Beavers, Martinez nearly hit the century mark in his first year on camps and followed up by rushing for over 1,100 yards and scored nine touchdowns in 2023\. When coach Jonathan Smith departed to take Michigan State’s coaching job at the end of that season, the running back decided to hit the transfer portal and drew significant attention as a four-star transfer recruit based on 247 Sports rankings.

Martinez ultimately transferred to Miami prior to the 2024 season, once again eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark while averaging north of six yards per carry with 10 touchdowns. A punishing downhill runner, he averaged 4.51 yards per carry after contact and forced 42 missed tackles, earning Honorable Mention All-ACC honors and helping the Hurricanes get to double-digit victories. Hurt by being part of an incredibly deep running back class, he somehow lasted into the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft before the Seahawks stopped his free fall, adding him to an already stacked backfield with a chance to vie for snaps early.

**Fun Fact**: Functioning like a bludgeoning object out of the backfield, per Pro Football Focus charting, Martinez ranked fourth among qualified FBS backs who carried the ball at least 125 times averaging 4.51 yards per carry after contact.

**Best Case Scenario**: Even with a ton of talent ahead of him on the depth chart, just as he did at Oregon State and Miami, Martinez makes his presence felt as a tone-setting, physical runner with underrated burst and outstanding vision, finishing with the most rushing yards for any running back in the NFL during the preseason while giving Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh a run for their money vying for Sunday reps.

**Worst Case Scenario**: A victim of circumstance with Ken Walker, Charbonnet, McIntosh, and George Holani already on Seattle’s roster, Martinez finds himself getting most of his preseason work in the second half of games and he doesn’t offer enough as a pass catcher to jump into the top three or four in the rotation, leading to his release and a return on the practice squad.

**What to Expect in 2025**: Due to the talent already on the depth chart, some may view Martinez’s situation as an unideal one for finding early playing time, especially since he wasn’t an overly effective receiver and battled drop issues at two stops in college. The lack of a refined every down skill set - at least for now - could be a major issue for him to overcome with Charbonnet, McIntosh, and Holani all offering more value catching passes and picking up blitzes in protection. He also didn’t play much special teams in college and will have to prove that he can actually contribute in that capacity to stick around in the league.

But while those aforementioned concerns are legitimate ones, Martinez checks off a lot of boxes that mesh with what Macdonald and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak desire on offense. He’s a blue collar junkyard dog-type who excels at bouncing off of tacklers and finishing runs with authority, which immediately would add bite to Seattle’s run game. In addition, he has excelled as a zone runner at the college level due to excellent vision and decisiveness reading his blocks. Seeing much action on offense as a rookie may require injuries ahead of him, but at the same time, if he’s bowling over defenders and regularly generating first downs with his bullish running in the preseason, it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if he makes McIntosh and maybe even Charbonnet sweat a little.