Former UC Runningback Jameel Poteat’s Career Goes Full Circle, Transferring To Pitt

Jameel Poteat Cincinnati Bearcats runningback, courtesy 247 Sports.

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It’s amazing the journey some players can make in a short four year time. As a near-consensus 4-star recruit, Jameel Poteat was the headliner of Butch Jones’ first full class at Cincinnati. The powerful runningback from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania actually originally verballed to the Pitt Panthers but after the firing of Head Coach Dave Wannstedt following the 2010 season, backed out of his commitment. UC’s staff jumped all over him and earned his signature via a letter of intent on National Signing Day the following February. Poteat was poised to be the heir apparent to senior runningback Isaiah Pead.

But for a number of reasons, that never materialized.

Poteat ultimately wound up transferring from Cincinnati to FCS Stony Brook after his sophomore year in Clifton. In doing so he could get a fresh start at a school closer to his friends and family while avoiding having to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules. It was a win-win for the young man attempting to push the reset button on his career.

The runningback performed admirably as a junior for the Seawolves, rushing for 228 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but seemed to split time with Tyler Fredericks for backup reps behind starter James Kenner. Again, Poteat found himself fighting for playing time and decided to make a move yet again. He announced yesterday that he was walking on with the Pitt Panthers.

So in four years Jameel Poteat has gone from a commitment to Pittsburgh, to a roster spot at Cincinnati, to another roster spot at Stony Brook, all the way around the circle back to Pitt. That is one heck of a journey for a kid who turned 21 just a few months ago. Hopefully his final stop will prove most beneficial to Poteat. It’s been a wild ride for the young man and I wish him the best of luck with the Panthers.