HBCU Football: Top 5 prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft

1. Jah-Maine Martin, RB, North Carolina A&T

Aggie running back Jah-Maine Martin is a runner that all of the top running backs dislike. Scouts, General Managers, and Coaches would instead take a running back like Martin either late in the draft or as a priority free agent than take a back earlier.

There is a lot to like about Martin. The Coastal Carolina transfer is a one-cut-and-go runner who does not dance around the hole. Martin presses the issue the moment there’s daylight. Though Martin is not considered a home run hitter, he possesses a good burst through to the second level.

Martin does not go down on first contact even if a lineman gets a hand or arm on him. Martin has shown good hands catching the football out of the backfield and sound blocking from his position throughout the postseason draft process.

It might be a cliche when talking about running backs, but Jah-Maine always seems to fall forward. What makes Martin so challenging to knock backward is his ability to run parallel. Defenders can’t get under him to move him back.

The lack of explosive speed may keep him from being a featured runner, but a team looking for a change of pace or short-yardage back could benefit from Martin’s services.