Quinton Martin Jr.’s lack of playing time at Penn State this season has been one of the fanbase’s most common criticisms of first-year head coach Matt Campbell this season, as he opts to funnel carries to Iowa State transfer Carson Hansen instead.
However, after Rocco Becht’s three turnovers in the second half against Michigan led directly to all 21 of the Wolverines’ points, Campbell’s refusal to bench his four-year starter at QB in favor of redshirt freshman Alex Manske has become a new favorite frustration.
Well, those two subplots collided on social media on Sunday as Quinton Martin Sr., the redshirt sophomore’s father, took a shot at Becht in the replies to a post on X (formerly Twitter): “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. Oh and BTW my son only got 2 carries yesterday…”
Later, Martin went at another fan in defense of his son, ultimately saying, “I pray he decides to hit the portal.”
Dad of Penn state RB Quinton Martin Jr. is letting everyone know what he thinks of Rocco Becht 😳😬 pic.twitter.com/bd2qjK1NVY
— Cardinal and Corn country (@RollClones07) October 19, 2026
On Monday, Martin apologized publicly to Becht for his criticism:
Rocco Becht, I owe you an apology. I let my frustration w/PSU’s recent play turn into harsh criticism. It’s easy to judge from the sidelines w/out carrying the pressure you face. You deserve respect through the struggles, too. Keep your head up and keep working. We Are! 💙🤍
— Quinton Martin Sr (@QuintonMartinSr) October 19, 2026
It’s not all happy in Happy Valley after an 0-4 start to Big Ten play
Far be it from me to take comments from one player’s parent and ascribe that sentiment to the entire locker room. But these are the types of frustrations, both from family members and from teammates, that start to heat up and sometimes boil over when a team is losing and the quarterback isn’t playing well.
Becht is a victim of an offense without a run game and a group of pass catchers down its most dynamic threat in Koby Howard. But his two interceptions against Michigan happened because he was late getting the ball out and didn’t have the arm to cash the check he wrote.
Even with all the limitations around him in the offense, it’s clear he’s not elevating the unit, and Campbell’s refusal to even consider making a change has only fueled the angst amongst the fanbase. There’s a chance the locker room feels the same way, or at least that they’re hearing it from people close to them, and that’s not a great situation for Campbell to foster in his first year at the helm.
Unless something changes, it seems that Quinton Martin Jr. is as good as gone
It’s a good thing that Martin Sr. apologized to Becht publicly, if for no other reason than to help his son manage an undoubtedly awkward situation between himself and his quarterback. But the damage may have already been done, not necessarily between Martin Jr. and Becht, but between the Martin family and Penn State.
The fact that Martin can’t crack the field for a run game that’s struggling as badly as Penn State’s is telling, unless you subscribe to the theory that Campbell is remaining stubbornly loyal to his not-as-good Iowa State transfer against his own best interests. Campbell has flat-out benched multiple other Iowa State transfers. If he had a better option, there’s a good chance he’d use it.
Martin has carried the ball 11 times in Big Ten play and managed 22 yards. That’s 2.0 yards per carry. So, it’s not like he’s impressed with the work he’s gotten.
Still, if his father is “praying” he enters the transfer portal after the season, that’s probably what he’ll do.
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