He finished as the NCAA single-game rushing leader with 522 yards on 20 carries. He scored seven touchdowns, on runs of 64, 30, 76, 84, 58, 2, and 85 yards, as Curry defeated Nichols, 71-27.
Headlines about his record-setting day were everywhere, and the football world learned who Montie Quinn was. But his success is nothing new.
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He has led the Conference of New England in rushing yards for four straight seasons. As a senior, the 5-foot-9, 180-pound Quinn had seven games in which he rushed for 200 yards or more, led all NCAA divisions with 2,446 yards, and was an American Football Coaches Association first-team selection for Division 3.
He also won the Gridiron Club of Boston’s Joe Zabilski Award as the top offensive player in Divisions 2/3 for the second straight season, as well as the Division 2-3 Gold Helmet Award from the New England Football Writers.
Quinn came to Curry in 2022 after graduating from Stratford High School in South Carolina. He is originally from the Bronx, but he moved south to get better training and prospect opportunities in football.
His family said they knew he’d be a star in the sport at a very young age, when he played flag football.
“He started at 10,” said his brother, Dennis Quinn. “He was so elite people were asking if he was actually his age.”
Quinn played only two seasons of high school football, but also made a name for himself in track, running the 100 meters in 10.92 seconds and the 200 in 22.50.
After being introduced to Curry while learning about colleges on social media, Quinn’s father suggested he join the Colonels. At the time, the school was looking to fill head coach and running back roles.
Quinn opted to apply and walk on.
He shattered several school records while being a focal point in turning around the program.
“We had a lot of doubts, but [we] became the second-best team in the conference,” Quinn said.
Curry hadn’t had a winning record since 2011, but went 8-3 in 2025 and finished second to Endicott in the CNE. Despite falling to Merchant Marine in the Fusion Bowl in a game Quinn in which was limited by injuries, the Colonels had their best season in more than a decade. Quinn led Division 3 in rushing yards and became Curry’s career leader with 6,681.
He also set school records for touchdowns in a game (seven) and career touchdowns (63), as well as the D3 records for single-season yards per carry (9.82) and career yards per carry (7.33).
In his first year, Quinn only participated in a one of three weeks of training camp. Curry coach Todd Parsons said Quinn went from flying under the radar to getting voted team captain by his senior year.
“He kind of fell into our lap,” Parsons said. “He got here late in the recruiting process, and we were just looking at anyone who applied to the school and [was] interested in football.”
Quinn credited Parsons and running backs coach Anthony Smalls, who was hired when Quinn was a sophomore, for his emergence. He said his growth in route running, receiving, and his running game evolved through Curry’s coaching staff.
“They were the best and I loved how they believed in me,” he said.
Quinn’s performance has even led to higher levels taking notice. Scouts from several NFL teams have visited or contacted Curry about Quinn, including the Dolphins, Browns, Chargers, and Titans.
“It’s blessing, a small guy like me coming out of D3 college, and NFL teams are looking at me? It’s just a blessing,” he said.
The NFL, United Football League, and Canadian Football League are all possible for Quinn after he leaves Curry.
“He’s unreal,” Parsons said.
Auzzy Byrdsell can be reached at austin.byrdsell@globe.com.