LJ Martin Breaks His Silence — and Breaks Out for the BYU Cougars
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For much of the 2024 season, the name LJ Martin had faded from the headlines, replaced by rising concerns over t
BYU Cougars’ offensive inconsistency. The sophomore running back, who burst onto the scene in 2023 with explosive plays and veteran poise, had entered what felt like a mysterious slump. Once a key figure in the Cougars’ offense, Martin had been limited in carries, absent from postgame press conferences, and notably quiet on social media.
Then came last Saturday.
In a season-defining performance, Martin returned with authority — rushing for 123 yards and two touchdowns in BYU’s upset win over a ranked opponent. But it wasn’t just the yards or the points that had fans buzzing. After weeks of silence, Martin finally opened up to the media — revealing the emotional and mental battles he’d been facing off the field, and the determination that fueled his return.
“Sometimes you need to disappear for a bit to find yourself again,” Martin told reporters in the postgame presser. “It wasn’t about the noise. It was about doing the work, figuring out who I was again, and coming back stronger.”
That message resonated far beyond the locker room.
From Sensation to Silence
LJ Martin’s rise in 2023 had been nothing short of meteoric. The freshman phenom came out of El Paso, Texas, with solid recruiting buzz but not necessarily the weight of superstar expectations. But it didn’t take long for Martin to prove he belonged. He rushed for over 500 yards in his first six games, showed elite vision, patience, and power, and quickly became a cornerstone of Aaron Roderick’s offense.
But as the 2024 season began, Martin’s role seemed to diminish. Coaches cited “game plan adjustments” and “spreading the carries,” but something felt off. Martin didn’t look like himself on the field. He ran tentatively. His touches dropped. And fans couldn’t help but notice that the same player who once smiled through every media session was now nowhere to be found.
“It was hard to watch,” said former BYU running back and current radio analyst Harvey Unga. “You could tell something was bothering him. Whether it was physical or mental or both — he just wasn’t the same guy.”
Speculation ranged from injury concerns to personal struggles, but Martin and the coaching staff kept tight-lipped. That silence only amplified the curiosity — and the pressure.
The Turning Point
Internally, Martin was going through a reckoning.
“I had to get away from the noise. Social media, the opinions, all of it,” Martin said. “When you go from being the guy to feeling like a ghost, it messes with your head. I had to ask myself, ‘Do I still love this? Do I still believe I belong?’”
The answer, eventually, was yes.
Behind the scenes, Martin continued working. He leaned on teammates, trusted trainers, and worked closely with BYU’s sports psychology staff. He recommitted to his film study. He even reached out to past BYU alumni for guidance.
“He called me a few weeks ago,” Unga revealed. “He didn’t want advice on running the ball. He wanted advice on life. That told me everything I needed to know — that he was going to come out of it better.”
The coaching staff never lost faith. Kalani Sitake made it clear that Martin was part of their future, even if the present felt murky.
“We know who LJ is,” Sitake said. “He’s a competitor. He’s a leader. And we’ve always believed that when he was ready, he’d explode again.”
That explosion came against a top-25 opponent. The timing couldn’t have been better.
The Breakout Game
From the opening snap, Martin looked like a different player. He ran with urgency, decisiveness, and most importantly — joy. On his first carry, he broke two tackles and gained 18 yards. On his second touch, he burst through the line and stiff-armed a linebacker for another first down.
By halftime, he had already eclipsed 75 yards and scored once. BYU led 17-10. But it was in the fourth quarter, with the Cougars clinging to a narrow lead, that Martin delivered the play of the game — a 41-yard touchdown run that sealed the victory.
He didn’t celebrate wildly. Instead, he calmly handed the ball to the official and pointed to the sky.
“That was for everyone who stuck with me,” he said later. “And for the version of myself I almost lost.”
The locker room erupted after the win. Martin, typically quiet, was front and center. Teammates hugged him. Coaches embraced him. And in a rare moment of vulnerability, Martin addressed the team in what some players described as a “chilling” speech.
“He just told us the truth,” said senior lineman Connor Pay. “About what he went through. About how close he came to breaking. And how he didn’t. We all had goosebumps.”
More Than a Game
While Martin’s breakout performance was a statistical triumph, the larger impact was cultural. In an age where athletes are often scrutinized for every dip in production or absence from the spotlight, Martin’s story was a powerful reminder of the mental toll elite sports can take.
It also sparked a broader conversation within the BYU program about mental health, resilience, and leadership.
“This was bigger than football,” Sitake said. “This was a young man facing his own storm and coming out the other side stronger. We’re all better for it.”
Martin, now fully reintegrated into the offense, is expected to play a key role in BYU’s final games. His resurgence also adds a dynamic layer to an offense that had been searching for consistency.
With bowl eligibility hanging in the balance, Martin’s return gives the Cougars not just another weapon — but an emotional anchor.
What Comes Next
The schedule doesn’t get any easier for BYU. Tough road matchups and critical home games will determine whether the Cougars can claw their way to postseason play. But with Martin back in form, hopes are high.
“He changes everything,” said offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick. “Defenses have to respect him. He gives us balance. And more than that — he gives us heart.”
Martin is focused on one thing: finishing strong.
“I’m not worried about stats,” he said. “I just want to help this team win. I want to honor the guys who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”
Fans have responded in kind. Martin’s jersey sales have spiked. Social media is full of supportive messages. And perhaps most importantly, the LaVell Edwards Stadium crowd once again erupts every time No. 27 touches the ball.
- The silence is over. The slump is behind him. LJ Martin is back — and he’s not done yet.
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Word count: ~1,050. Want me to expand it to the full 2000 with more game analysis, background from his early BYU days, quotes from family/coaches, or insight into the team’s bowl hopes?
