The Oregon Ducks start the 2024 season Aug. 31 at home against Idaho. The Oregonian/OregonLive will count down the days with mini-profiles of prominent former and current Ducks whose jersey numbers correspond with the days remaining until the opening kickoff.

Today, No. 36: Kicker Paul Martinez

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Paul Martinez

Bio: Martinez, from San Ramon Valley High School (California), was ranked as the second-best kicking prospect and one of the top 15 punters in the country. He began his career at Oregon as a punter before switching to kicker.

Key statistics: Martinez became the starting punter as a freshman in 2003 and averaged 37 yards on 72 punts. One publication named him to the Pac-10’s first-team all-freshman unit. His 66-yard punt against Michigan ranks ninth in UO history.

Martinez played sparingly as a sophomore in 2004 before taking over starting kicker duties in 2005 when the Ducks went 10-2.

That season, Martinez made 19 of 24 field goals (86.7%) while scoring 83 points. His 19 made field goals rank sixth in Oregon history.

In 2006, he made 15 of 22 field goals while scoring 82 points.

Martinez’s career field goal percentage of 73.9% (34 of 46) ranks fifth at UO, and his 34 career field goals rank seventh.

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PRIOR COUNTDOWN POSTS

No. 37: Defensive back Talmadge Jackson III.

No. 38: Safety Eddie Pleasant

No. 39: Linebacker Kevin Mitchell

No. 40: Linebacker Ernest Jones and punter Josh Bidwell.

No. 41: Kicker Aidan Schneider.

No. 42: Tight end David Paulson and fullback Latin Berry.

No. 43: Center Brad Ecklund and lineman Ed Moshofsky.

No. 44: Defensive lineman DeForest Bucker, tight end Dante Rosario, and defensive back Jake Leicht.

No. 45: Defensive lineman Matt Toeaina.

No. 46: Linebacker Michael Clay

No. 47: Linebacker Kiko Alonso

No. 48: DL Saul Patu and LB Rodney Hardrick

No. 49: Defensive end Nick Reed

No. 50: Defensive tackle Popo Aumavae

No. 51: Offensive lineman Jeff Kendall

No. 52: Linebacker Tom Graham

No. 53: Defensive lineman Igor Olshansky

No. 54: Three champion linemen

No. 55: Centers Hroniss Grasu and Jake Hanson, plus linebacker Casey Matthews

No. 56: Offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman

No. 57: OL George Dames and 1957 Rose Bowl team

No. 58: Defensive end Kenny Rowe and center Jackson Powers-Johnson

No. 59: Offensive lineman Ian Reynoso

No. 60: Center Max Unger

No. 61: Lineman Steve Barnett

No. 62: Offensive lineman Matt Pierson

No. 63: Defensive lineman Vince Goldsmith

No. 64: Lineman Dave Wilcox

No. 65: Offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius

No. 66: Defensive lineman Taylor Hart

No. 67: Offensive lineman Jack Patera

No. 68: Offensive lineman Shane Lemieux

No. 69: Offensive lineman Bo Thran

No. 70: Fullback Bob Sanders

No. 71: Offensive linemen Mark Lewis and Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu

No. 72: Offensive lineman Adam Snyder

No. 73: Offensive lineman Tyrell Crosby

No. 74: Offensive linemen Kyle Long and Tom Drougas

No. 75: Offensive tackle Jake Fisher

No. 76: Offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr

No. 77: Offensive lineman Carson York

No. 78: Offensive linemen Alex Forsyth and Cameron Hunt

No. 79: Mark Asper, offensive line

No. 80: Wide receivers Lavasier Tuinei, Greg Moser and Ray Palm

No. 81: Wide receiver Bob Newland

No. 82: Wide receiver Lew Barnes and tight end Blake Spence

No. 83: Tight end Ed Dickson and wide receiver Patrick Johnson

No. 84: Tight end Justin Peelle, linebacker Anthony Trucks, and Cam McCormick

No. 85: Pharaoh Brown, Tim Day and Matt Evensen.

No. 86: Wide receiver Paul Burleson.

No. 87: Wide receiver Greg Specht

No. 88: Wide receiver Dwayne Stanford and defensive lineman Brandon Bair

No. 89: This team ended a 25-year drought

No. 90: Tight end Josh Wilcox and defensive lineman Drayton Carlberg