Few college teams can claim to have a running back statistically better than likely 2009 first round pick Knowshon Moreno, but Rutgers is one of them.
At Hopatcong High School, the Rutgers football team’s sophomore running back Joe Martinek became the all-time rushing leader in New Jersey history with 7,589 yards. He easily eclipsed the previous mark of 6,268 yards held by Middletown South High School’s Moreno.
Despite coming into Rutgers in 2007 with his impressive resume, Martinek found playing time impossible to come by. A combination of Ray Rice in 2007 and a committee of talented running backs in 2008 prevented him from getting any significant playing time until the final four games of the 2008 season.
He made his impression in that short time, averaging 5.3 yards per carry and scoring four touchdowns.
As spring practice begins to intensify, Martinek said that he is ready to fill a bigger role in the upcoming season.
“Whatever the coaches ask me to do, I’m going to do the best I can and try to help the team in any way possible,” he said. “I always prepare like I am a starter every year, so I’m ready for anything.”
His hard work is evident in his new physique; Martinek added some muscle to his frame in the offseason.
“I added a few pounds, but I’m still not at my goal weight,” Martinek said. “I’m just trying to live in the weight room, get bigger and stronger.”
Beyond his work in the weight room, Martinek has studied the playbook in an effort to make it second nature.
“If you know the plays then you can execute to the best of your ability because you aren’t thinking about if you are doing the right thing,” Martinek said.
Martinek’s redoubled efforts are perfectly timed for a battle for playing time with fellow sophomore Jourdan Brooks and junior Kordell Young. Despite the position battle, the three running backs have remained on good terms.
“We’ve all been close for a long time,” Martinek said. “We’re real good friends and we help each other all the time. We watch film together, we watch each other on the field and we hang out after practice.”
The emergence of Martinek and Brooks has made running back a position of strength in 2009. With receiver Tiquan Underwood and quarterback Mike Teel graduating and Kenny Britt leaving for the draft, the passing game is uncertain. Martinek, however, doesn’t feel added pressure.
“We all have the most confidence in our new receivers and whoever the new quarterback is,” he said. “I’m just going to try to help them out and do the best I can.”
Even with the question marks in the offense, Martinek is still ready for the team to move on to the next level.
“We have all tasted success, but we have also tasted failure in the worst way,” Martinek said. “People are fed up of being one step away, one yard away.”