Robert Martin

Martin led the charge of Rutgers’ run game last season as a sophomore, taking 141 carries for 763 yards (5.41 YPC) and six touchdowns despite being part of a crowded backfield. Fellow junior back Josh Hicks will still be there in 2016, but the two of them should combine for one of the better one-two punches in the Big 10. Not only is senior Paul James no longer around to take carries away from Martin and Hicks, Rutgers will be installing a power spread system under new head coach Chris Ash and new OC Drew Mehringer that figures to create and exploit mismatches in the run game. With that, Martin should thrive again in 2016 as the lead back in a run heavy system. Again, with a new system in place and James graduated, Martin could push for 200 carries this season, which would likely make him Rutgers’ first 1,000 yard back since Jawan Jamison in 2012.