Doug Martin arrived on the campus of Boise State University nearly two decades ago to play football on its famed blue turf and, despite being a squat, little-known recruit from Northern California, turned himself into a hard-nosed running back and a first-round NFL draft pick.

Nicknamed the “Muscle Hamster” for both his size and running style, he was twice named to the Pro Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a seven-year NFL career that saw him rewarded with a big contract in 2016. But his bruising ways on the field also caused him to miss extensive playing time with a variety of injuries and contributed to his retirement.

His life ended tragically over the weekend in Oakland, the Bay Area city where he was born and finished his career with the Raiders seven years ago.

Martin, 36,

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