The past eight months couldn’t have gone any better for former Boise State tailback Doug Martin.

Senior Bowl standout. First-round NFL Draft pick. Beat out former 1,000-yard rusher LeGarrette Blount as the starting tailback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Now it’s time to play.

“I’m really, really excited,” Martin said Friday. “It was always a dream for me to play in an NFL game. The atmosphere is going to be very energetic. I can’t wait for it to start.”

Martin and the Buccaneers play host to the Carolina Panthers at 2:25 p.m. Sunday.

Martin is among 17 former Broncos who are listed on opening-day NFL rosters, most of whom are expected to play in Week 1.

He rushed for 1,260 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Broncos in 2010 and 1,299 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2011.

He expects to bring that same unique, aggressive running style to the NFL.

“I have a lot of high expectations for myself,” he said. “Whatever this team needs, I want to be there for.”

He says the NFL talent is better and the game is faster, but by studying his playbook he has been able to match that speed. Position coach Earnest Byner, a former NFL running back, has improved his game, too.

“He’s taught me a lot over here,” Martin said. “I’ve got a couple more moves. He keeps pushing me to become a better running back.”

Martin rushed 27 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns in the preseason. That was enough to get the nod over Blount, who still is expected to have a role in the backfield.

“I think — when you watch the tape, and LeGarrette’s a smart guy — when he watches the tape, he sees that he got outperformed,” Bucs coach Greg Schiano said last month, according to the Tampa Bay Times. “It doesn’t mean that that’s it. … We don’t hand out jobs and sign them over. It’s always competition around here, continually. I think Doug’s done a great job and that’s why he’s got the No. 1 seat. But he’s got to work to keep it.”

Martin said he’s unsure how the roles will shake out. He’s just happy the season is finally here.

“It’s everything that I’ve wanted and worked hard for, ever since I was at Boise State,” he said. “I’ve been working to get to this point. I’ve put my heart and soul into this — and I’m right where I want to be.”

Chadd Cripe: 377-6398, Twitter: @IDS_BroncoBeat