As is often the story with Queen City sports, Pittsburgh's loss is Cincinnati's gain. Jameel Poteat (Bishop McDevitt/Harrisburg, Pa.), a 2011 four-star running back recruit, has decommitted from the Pittsburgh Panthers and has given a verbal committment to the Cincinnati Bearcats on December 23.
Poteat decommitted following the resignation of Pather head coach Dave Wannstaedt and decided to head to the school that just missed out on originally landing him in July of this year.
Jameel immediately becomes the Bearcats most highly-touted recruit. As a junior, Poteat (5-foot-10, 195-pounds) carried 269 times for 1,664 yards (6.2 average) and 24 touchdowns while also catching 25 passes for 252 yards (10.1 average) and four more scores. Considered No. 18 among running backs nationally by ESPNU, his original finalists were Pittsburgh, Iowa, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Connecticut and the USC Trojans. Among his other offers were Notre Dame, Florida, Temple, Tennessee, Illinois and Minnesota.
Scouts Inc. had the following to say about Poteat: "Poteat is one of the more complete backs in this class. Great size, feet, in-line strength as well as good blocking and receiving skills make up this guy's total package."
Poteat credited Cincy head coach Butch Jones for his decision. "Usually when schools recruit you, or how I experienced some it, you'll deal with a coach that may not even coach you in college, Coach Jones visited me himself. That's something that stayed with me and meant a lot," Poteat said.
"Coach Jones reminds me of my high school coach, someone you trust and play for, but moving on from Pittsburgh took some thought."
Poteat's signing gives the Bearcats 20 recruits for the 2011 season.
_______________________________________________________
Follow Joshua on Twitter to stay up to date and subscribe at the top of the page for updates.
Comments