BYU running back LJ Martin lands on Walter Camp Player of the Year preseason watch list

BYU running back LJ Martin has been named to the preseason watch list for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, a recognition that highlights the player the Walter Camp Football Foundation believes best represents excellence across college football. The announcement places Martin in the early group of candidates ahead of the 2026 season and indicates BYU’s continued emphasis on an offense built to create big-play production.

For the Cougars, the watch list nod is an extension of what BYU is trying to make its identity: an aggressive offensive approach where the running game is not merely complementary, but central. Martin’s label as an “explosive” back reflects the type of role that often influences national award conversations, particularly for players who can change games with space touches, interior runs, or both.

The Walter Camp Player of the Year Award has long been viewed as one of the marquee individual honors in college football, and preseason watch lists typically serve as the first public checkpoint in a season-long tracking process. From there, the list often narrows as performances accumulate, with voters and observers placing increasing weight on production against quality opponents and consistency over the full campaign.

Martin’s placement on the list also carries a practical meaning for BYU. Being named early draws attention to the offensive contributors the program wants to feature most, and it can shape how opponents prepare week to week. When a running back is framed as a lead candidate for a national award, that can raise the emphasis on run fits, tackle technique, and the ability to prevent broken runs, especially in situations where BYU’s offense is operating with tempo and a rhythm built around quick touches.

Still, the preseason label is only the starting point. A watch list does not guarantee finalists, and awards typically hinge on what happens from week to week, including the ability to sustain impact as defenses adapt. BYU fans will be looking for Martin to translate preseason attention into repeatable performances, particularly in games where the offense needs its most explosive plays to flip momentum.

As the 2026 season approaches, Martin’s progression on the national conversation will be the storyline to watch. The question becomes whether the Cougars can keep rolling offensively while Martin maintains the kind of production that separates a good season from an award-level one.

For more on Martin’s status entering the year, BYU’s preseason news item ties the watch list recognition directly to the Walter Camp award process and frames him as a key component of a high-powered BYU offense going into 2026.