BYU football: Have the rumors of BYU RB LJ Martin's unavailability been exaggerated?

PROVO — With just two days remaining until the Cougars open the 2024 football season versus Southern Illinois, LJ Martin is listed on the depth chart as one of the team's two starting running backs, along with Hinckley Ropati.

That listing comes despite not logging live reps during the sessions of practice open to the media and on the heels of several media reports throwing doubt on his availability during the first few weeks of the season.

But coaches, the released depth chart and, perhaps most importantly, Martin himself have argued otherwise.

Martin agreed to do an interview during this week's media availability where he confidently stated: "I feel great. I've been working (with the trainers) and they've been getting me right. I feel like I'm ready to go."

Spring setback

The doubts of Martin's availability are due to the 6-foot-2, 225 pound sophomore missing most of spring practices due to a shoulder injury. The severity of that shoulder injury was initially thought to be debilitating, according to Martin; although, he's been able to overcome the effects and feels ready to roll come Saturday.

"It was pretty serious and there was some serious doubt, but God answers prayers," Martin said. "I just kept praying (with) my family, and sure enough I was back like it never happened."

Martin is quick to credit BYU's training staff for aiding his rehabilitation process, namely Skyler Mayne, Coleby Clawson and Terrance Motley. Getting his shoulder right involved a lot of work, with BYU's staff intently and ardently working with Martin throughout all of it.

"They were with me every day and … they would just really help me," Martin said.

Reprising his role or otherwise

When asked what exactly his role will be when he takes the field against Southern Illinois, Martin didn't provide specifics and probably isn't qualified to do as much anyway. But what he did express is a desire to help the team win regardless of what his specific role will ultimately be.

"I want whatever they want from me," Martin said. "If they want me to carry the ball 100 times or zero times, I'm just happy to be here."

Martin carried this same attitude when first arriving in Provo last season as a first-year player. He spent most of the fall practice session seeing reps with the third and fourth team offensive units before asserting himself prominently late in the practice session.

Although shining during certain practice sessions, Martin was still relatively unsure what his exact role will be, and maybe even harbored some doubts on how he'd ultimately acquit himself. But whatever doubts existed regarding his role and his ability were answered soundly when BYU upset Arkansas early in the season 38-31.

Martin led the BYU running back corps, rushing the ball 23 times for 77 yards and two touchdowns; and although those stats aren't necessarily stellar, Martin came away with a firm belief that he belonged.

"You always hear SEC this and SEC that, and then just going out there and competing — being able to make cuts and making a couple of guys miss — I was just like, 'Yeah, I'm built for this,'" Martin said.

Unfortunately, BYU's run game lagged considerably for the duration of the 2023 season, though Martin believes things will turn around this year.

"Those guys on the O-line — they've been working their tails off with coach (TJ) Woods," Martin said. "They heard it all last year, and now they're out here to prove people wrong. I believe in them and I'm going to work with them to make it happen."

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