Penn State 'Swiss Army Knife' shines in Northwestern win
EVANSTON, Ill. – Trey Potts was caught by surprise. Recently taking a call from Penn State assistant strength coach Jon Fleury, a new moniker had been bestowed upon him.
“Yo, Swiss Army Knife,” Fleury called Potts.
For the Nittany Lions’ transfer running back, Saturday afternoon gave further life to the name. A critical contributor to Penn State’s 41-13 win over Northwestern at Ryan Field, Potts delivered two touchdowns, one on the ground and one in the passing game, and filled in as a kick returning off-back on special teams.
Selectively utilized by the Nittany Lion coaching staff in a multitude of roles, it’s an identity Potts is leaning into.
“I think that’s my role right now,” Potts said after the win. “Any way I can help this team win and just use my athletic ability to do that. It feels good. I’m just happy with the win today.”
Trey Potts helps lift Nittany Lions
The Nittany Lions needed him.
Stuck in the mud offensively in the first half, a late-second quarter possession needed Potts’ services at the goal line. Entering play following a tough hit sustained by starting running back Nick Singleton, Penn State turned to Potts on a first-and-10 from the Northwestern 13-yard line, from which he cashed in for a touchdown. The longest run of the afternoon to that point for Penn State, it also evened the score at 10-10 heading into halftime.
He wasn’t done, either. Again finding the field in the second half due to the absence of co-starter Kaytron Allen, who left the game with an unspecified injury, Potts put the cherry on top of the Nittany Lions’ win.
This time, lining up in the shotgun, backup quarterback Beau Pribula faked a run, then floated a perfect ball to a wide-open Potts along the seam. The play, good for a 30-yard touchdown to put the Nittany Lions up 41-13, put Potts on the board with throwing, receiving, and rushing touchdowns in two of the last three games for Penn State.
Making an impact
And, while not a necessary contribution toward the program’s embrace of the transfer running back, it offered another opportunity for his Penn State teammates to sing his praises. As a veteran leader within the locker room, his example has made an impact on other players on both offense and defense.
“Seeing him just go about his process every day, he does a great job,” said safety Jaylen Reed. “He transferred as a senior. That’s a huge risk, transferring somewhere as already a senior. He wasn’t happy where he was at, he came here, started with limited reps, and he took his opportunity when his number was called today. So, I’m just happy for him. Happy for what the future holds for him.”
Singleton echoed the sentiment, describing Potts as “the older cat in the running back room,” who never “complains about anything.”
Producing performances that Penn State believes can propel the program forward, it’s an opportunity he intends to continue to maximize.
“He transfers in here as a senior. Didn’t get a whole lot of reps and a whole lot of burn the first couple of games. And, he just kept a great attitude and kept working,” head coach James Franklin said. “And, when he got opportunities, he maximized them. So, it’s great to see him be able to come in and know that we feel like we got three backs that we can win with in this league.”
