Skip to main content
penn-state logo

Penn State adds needed running back depth with Trey Potts’ pledge: Commitment impact

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•04/05/23•

GregPickel

On3 image
Penn State running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider.

Penn State added a key transfer portal commitment on Wednesday night when former Minnesota running back and Williamsport, Pa., native Trey Potts picked the Lions.

The former three-star recruit stands 5-foot-11, 210 pounds. He was the Golden Gophers’ number two back last year after a medical issue ended his 2021 season prematurely. During his time in Minneapolis, Potts rushed for 1,147 yards and 10 touchdowns over three seasons. Three of those scores and 471 of the yards came last season. He entered the transfer portal back on March 13.

Potts provides a veteran presence to a Penn State running backs room that is talented but also young. He has three years of eligibility remaining. The Lions, of course, return stars Nicholas Singleton, who was the Big Ten freshman of the year in 2022, and classmate Kaytron Allen, who played a key role last season and will again this fall. They are the only two scholarship running backs going through spring practice, however. Class of 2023 signees London Montgomery and Cam Wallace arrive this summer. Montgomery is coming off an ACL injury, however. And, Wallace may need to add weight before being ready for Big Ten play.

Potts brings needed depth to Penn State

Penn State coach James Franklin was asked about the idea of creating depth at the running back position during his first news conference of the spring back on March 14. His answer focused on developing the program’s walk-on running backs.

“We’ll get those guys a ton of reps, not just to develop depth, but also just to be smart with the other two, right?” Franklin said. “It’s for a number of reasons. That’s the exact reason why we ended up signing two running backs and it ended up being two high school running backs. But that was the whole idea of signing two.

“Because, whether the third back comes from who we currently have in the program or whether the third back comes from an incoming freshman, that’s what we got to figure out between this spring and then summer camp as well, for depth but also to make sure that we’re not overworking those two guys either.”

Potts won’t arrive until the summer. But, he should slot into the third running back role quickly for position coach Ja’Juan Seider. It’s a big get for the Lions in the transfer portal, which opens for like Potts on April 15. Penn State will look for other players in the portal then. But, its running back needs are now met.

You may also like