Quinton Martin Steps Into the Spotlight - and Maybe the Future - in Pinstripe Bowl Breakout
NEW YORK - For one snapshot moment after the Pinstripe Bowl, Quinton Martin stood between Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton - the two running backs who carried Penn State’s ground game for the better part of four seasons. They were in sweats and letterman jackets, watching from the sideline. Martin was in pads, cleats, and finally, the spotlight.
And he made the most of it.
After two years of waiting, learning, and watching from the shadows, Martin got his chance - and delivered. In Penn State’s 22-10 win over Clemson at Yankee Stadium, the redshirt freshman rushed for 101 yards on 20 carries, all while making a strong case that he’s ready to be the next great back in Happy Valley.
“I’ve been waiting two years behind Nick and Kaytron,” Martin said postgame. “I learned a lot from them.
They showed me what it takes to play at this level. The night I had tonight meant a lot to me.
And I’m very grateful for it.”
This wasn’t just a feel-good story - it was a statement. Martin didn’t record a single carry during the regular season.
Not one. But when the opportunity finally came, he looked like a player who had been preparing for this moment all along.
Interim head coach Terry Smith echoed that sentiment.
“Q’s an extremely talented young man,” Smith said. “I’m super proud of him. He stepped right in, and we didn’t miss a beat.”
That’s no small thing, considering who he was replacing.
Allen and Singleton were a dynamic duo that rewrote parts of the Penn State record book. In 2025 alone, they combined for 1,852 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns. They were the heartbeat of the offense, and their return for one more title push meant Martin had to wait even longer than expected for his opportunity.
It wasn’t easy.
Martin, a former top-100 recruit out of Belle Vernon, came to Penn State with high expectations. But with Allen and Singleton entrenched as the starters, carries were hard to come by.
As a true freshman, Martin had just 13 garbage-time carries. This season, he saw action in seven games but didn’t log a single rushing attempt.
He admitted it was tough - mentally and emotionally. At times, it got to him. But instead of checking out, he leaned on his family and used the frustration as fuel.
“It was definitely tough at times,” Martin said. “But it became the biggest motivator.”
That motivation showed up in a big way on Saturday.
While Corey Smith got the start, it was Martin - wearing No. 25 - who emerged as the workhorse. He broke off a 21-yard run in the first half and looked more and more comfortable as the game wore on, consistently moving the chains and helping Penn State control the tempo in the second half.
“You kind of saw a glimpse of what he is as a player,” said quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer.
It wasn’t just the coaching staff or teammates taking notice. With the transfer portal opening on Jan. 2, every program in the country looking for a young, explosive running back just saw what Martin can do. And with three years of eligibility remaining, he’s a valuable commodity.
Now comes the decision.
New head coach Matt Campbell is still getting settled in Happy Valley, and he has some choices to make - including at running back. Iowa State’s Carson Hansen, a rising senior and All-Big 12 back, has already entered the portal. With 1,926 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns over the last two seasons, Hansen would be a plug-and-play option for any offense.
But Martin just made a compelling case to be the guy.
Whether that’s at Penn State or elsewhere remains to be seen.
Running backs coach Stan Drayton’s departure to South Carolina adds another wrinkle. Martin called it “tricky,” noting that he hasn’t had a one-on-one meeting with Campbell yet - though that’s likely coming soon. He did say he likes the culture Campbell is trying to build.
One factor working in Penn State’s favor? Terry Smith.
The longtime assistant, a Pittsburgh native who helped recruit Martin out of Belle Vernon, is staying on staff. Martin lit up when asked about him.
“He’s like family,” Martin said. “Like an uncle.”
And when asked what matters most as he weighs his future?
“Family. Trust.
And I want to win,” he said. “I want a program that wants to win.”
Martin didn’t make any declarations after the game. He said he’ll talk with his family, weigh his options, and “see where the Lord takes me.”
But one thing is clear: Saturday wasn’t just a breakout performance - it was a preview.
Quinton Martin stepped out of the shadows at Yankee Stadium. Now the question is whether his next chapter - and Penn State’s next era in the backfield - will begin in Happy Valley or somewhere else.