With Coach Kam Martin, History Bodes Well for the Seminoles
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It has been eight long years since the Florida State
Seminoles produced a 1,000-yard rusher.
Cam Akers last eclipsed that milestone
in 2019, rushing for over 1,100 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns. Florida State
running backs coach Kam Martin is looking to change that, and he has the coaching
acumen, historical relevancy, and a talented backfield this season to accomplish
that feat.
Martin cut his teeth in the coaching profession as an offensive
assistant at UCF in 2021, under then-head coach Gus Malzahn. As an Auburn alum,
Martin played for Malzahn, so his familiarity with Malzahn’s run-heavy spread offense
made the hire a logical fit.
During that 2021 season, the Knights averaged over 196
yards per game rushing the football and were No. 1 in the country in fourth
down conversions with an 85 percent success rate. The Knights finished with a
9-4 record that season.
In 2022, in his first season as a position coach, Martin
coached the Incarnate Word running backs to new heights. Behind Martin’s
rushing attack, the Cardinals finished with a school-record 12 wins, rushed for
over 3,200 yards, which ranked in the top ten in the FCS, and scored 30
touchdowns. Under Martin’s watchful eye, senior running back Marcus Cooper
rushed for 1.476 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Martin was welcomed back to UCF with open arms for the
2023 and 2024 seasons. UCF running back RJ Harvey was a direct beneficiary of Martin’s
tutelage. Over those two seasons, Harvey rushed for 2,993 yards, scored 38
touchdowns, and averaged six yards per carry. As a result, Harvey was a
two-time Doak Walker Award semifinalist. Harvey earned first-team All-Big 12 honors
and was a second-round pick in the NFL Draft.
On Martin’s watch, the Knights were a top five rushing
attack in the FBS in both 2023 and 2024, averaging 228 yards and 248 yards per
game, respectively.
Going into the 2026 season, Martin will have a
talented backfield with which to work his magic in his first season in
Tallahassee, led by Ousmane Kromah and Texas Longhorns transfer Quintrevion
Wisner.
In a story on Noles 247 by John Evans, Martin will get
the chance to observe Kromah, Wisner, and also Sam Singleton in a team
scrimmage on Tuesday. "I feel like it's going to decide tomorrow," Martin
said of the first scrimmage. "These guys, they've got to go out there and
run the ball and protect and do all of the little things of what it takes to be
the guy.”
“And
I'm excited to see it. I'm excited to see who's gonna break tackles, I'm
excited to see who's gonna protect the ball, I'm excited to see who's gonna
make game-changing plays. And I feel like these guys, they're willing to do it,”
said Martin.
Kromah rushed for over 400 yards last season, but had
zero touchdowns. Wisner rushed for 597 yards and just three touchdowns after rushing
for over 1,000 yards in 2024. Both players will need to increase those numbers
significantly. Martin is the Michelangelo of running backs, taking raw, talented
rushers and turning them into works of art on the gridiron.
Last season, the Seminoles led the ACC and ranked No.
11 nationally in rushing, as they averaged 218 yards per game and scored 31
touchdowns. It will be Martin’s priority to ensure that trend continues.
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