During Penn State coach Matt Campbell’s winter media availability, he issued a challenge to returning RB Quinton Martin.
“One of the things I’ve challenged him is physically, taking his body from 195 to where he should be, a 220-pound tailback,” Campbell said. “He should be a big, physical tailback.”
At the time Campbell said those words, Martin was roughly 209 pounds.
He’s currently listed as 204 on Penn State’s website, but when talking with reporters almost two months after his winter press conference, Campbell said Martin is doing what’s been asked of him to improve his body.
“I think he’s done a great job in terms of adding weight and consistently keeping that on,” Campbell said.
MORE ON MARTIN
When Campbell addressed reporters inside the Lasch Building late Wednesday morning, it was right after Penn State’s practice.
Campbell liked what he had just seen from No. 25.
“Quinton had a really good day today,” Campbell said. “You know, I think Quinton’s a guy that every day I step on the practice field, I really enjoy how he approaches his journey right now. You guys got to watch him obviously the last game of the season.”
That “last game” Campbell is referring to is the Pinstripe Bowl.
Against Clemson, Penn State and its fans got their first extended look at what Martin could do in game action.
Before the Pinstripe Bowl, Martin had 13 carries in two seasons at Penn State.
He had 20 in the Pinstripe Bowl and went off for 103 yards (his career total to that point was 32).
Now, with long-time co-starters Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton moving on to the NFL, Martin will have more of a chance to show what he can do.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“Taking that talent and maturing into what’s the standard of excellence to play running back here,” Campbell said, “those are two different things. And you know, I think he has been purposeful and intentful.”
Penn State won’t be playing a game for another five months, so the best thing anybody can do right now to help themselves is to perform on the practice field.
“What do great players look like every day they step on the practice field?” Campbell asked rhetorically. “And, how do you continue to elevate yourself and your process of what it takes to be a great tailback? And great tailbacks have to do three things really well.
What are those three things?
“They got to block, they got to catch, and they certainly have to have the ability to run the football,” Campbell said. “So you know, he’s been very intentful on his process so far, and I really do appreciate that.”
MARTIN’S ROLE
Even without Singleton and Allen, the Penn State running backs room is still crowded. Penn State has Carson Hansen, who rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last season and eclipsed 100 in each of Iowa State’s last five games, transferring in.
Another transfer is James Peoples, who was in the same recruiting class as Martin and ranked on spot ahead of him on 247Sports’ list (Peoples was the No. 7 RB in the country, Martin was No. 8.)
Peoples found himself in a crowded RB room at Ohio State, and decided to enter the portal, where he landed at Penn State.
Penn State also has Cam Wallace returning from last season, who came into the program the same time as Martin.
Something Penn State fans haven’t seen from Martin yet is his versatility. As Campbell mentioned, pass catching is an important part of being a running back, and Martin hasn’t had much of a chance to show his skills in that department (four receptions, 14 yards).
But receiving was something Martin did quite well at Belle Vernon High School, catching 54 passes for 753 yards and 11 as a senior.
“Has every tool that you would want out of a receiver,” Martin’s high school coach, Matt Humbert, told NSN after Martin committed in the spring of 2023. “Can high-point a ball, has great shoulder extension or elbow extension to be able to walk out, and use a large wingspan to catch a football. He’s very graceful and very smooth in his route-running. So, he’s just an efficient receiver as well.”
