Quinton Martin Jr. injury update: James Franklin reveals chances Penn State RB plays vs. Villanova

Penn State fans are finally getting some answers on an injured player. Redshirt freshman running back Quinton Martin‘s status has been revealed ahead of No. 2 Penn State‘s third game of the season against (FCS) Villanova.

Martin, who has not yet suited up in a game this season, rushed for 32 yards on 13 carries last season. Head coach James Franklin, during a media opportunity on Wednesday, said that the Nittany Lions anticipate that Martin will be suiting up on Saturday and could be competing for the RB No. 3 job behind Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen.

“Yeah, for Week 1, he was banged up,” Franklin said. “That’s why he was not available. But yes, we expect and anticipate (him playing). He’s been a part of that battle. There’s three guys battling for that No. 3 job. He’s part of it, but wasn’t part of the battle for a period of time there because of some bumps and bruises.”

The Belle Vernon, PA native was a highly-touted four-star recruit out of Belle Vernon High School. He was tabbed as the No. 2-ranked athlete in the Class of 2024.

Penn State’s RB3 spot is there for taking upon Martin’s return

It’s been a strong start to the season for the Nittany Lions, as they’ve steamrolled Nevada (46-11) and FIU (34-0) to open the year with a 2-0 record. It will host (FCS) Villanova this Saturday in its final non-conference warmup game before opening Big Ten play at home against No. 4 Oregon on Sept. 27.

Prior to that monstrous top-five clash with the Ducks, Penn State will have faced two GO5 teams and one FCS team, while Oregon would have already faced two power-four teams (Oklahoma State and Northwestern) and rival Oregon State.

The third-string running back spot is certainly there for the taking, as redshirt sophomore Cam Wallace currently ranks third on the team in rushing with 19 yards on five carries. Kaytron Allen leads Penn State with 187 yards on 24 carries, with Singleton ranking second with 95 yards on 21 carries.

Singleton remains one of the best backs in the country, but just hasn’t been unleashed due to the less-than-stellar competition on the schedule.

Kick-off for Saturday’s clash against Villanova is scheduled for 3:30 PM on FS1. It will mark the 11th all-time meeting between the two programs, with the Nittany Lions holding a 6-3-1 record.