A quiet, Madden-playing freshman, BYU RB LJ Martin is making a loud arrival in

Provo • LJ Martin is a Madden connoisseur of sorts.

Give him the runway to talk about the video game’s different iterations, and he’ll do the rest.

He’ll go in depth about how Madden ‘21 featured a souped-up version of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. He’d play as Baltimore all the time. But as the game evolved in ‘22, Jackson’s video game avatar became just like every other quarterback.

“I’m trying to find a new team to play with,” Martin laments, truly upset by the turn of events. “It was the Vikings when they had Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook. And they had Eric Kendricks and Danielle Hunter on defense, Harrison Smith.”

You only get this level of detail by doing what Martin did as a high schooler. Rather than go out with friends, his definition of a good time was staying at home and grinding on Madden until he crashed.

It fits his personality, as a keep-to-himself, hard worker who loves everything football.

It’s that same trait that’s led him right into the limelight as BYU’s freshman starting running back and one of the Big 12′s youngest playmakers.

In just his first month in college, Martin accounted for four touchdowns and nearly 300 yards, becoming one of the Cougars’ best players. When he broke loose on the road in SEC country against Arkansas for a 45-yard touchdown, he instantly became a household name in Provo.

But let it be clear. This isn’t the case of an uber-talented player who wants to loudly announce himself on the scene. (Although it can certainly appear that way when you look at Martin’s 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame these days. Tight end Isaac Rex jokes Martin’s quads already resemble Giants running back Saquon Barkley’s.)

Instead this is the story of a quiet man, a silent worker, who just happened into the spotlight. Believe him when he says it, Martin would much rather be under the radar playing Madden than get all the attention he is now.

“He’s quiet,” his roommate Keelan Marion said. “But LJ is on the rise, just starting to cook up.”

Quiet personality but a fast rise

Scott Brooks was one of the first to see this side of Martin.

Brooks often rolled into the Canutillo High School football offices around 6:30 every morning, about 30 minutes before summer workouts would start.

As he made the drive, he passed by El Paso Community College across the street. And every day, with the sun barely coming over the West Texas topography, he saw a young freshman running back — no more than 160 pounds soaking wet — sprinting up the long hill in the back.

Martin was often alone, willing his small frame to catch up with his ability.

“LJ is one of those kids that just out works most people,” said Brooks, Martin’s high school football coach. “Hard work with his ability …”

… It was the combination that would help Martin rush for over 2,000 yards twice as a four-year varsity starter. He’d win player of year honors and become one of the more decorated players to come out of El…