Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1509432
2 8 N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M T rey Potts was caught by surprise. Taking a call from Penn State assistant strength coach Jon Fleury, the redshirt senior running back discovered that a new nickname had been bestowed upon him. "Yo, Swiss Army Knife," Fleury called Potts. While unexpected, the moniker was certainly appropriate. Potts had displayed impressive versatility in his limited playing time with the Nittany Lions. Through the team's first five games, he had a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown and even a passing touchdown. It was everything the coaching staff could have hoped for, and then some, when it plucked the Williamsport, Pa., native out of the trans- fer portal in April after three seasons at Minnesota. Potts played a decisive role in the Lions' 41-13 victory at North- western on Sept. 30. He delivered 2 touchdowns — one on the ground and one in the passing game — and he also filled in as a kick-returning off-back on special teams. Used by the Nittany Lion coaching staff in a multitude of roles, Potts has been leaning into his identity in the offensive scheme. "I think that's my role right now," he said. "Any way I can help this team win and just use my ath- letic ability to do that [is gratifying]. It feels good." Whatever Is Needed Potts rushed for 1,147 yards and 10 touchdowns and was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten choice during his tenure with the Gophers, but he didn't feel as though he was reaching his full potential. Growing up in cen- N A T E B A U E R | N A T E . B A U E R @ O N 3 . C O M Transfer running back Trey Potts gashed a few opponents in September, setting the stage for what could be a bigger role in the weeks to come Cut And Run