It hasn’t been easy for Quinton Martin to play considerable snaps at Penn State.
The redshirt sophomore running back from Belle Vernon High School, outside of Pittsburgh, faced a roadblock behind four-year starters Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton.
Allen and Singleton poised arguably the best one-two punch in college football, with Allen going on to break Penn State’s all-time rushing record.
With Allen and Singleton headed to the NFL, Penn State signed Ohio State transfer James Peoples and new coach Matt Campbell brought Carson Hansen, his starting running back from Iowa State, to State College during the transfer portal window.
So Martin’s path to playing time will still be challenging.
Following spring practice Tuesday, Martin told reporters that he has been taking reps at wide receiver.
Martin ranked as a best player in Pennsylvania by multiple recruiting sites in the class of 2024 and has stuck with Penn State through two transfer portal windows.
His former head coach at Belle Vernon, Matt Humbert, told NSN in 2023 that Martin is athletic enough to play multiple positions on offense or defense.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“I could see him playing everywhere,” Humbert said. “I truly could. If he wants to be a tailback and he puts his mind to it, then he’s going to be a tailback. But if that doesn’t work out, he could easily be a free safety, hybrid outside (linebacker). He can play corner. He can play receiver.”
Martin excelled in his lone major opportunity in 2025. After rushing 13 carries for 32 yards and redshirting his freshman year, Martin didn’t receive a carry until the Pinstripe Bowl.
He made the best of the moment. Martin rushed for 103 yards on 20 runs, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
Martin is a dynamic athlete who told the media he believes he can be a mismatch for defenders.
“Has every tool that you would want out of a receiver,” Humbert told NSN. “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.”
Penn State’s final spring practice will be open to the public Saturday, April 25 at Beaver Stadium. Dubbed the 2026 Blue-White Practice, it will be worth keeping an eye on where Martin likes up on the field as PSU prepares for the 2026 season.
