Quinton Martin Jr. Seizes His Moment in Pinstripe Bowl, Leaves Penn State with Plenty to Think About
NEW YORK - For most of the season, Quinton Martin Jr. was little more than a name on the depth chart - a redshirt freshman waiting in the wings behind two of Penn State’s most established backs. Through 12 games, he didn’t log a single carry.
Not one. But when the opportunity finally came, Martin didn’t just step up - he made a statement.
In Penn State’s 22-10 win over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl, Martin delivered a breakout performance that turned heads and likely reshaped the conversation around the Nittany Lions’ backfield heading into the offseason. With Nick Singleton opting out and Kaytron Allen suited up but ultimately staying on the sideline, the door cracked open - and Martin ran right through it.
He carried the ball 20 times for 101 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry - and he did it behind an offensive line missing four of its five starters. No flashy touchdowns, no 60-yard bursts, but Martin was steady, physical, and effective. It was the kind of performance that doesn’t just earn respect - it demands attention.
“I didn't think I was going to get 20 carries,” Martin admitted postgame. “My mentality coming into this game was just effort.
Play the best I can. Go off my teammates.”
That effort showed. Martin became the first Penn State running back not named Singleton or Allen to rush for over 100 yards in a bowl game since Journey Brown’s electric outing in the 2019 Cotton Bowl. And he did it with a style that blended patience, power, and just enough wiggle to keep defenders off balance.
Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, who was making his own debut as a starter, saw the potential in Martin long before the lights came on at Yankee Stadium.
“You kind of saw a glimpse of what he is as a player,” Grunkemeyer said. “We saw it in practice, just with how shifty he is… He’s really good in space.”
But it wasn’t just the shiftiness that stood out. Interim head coach Terry Smith praised Martin’s ability to run downhill - a trait that became especially valuable in a game that demanded physicality between the tackles.
“Today’s game required downhill running,” Smith said. “He displayed that.
He displayed tough running. He showed a side that he could be a slasher and a physical back all in one game, and I’m super proud of him.”
Martin’s longest run of the day - a 21-yarder on third-and-25 - didn’t end in points, but it was emblematic of the kind of day he had: finding yards where there didn’t appear to be any, extending drives, and keeping the offense moving.
For Martin, this wasn’t just a good game - it was a long time coming. After sitting behind Singleton and Allen for two seasons, he finally got his shot. And while he called it an “honor” to take the reins, he also acknowledged that the road to this moment wasn’t always easy.
“There’s definitely points throughout when you’re on the side, when you’re on the bench, that’s the biggest motivator,” he said. “I definitely was in my head a couple times, but I just had to talk to my family and just stay patient.”
That patience paid off - but now, Martin faces another decision. With three years of eligibility remaining, he has options. The running back room at Penn State remains crowded, and with a new head coach in Matt Campbell and no running backs coach currently in place following Stan Drayton’s departure, Martin’s future in Happy Valley isn’t set in stone.
He hasn’t met with Campbell one-on-one yet, but said he liked the tone of the team’s first meeting under the new head coach. Still, he made it clear that any decision he makes will be about more than just carries and playing time.
“I want to be somewhere that wants to win and has a family feel,” Martin said.
For now, he’s going to enjoy the win - and rightfully so. He earned it.
But the next few weeks will be pivotal. Whether Martin stays and builds on this performance in blue and white or looks for a new opportunity elsewhere, one thing is clear: he’s no longer just a name on the depth chart.
He’s a player to watch.