Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1516624
M A R C H 2 0 2 4 4 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / P L A Y E R B I O S / / / / / / / good vision," the coach said. "If you really look last year, about midway through, some of the different ways that he was able to manipulate his body in a tight window are pretty impressive. The speed and all that stuff, that's self- explanatory, but I think the way that he operates in close proximity [to defenders] is something that's very im- pressive." Playmakers Needed With junior running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kay- tron Allen both returning for the 2024 season, you might expect that Martin would redshirt this coming fall. However, it's also no secret that the Nittany Lions need playmakers, and Martin eas- ily stands out in that cate- gory. "We used three running backs [during the 2023 sea- son]," Smith said. "You could see him being that type of guy. He's a better receiver than all the other guys. So now, you can create a package where he starts in the slot, maybe motions over, and you can do some creative things. "He gives you the flexibility of dot- ting the I or lining up in the slot, throwing him quick screens or running routes. It becomes a matchup problem. So, yeah, I can see him getting on the field. [We'll give him] as much as he can learn, as much as we can give him." Martin enrolled at Penn State in January, which will give him the opportunity to adjust to the college level during spring practice and t h ro u g h o u t t h e s u m m e r. His progression once spring practice begins on March 12 will be one of Penn State's key storylines. "They're recruiting me 100 percent as a running back," Martin said. "But I also have no doubt that once I get up there and start practicing, they're going to move me around and be di- verse with me. They're going to give me a little bit on de- fense, a little bit on offense. I'm hoping that happens, but I'm OK with what happens either way. I'm just all for doing what- ever I need to do to help the team and get on the field." — Ryan Snyder RB | 6-1 | 194 Belle Vernon Belle Vernon, Pa. Rankings Stars* Nat. Pos. State On3 Industry ★★★★ 98 2 3 On3 ★★★★ 145 4 5 ESPN ★★★★ 91 6 1 Rivals ★★★★ 125 8 2 247Sports ★★★★ 130 8 3 * rated as an athlete Statistics • Amassed 1,945 yards of total offense and 27 touchdowns as a senior • Had 1,703 yards of total offense and 34 touchdowns during his junior season • Led Belle Vernon to back-to-back PIAA Class AAA state championships in 2022 and 2023 Notable • Earned an invitation to the Under Armour All- America Game • All-state selection in 2021, '22 and '23 • Four-year letterman Recruitment • Committed to Penn State on April 7, 2023 • Recruited by cornerbacks coach Terry Smith and running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider • Picked Penn State over Ohio State, Pitt and West Virginia • Officially visited on June 9, 2023 2024 Projection Penn State has two talented junior running backs returning in Nicholas Singleton and Kay- tron Allen. Even so, we could still see Martin on the field in 2024. During the past three seasons, he totaled more than 1,300 receiving yards for Belle Vernon, and he may turn out to be the best pass catcher in assistant coach Ja'Juan Seider's room. There are a lot of ways in which Martin could make an impact in coordinator Andy Ko- telnicki's offense. The Lions could use him on jet sweeps, as a slot receiver or as a conventional tailback. They Said It BWI analyst Thomas Frank Carr: "There's a genuine conversation about Martin's position at Penn State. He'll play running back this spring, having enrolled in January, but there's also a possibility that he'll be used at wide receiver. James Franklin acknowledged as much, saying that Penn State emphasized receiving skills with the 2024 class of runners. "Most running backs don't provide as much value as you might think when catching the ball. It takes a unique player like Christian McCaffrey or Saquon Barkley to break the mold and be a true dual threat. Yet Martin is ahead of the curve for a runner in that phase with his downfield re- ceiving ability. Can he become a true dual threat like the players above? Time will tell, but he's set himself up well to make it a reality." T H E M A R T I N F I L E Martin amassed 3,648 yards of total offense and 61 touchdowns in leading Belle Vernon to back-to-back PIAA Class AAA state championships in 2022 and '23. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER