Versatility could get Quinton Martin on field for Penn State as true freshman

Quinton Martin is entering a stacked running back room at Penn State. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen confirmed they will be back for their junior seasons, avoiding the temptation of the transfer portal. Allen and Singleton, who have amassed 4,057 scrimmage yards and 40 touchdowns in two seasons, will remain focal points of the offense.

But that didn’t put off Martin, the Belle Vernon star and No. 1 prospect in Pennsylvania who signed with Penn State’s 2024 recruiting class Wednesday.

“He’s coming into one of the best running back rooms in the country, and that didn’t intimidate him,” James Franklin said on early signing day. “He wants to come in, compete and see how things play out. And we are going to put him in position to do so.”

There’s a chance that happens early in Martin’s career, despite having two future NFL backs ahead of him.

Martin is one of the most offensively flexible players in the 2024 cycle. While the top-100 prospect is joining Penn State as a running back, he was listed by 247Sports as the No. 4 “athlete” in the country. Martin, who played both sides of the ball at Belle Vernon, is a dynamic running back who can provide some serious pop in the passing game.

Martin accumulated 2,460 rushing yards and 38 rushing touchdowns over his last two seasons at Belle Vernon, leading the Leopards to back-to-back WPIAL and PIAA titles. He also contributed 1,188 receiving yards and 17 receiving touchdowns on 81 catches in that two-year stretch. Martin’s role as a receiver grew as a senior with 764 yards and 11 scores on 54 catches.

“I think in today’s college football or the NFL, the more ways you can use running backs, the better,” Franklin said. “I think we made a huge investment this offseason and during the season to use our running backs in different ways, and we want to continue to grow in that area.”

That’s what you want to see if you’re Franklin and new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who’s done a good job getting his best playmakers the ball in space.

“You want to recruit as many guys like that as you can because there’s no limit to the things that they can do on the field,” wide receivers coach and offensive recruiting coordinator Marques Hagans said of Martin. “… Running back can be his best position. Wide receiver can be his best position. But as long as he’s on our team, we’re a better team. So where he ends up or where we put him, the sky’s the limit. He gives you so much flexibility.”

Hagans joked he wants to stay on running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider’s Christmas list. Hagans is OK with Martin beginning his career with the tailbacks. But there’s a real chance, especially with Kotelnicki calling plays, Martin thrives in a hybrid role.

Terry Smith, the team’s cornerbacks coach and defensive recruiting coordinator, knows Martin well. Smith spent plenty of time over the years at Belle Vernon building a relationship with Martin and helping secure his commitment.

Smith watched games in which Belle Vernon leaned on Martin, handing him the ball, flanking him out wide, putting him in motion and having him run routes. Smith called him a “mismatch.” Smith also saw “another side” to Martin when he visited for a summer prospect camp.

“When we were watching him in one-on-ones and it was all about him, this guy’s dynamic,” Smith said. “His route-running, his hands, his ability to see and find the football and his fluidity is unparalleled. … We’re just excited to get him here and see what he can do for us.”