Damien Martinez is the most decorated runner to line up in Miami’s backfield since Duke Johnson. The Oregon State transfer, who ran for 1,185 yards last year, met with the ACC Network to discuss his transition to Miami and more:
On why he chose to come to Miami: Just the offense and everything Coach Cristobal and Coach Dawson were preaching. This offense could be so explosive. Everybody kind sees the team on paper, how explosive we can be. You just need to put it all together and that's what I thought coming into this.
On whether Miami lived up to his expectations: It's definitely lived up to the hype that I had for it. We’ve got Restrepo on the outside, a thousand-yard receiver. Jacoby's almost a thousand-yard receiver, Isaiah Horton is coming. JoJo [Trader], I can go on and on about everybody on the team. We’ve just got to put it together. That’s all it has to be.
On how he got integrated with the team: It's been pretty smooth transition, just getting to know the guys off the field. We did team events and stuff like that. Now being on the field, you play harder for each other because we are closer like that.
On dealing with expectations: We definitely don't look into that at all. Nothing matters besides the people that are in this building. That’s all we care about. We just want to continue to get better every day and work on what we know we need to work on and get better at that.
On the potential for the offense: Dangerous. Pick your poison. I mean, you’ve gotta pick one. You can't really lock one down. All the receivers, the tight ends, line, it's gonna be crazy this year for sure.
On why he chose to come to Miami: Just the offense and everything Coach Cristobal and Coach Dawson were preaching. This offense could be so explosive. Everybody kind sees the team on paper, how explosive we can be. You just need to put it all together and that's what I thought coming into this.
On whether Miami lived up to his expectations: It's definitely lived up to the hype that I had for it. We’ve got Restrepo on the outside, a thousand-yard receiver. Jacoby's almost a thousand-yard receiver, Isaiah Horton is coming. JoJo [Trader], I can go on and on about everybody on the team. We’ve just got to put it together. That’s all it has to be.
On how he got integrated with the team: It's been pretty smooth transition, just getting to know the guys off the field. We did team events and stuff like that. Now being on the field, you play harder for each other because we are closer like that.
On dealing with expectations: We definitely don't look into that at all. Nothing matters besides the people that are in this building. That’s all we care about. We just want to continue to get better every day and work on what we know we need to work on and get better at that.
On the potential for the offense: Dangerous. Pick your poison. I mean, you’ve gotta pick one. You can't really lock one down. All the receivers, the tight ends, line, it's gonna be crazy this year for sure.
