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Ex-Oregon State star RB Damien Martinez chooses Miami

Former Oregon State star running back Damien Martinez announced Saturday that he is transferring to Miami. Martinez was one of the top running backs available in the transfer portal. "It's on! 305 it's that time," Martinez said on social media with a reference to Miami's area code. Martinez earned All-Pac-12 first-team honors by rushing for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns on 194 carries in 12 games last season for a 6.1 average per carry. He recorded six 100-yard games with a high of 146 against Stanford. In two seasons with the Beavers, Martinez has 2,167 rushing yards and 16 TDs on 355 carries in 25 games. Last season was Oregon State's final one in the Pac-12. Coach Jonathan Smith departed for the same job at Michigan State. --Field Level Media

The Philadelphia Eagles played an aggressive version of "Let's Make A Deal" during the final two days of the NFL draft. The Eagles made nine trades during the seven-round draft, reportedly the most since draft deals began being tracked in 1990. One of the deals came to move up to the second round Friday to draft cornerback Cooper DeJean of Iowa. Philadelphia made two trades in Friday's third round and three more in Saturday's fourth. They netted Clemson running back Will Shipley with one of the fourth-round trades. One of the two fifth-round trades led to the choice of linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. from Clemson. The elder Trotter was a four-time Pro Bowler for the Eagles, playing for the team in 1998-2001, 2004-06 and 2009. "It means a lot," the younger Trotter told reporters about being drafted by Philadelphia. "I know the type of legacy that he left with this organization, and the fans, how they treated him, and the coaches that he played for, and players he's played for with the Eagles. "It definitely means a lot to come in and continue that legacy and help out the team any way that I can. I'm a hometown kid, and the Eagles were always my favorite team growing up." Philadelphia made its final trade in the sixth round and was quiet in the seventh. Before the Eagles began their trade frenzy, they used their first-round pick on Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell at No. 22 overall. "Obviously, he's got a lot to prove as a small-school player," Eagles general manager Howie Roseman told reporters. "The MAC is not the National Football League. We understand that. We've had tremendous success with big schools. To take a player like this from the MAC, he has to be special." --Field Level Media

NFL draft: Broncos trade up in fourth round, pick Oregon WR Troy Franklin

The Denver Broncos made a splash on Saturday by trading up to select Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Selected with the 102nd overall pick, Franklin will see a familiar face in the Broncos' first-round selection: his Oregon quarterback, Bo Nix. "It is very great to be back with my guy who I played with in college," Franklin said of Nix, who was taken by Denver with the 12th overall pick of the draft Thursday. The Broncos acquired the 102nd pick from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for the 121st, 136th and 207th overall selections. Denver also received the 235th pick as part of the deal. "Man, (I'm) just feeling the joy," Franklin said of his initial reaction to being selected by the Broncos. "I'm relaxed now. Just wanted to get my name called. Just a blessed feeling. Great to be selected. I don't even know what to say right now. It's just a dream come true. So glad somebody gave me a chance. The Broncos gave me a chance to go out there, showcase my talent, do whatever I need to do to help the team." Franklin recorded Oregon single-season records in receiving yards (1,383), receiving touchdowns (14) and 100-yard receiving games (eight) to go along with his 81 catches in 2023. He also had 4.41 time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Franklin was the first of five Oregon players to be drafted in the fourth round. The Minnesota Vikings chose cornerback Khyree Jackson at No. 108, the Atlanta Falcons selected defensive tackle Brandon Dorius with the next pick, the Green Bay Packers took safety Evan Williams at No. 111 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected running back Bucky Irving at No. 125. Nix was the last quarterback taken in the draft through the completion of the fourth round. South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler was taken by the New Orleans Saints with the No. 150 pick in the fifth round. Also in the fourth round, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took to the draft stage to reveal the Detroit Lions' selection with the No. 126 pick. She used the chance to announce that Detroit had broken the record for draft attendance, set in 2019 in Nashville, Tenn., when 600,000 people attended. "We have shown the world what the Motor City is all about," Whitmer said. "700,000 and counting." For the record, the Lions selected 6-foot-8, 350-pound offensive tackle Giovanni Manu of British Columbia. After the Saints broke the quarterback drought with Rattler, the New York Jets followed suit 21 picks later by selecting Florida State product Jordan Travis, a happy ending of sorts for Travis, who famously broke his leg late in the 2023 season for the undefeated Seminoles, a happenstance that was used as justification for keeping FSU out of the College Football Playoff. The next quarterbacks taken came off the board in the sixth round and were Tennessee's Joe Milton III at No. 193 -- the second quarterback taken by the New England Patriots this draft after Drake Maye was chosen in the first round No. 3 overall -- and Devin Leary (Kentucky) at No. 218 overall by the Baltimore Ravens. Tulane's decorated Michael Pratt followed in the seventh round as the final passer chosen when the Packers selected him No. 245 overall. Prior to that at No. 225, another notable name taken was taken when the Los Angeles Chargers picked Southern California wide receiver Brenden Rice, the son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. The Philadelphia Eagles matched a modern NFL Draft record (since 1990) by completing eight draft trades, with their final trade moving them into the No. 190 spot to take NC State center Dylan McMahon. For their efforts, the Eagles acquired third-, fourth- and fifth-round picks for 2025. Mr. Irrelevant was Alabama safety Jaylen Key, taken by the Jets with the 257th and final selection of the draft. National champion Michigan (13), playoff teams Texas (11), Alabama (10) and Washington (10), as well as Florida State (10) were the schools with the most players selected. Green Bay will host the 2025 event. --Field Level Media

Stanford guard Andrej Stojakovic will move across the San Francisco Bay with a transfer to Cal, ESPN reported Saturday. Stojakovic, the son of 13-year NBA standout and 2003 All-Star Peja Stojakovic, averaged 7.8 points with 3.4 rebounds in 32 games (10 starts) for Stanford as a freshman last season. With transfer options like Kentucky, North Carolina and Michigan reportedly available, Stojakovic opted to remain in California after growing up in Sacramento where his father played his first 7 1/2 seasons. --Field Level Media

Jerry Jones, Cowboys 'keenly interested' in Ezekiel Elliott

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expressed interest in the team welcoming back Ezekiel Elliott. Jones addressed reporters on Friday after the completion of the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Cowboys did not select a running back in the first two days of the three-day event. "First of all, the draft's not over and that's a thought," Jones said, after being asked if the team's decision against selecting a running back thus far was about how the draft has progressed or if the team is comfortable with its ground attack. "And it was a long time before a running back was taken in today's draft. But we also are keenly interested in seeing what the future might look like with Zeke." Elliott played for Dallas from 2016-22 after the team selected him with the No. 4 overall section of the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent last season with the New England Patriots. While no public agreement is in place, the Cowboys met with Elliott and his agent earlier this week. Jones also said that Elliott's days as a starter are not behind him. "I know this, I saw as recent as the end of the year, I saw Zeke play," Jones said. "And I will tell you he's good enough to be a starter." The Cowboys appear to be in need of help in the backfield after letting running back Tony Pollard leave in free agency. Dallas' current running back room consists of Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman, Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis and Snoop Conner. Elliott, who turns 29 on July 22, stepped up last season after Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson was sidelined with a high-ankle sprain. Elliott finished with a team-best 642 yards and three touchdowns to go along with 51 catches for 313 yards and two scores in 17 games (five starts) last season. Elliott led the NFL in rushing in 2016 and 2018 and posted four 1,000-yard seasons with Dallas. He ranks third in Cowboys history in rushing yards (8,262) and rushing touchdowns (68) behind Hall of Fame members Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett. --Field Level Media