Martinek busted out for 98 yards on 21 carries in a rout of South Florida (Photo: )
by kristian dyer / metro new york
NOV 25, 2008
NCAA Football. He’s no average Joe anymore.
Martinek busted out for 98 yards on 21 carries in a rout of South Florida (Photo: )
This past August, when all the talk about Rutgers was how to replace Ray Rice, Joe Martinek’s name rarely came up. When Rice ended his storied three-year career, players such as third-year sophomore Kordell Young, highly-recruited sophomore Mason Robinson and red-shirt freshman Jourdan Brooks were mentioned as candidates to fill the void.
Joe Martinek was just kind of there.
The New Jersey player of the year in 2006, Martinek owns the all-time state rushing record. That was all lost on RU head coach Greg Schiano, though, who envisioned him stopping runners, not being one.
“Joe is probably one of the more publicized players in the state of New Jersey. He was the Gatorade Player of the Year,” Schiano said on signing day in February 2007. “Joe broke the all-time rushing record in the state and now you’re going to see my genius. We’re going to try him on defense.
“I think he’s that kind of athlete.”
It wasn’t a move that Martinek necessarily had hoped for, but he worked hard at the transition and accepted a redshirt for his freshman year. The 6-footer, though, got shots on offense, too. He continued to make plays as a running back on the practice squad, squaring off against the first-team defense.
Despite Schiano’s “genius,” it was Martinek who looked more equipped for handling the football. He moved back to running back this past spring.
“Once I made this transition to running back, it felt refreshing,” said Martinek, who went to Hopatcong High in the northwest corner of Jersey. “Being back on the offensive side of the ball, the place where I’ve been most of my life. It was great.”
Martinek leads the team in rushing the last two games — blowout wins over South Florida and Army. This year he has 87 fewer carries than Young, but has scored only one less touchdown.
“He’s just getting more and more confident,” fullback Jack Corcoran said. “There is such a difference coming in. In high school, you’re the guy. The speed here is faster, so much faster. It is all about him getting reps, and you can see him growing every game and getting better and better.”