Doug Martin (running back)

Early life

Martin was born in Oakland, California, and grew up in Stockton, California, where he attended St. Mary's High School. He was a letterman in football and track. As a junior, Martin rushed 228 times for 1,950 yards and 18 touchdowns, earning first-team all-selection and all-area honors by the Stockton Record and All-San Joaquin accolades by Comcast Sports. During his senior season, he rushed for 1,234 yards on 171 carries and 14 touchdowns winning the team's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

In track & field, Martin recorded a personal-best time of 11.15 seconds in the 100-meter dash as a senior. In addition, he also had top-jumps of 6.69 meters (21 ft, 11 in) in the long jump and 13.20 meters (43 ft, 3 in) in the triple jump.

Martin had interest from bigger programs such as California and Oregon State, but committed to Boise State on December 14, 2006.

College career

Martin attended Boise State University from 2007 to 2011, where he majored in business. He finished his college career with 3,431 yards on 617 carries with 43 touchdowns.

As a senior in 2011, Martin was the MVP of the 2011 Maaco Bowl Las Vegas after returning the opening kickoff 100-yards for a touchdown and rushing for 151 yards and a touchdown. Throughout his college career, Martin started 25-of-51 games at Boise State and was a first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection in 2011 and All-Western Athletic Conference in 2010. Martin ranks third in school history with 43 rushing touchdowns and 48 total touchdowns, fifth with 3,431 rushing yards and sixth with 617 rushing attempts. Martin was nicknamed "Muscle Hamster" by his Boise State teammates due to his strength and small size.

Professional career

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Martin with the 31st overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, making him the first player from Boise State University to be drafted by the Buccaneers. On June 4, 2012, Martin signed a five-year contract, worth $6.787 million with the team. After a successful 2012 preseason with the Buccaneers, where he rushed for 97 yards on 27 carries to go with two rushing touchdowns, Martin was officially named as the team's starting running back entering the 2012 regular season by coach Greg Schiano.

2012 season

On October 25, 2012, Martin rushed for 135 yards and one touchdown and caught three passes for 79 yards and one touchdown in a 36-17 win against the Minnesota Vikings. One week later, Martin rushed for 251 yards and tied the NFL record for rushing touchdowns in a half with four in a 42-32 road win against the Oakland Raiders. In the game, Martin became the first player in NFL history to score touchdown runs of 70-plus, 45-plus, and 65-plus yards in a game, and is the second player in league history (along with Mike Anderson) to run for 250+ yards and four touchdowns in a game (coincidentally, they both ran for exactly 251 yards and were both in their rookie seasons). Martin also broke the franchise records for rushing yardage and touchdowns in a game.

At the end of the 2012 NFL regular season, Martin finished with over 1,450 yards rushing and nearly 500 yards receiving. His 1,926 yards from scrimmage in a single season ranks him second in Buccaneers' history behind James Wilder (2,229 yards from scrimmage). His 1,454 rushing yards broke the Buccaneers' single-season rookie rushing record that was previously held by Cadillac Williams (1,178 rushing yards). On January 4, 2013, Martin was announced as one of five finalists for the 2012 NFL rookie of the year award while earning a trip to the 2013 Pro Bowl as first alternate.

2013 season

On September 15, 2013, in a game against the New Orleans Saints, Martin rushed for 144 yards on 29 carries. He suffered a shoulder injury against the Atlanta Falcons on October 20, 2013. He was placed on the season-ending injured reserve on November 8, 2013 because of a torn labrum.

2015 season

Before the season, the Buccaneers declined picking up the fifth-year option of Martin's rookie contract, which would have allowed him to become a free agent after the season. In week 11 against the Philadelphia Eagles, he ran for 235 yards on 27 carries, averaging 8.7 yards-per-attempt. Following Martin's resurgent season he was selected for the 2016 Pro Bowl, the second of his career, and became the first Buccaneers running back to be named a First-team All-Pro. He was also ranked 33rd on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.

2016 season

On March 9, 2016, Martin signed a five-year, $35.75 million contract extension, keeping him with the Buccaneers through the 2020 season.

On December 28, 2016, Martin was suspended four games for violation of the NFL substance abuse policy. Martin's suspension will carry into the 2017 season. He made the announcement stating that he intends to enter a treatment facility after testing positive for Adderall. As a result, he would not receive $15 million in guaranteed money.

NFL records

Buccaneers franchise records

Personal life

Martin visited youth at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg and sang holiday carols to residents at Westminster Palms retirement home in December 2012.

On May 4, 2017, Martin was injured in a car accident in Tampa, Florida. His injuries were not too serious, but required stitches for a cut on his chin.