Joe Martinek will get touches anywhere that he can get them. Whether it’s in the Wildcat formation, on the scout team or even on special teams, he wants to play.
The redshirt freshman did more than play in the 35-17 win over Syracuse last week. Despite getting just two offensive touches in the game, Martinek made them count, running one 6 yards up the field and the other — from the Wildcat formation — down the left sideline for a 45-yard touchdown.
The Wildcat formation — becoming more and more common in both the NFL and in college — consists of lining the quarterback out wide and having the running back handle the direct snap where he can pass or run the ball.
“It’s pretty exciting. It’s something that defenses haven’t really seen. It’s always fun doing something exciting. It was just something the coaches put together and we’ve been doing it [in practice] for a while now.”
The touchdown run isn’t what impressed his teammates and coach the most, however, it’s what he did next.
On the kickoff following his touchdown, Martinek informed head coach Greg Schiano that he had enough gas to play his role on the kickoff coverage and subsequently chased down the kick returner from behind and tackled him.
“He can do so many different things and that is what makes him so special,” said senior quarterback Mike Teel. “He can score a 50-yard touchdown then go out on special teams on the kickoff on the next play, go down and make a tackle. How many guys can do that?”
Since the return of a healthy Kordell Young and the emergence of Jourdan Brooks as an extremely powerful second option, Martinek has struggled to find playing time, but Schiano said that he still believes that Martinek could be the starter if he had to be.
“I think Joe’s been consistent,” Schiano said. “It’s awfully hard to get multiple running backs ready, just from a repetition standpoint in practice. I think all four of these running backs could be ‘the’ running back if needed.”
As a gunner on special teams, Martinek has made four tackles this season, three of which are unassisted. Martinek said that he isn’t yet fully used to playing special teams, but wants to do anything he can to get on the field.
“I’m getting more comfortable with it just from the beginning of the year until now,” Martinek said. “If there is any way to help the team, I’ll do it. Coach [Schiano] gave me my couple of opportunities and whatever they give me, I just try to make the most of it.”
Not only does Martinek do whatever it takes on game day to help the team, he also takes the same mindset into practices. During the week, Martinek devotes most of his time to the scout team where he mimics that week’s opposing running back to help the defense get ready.
“How many guys can be on the scout team all week and really get beat up by the first team defense and then play on Saturday? He just goes about his business, does whatever he’s asked to do and does it extremely well,” Teel said of his teammate.
The greatest challenge of being on the scout team, Martinek said, is balancing his time between helping the defense prepare and preparing himself as a part of the offense.
“It’s hard because there’s more you have to learn, more film you have to watch, but if you look at your long-term goal — you want to win the national championship,” he said. “If you think of it that way then it’s worth it.”
Martinek’s eagerness to help the team and willingness to sacrifice some playing time during practice to help the scout team is not lost on his coach.
“It takes someone who is pretty unselfish,” Schiano said. “Joe is a great team football player.”