Woof. The drama just hit a new level in Happy Valley, because Quinton Martin Sr., the dad of Penn State running back Quinton Martin Jr., actually had to apologize to Nittany Lions quarterback Rocco Becht. Why? Because Martin Sr. went viral with some straight-up harsh criticism about Becht on X, and it got ugly fast.
“This Kid Is Just Not Good”: The Posts That Blew Up The Internet
Martin Sr.’s original posts, which are now deleted, absolutely went for Becht’s throat. He straight up said, “This kid is just not good, 5 yrs in college and he tries to throw to the far hash, he doesn’t have the arm strength, the height (why a lot of his throws get batted down at the line) and sad to say doesn’t have the IQ. He just isn’t it.” Yikes. Talk about a brutal assessment of your son’s quarterback. And if that wasn’t enough, Martin Sr. also piled on about his own son’s playing time, adding, “Oh and BTW my son only got 2 carries yesterday…” It’s clear the frustration is boiling over, both for Becht’s play and for his own kid’s reps.
On-Field Struggles Are Mirroring the Drama
Honestly, it’s hard to argue with the frustration when you look at the Nittany Lions’ record. They started the season 3-0 against non-conference teams, and everyone was hyped. But Big Ten play? Total disaster. They’ve gone 0-4 in conference, averaging a measly 18.5 points per game, which is the third-lowest in the entire 18-team conference. Becht’s numbers in Big Ten action are tough to stomach, too. He’s thrown five interceptions versus only three touchdowns and completed just 59.6 percent of his passes for 913 yards. Last Saturday was a nightmare for Becht specifically, with him tossing two interceptions and losing a fumble. Michigan, of course, cashed in with a touchdown after each one of those turnovers. Despite all this, head coach Matt Campbell is sticking with his guy, telling reporters the team has “complete faith” in Becht and won’t be making a change. Redshirt freshman Alex Manske, another transfer from Iowa State like Becht, is the backup.
Where’s The Ground Game?
While the QB situation is clearly a mess, let’s not forget the running game. Former Iowa State RB Carson Hansen and Peoples are carrying the load. Hansen has put up 109 yards and three touchdowns on 37 carries in Big Ten play, averaging 2.9 yards per carry. He’s also the team’s leading rusher overall with 278 yards. Peoples isn’t far behind with 159 yards and two scores on 37 attempts, averaging a slightly better 4.3 YPC. And Quinton Martin Jr., the subject of his dad’s frustration? He’s got 22 yards on 11 carries in Big Ten play. He did have one big game against Buffalo, rushing for 100 yards on 10 attempts, so maybe there’s something there.
The Nittany Lions have a bye week to try and get their heads straight, then they’re back home to face Purdue on Halloween. They desperately need to turn things around, because right now, this Penn State season is looking like a full-blown nightmare.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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