PISCATAWAY -- Kevin Malast's locker neighbors the one Joe Martinek occupies in the Rutgers football locker room. And while Malast considers Martinek a close friend, he admits they don't talk much.
Actually, Malast points out, Martinek doesn't talk much, period.
"I've probably heard him say 10 words," said Malast, Rutgers' senior linebacker. "Joe's a real quiet kid, but he's just a great kid. He goes about his business, and he plays the game the right way."
The fact that Martinek is simply playing is a good thing for Rutgers, since it seems something positive happens whenever the redshirt freshman from Hopatcong steps on the field.
Though he's only rushed the ball 19 times this season, Martinek is averaging 7.0 yards per carry. The 6-0, 215-pounder has scored twice, including a 45-yard jaunt off the Wildcat formation in Saturday's win over Syracuse, and he's recorded Rutgers' two longest runs from scrimmage this season.
"I was joking when he scored his touchdown (against Syracuse)," defensive tackle Pete Tverdov said. "All you have to do is give Joe one carry, it's a touchdown! I was happy for him."
It might be easier to tackle Martinek for a loss than getting him to talk about himself.
Ask about his highlight-reel run and Martinek quickly deflects praise to his teammates.
"The offensive line did a great job sealing that side off and Tim (Brown) did a great job selling the fake," Martinek said.
Ask Martinek if he feels deserving of more carries off another breakthrough performance, Martinek sidesteps the question like he's avoiding an opposing linebacker.
"We all have a goal to be the best we can and anything the coaches ask me to do I'm going to try to do the best I can at it," said Martinek, who's rushed for 138 yards in nine games this fall. "I have to come in with the same mentality as I have every week, just do what the coaches ask of me and work hard at everything I do."
Even if that means he'll spend the week leading up to this Saturday's game at South Florida (12 p.m., SNY) practicing with the scout team. Who knows what Rutgers coach Greg Schiano has in store for Martinek, who spent the days leading up the Syracuse game simulating tailback Curtis Brinkley (trading his No.38 jersey for Brinkley's No.22, no less) while also taking special teams repetitions.
Oh, Martinek also worked on the Wildcat formation a couple times, too.
"No.1, it takes someone who is very unselfish," Schiano said of the difficulty of playing both on the scout team and for Rutgers' game-day squad throughout the week. "Joe is a great team football player who does whatever's needed."
Tverdov believes practicing with the scout team against Rutgers' starting defense actually gives Martinek an advantage on gameday.
"He helps us a lot, too," Tverdov said. "He gives us a great look. He probably gives us the best look we can get at this time. He's a great kid. And I think he's going to reap what he sows. He's going to be a great player here."
Perhaps more impressive than Martinek's touchdown, according to Schiano, was the sight of Martinek making the tackle on the ensuing kickoff.
"Not only does he do the scout team and the regular offense but he also does the special teams and is a key performer," Schiano said. "He's a special guy. There's no doubt about it."
Martinek posted special numbers at Hopatcong High School, finishing as New Jersey's all-time leading rusher with 7,589 yards and 80 touchdowns. The 2006 Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year had more than enough reasons to concentrate solely on football, but he also played basketball and competed at a national level in track and field.
"Joe has competed at a high level in many sports," Schiano said. "Joe is a performer."
Martinek said that winning the NJSIAA championship in the javelin and competing at national events helped prepare him for big-time college football.
"Competing with the highest-level of athlete, having to prepare myself for national events," he said, "I think that gave me an advantage coming to college."
Quarterback Mike Teel said all winning teams need a player like Martinek, a jack-of-all-trades who's willing to sacrifice his personal goals for the team's.
"He runs the ball, he plays special teams, he knows how to block in pass protection, he can catch the ball, he can really do it all," Teel said. "He was put on the backburner a bit, but he just keeps working, doing whatever the coaches ask of him and he doesn't say a word about it."
"Literally," Teel added, laughing. "He doesn't say a word."
Reach Keith Sargeant at ksargeant@MyCentralJersey.com.