The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Mentor’s Potter commits to Ohio State
Noah Potter has wanted to play for Coach Larry Johnson for a number of years.
He will get that chance in the very near future.
A 6-foot-5, 250-pound junior defensive lineman at Mentor, Potter announced his verbal commitment to Ohio State on April 16. After a whirlwind recruiting process that took him all over the United States, he opted to join the Buckeyes following his upcoming senior year.
Potter said he informed OSU coach Urban Meyer and defensive line coach Larry Johnson of his decision after OSU’s spring game on April 14, but waited to announce it publicly until April 16 so he could inform other coaches recruiting him of his decision.
“Coach Johnson is the biggest reason why I committed,” Potter said. “When I went to tell him on Saturday, it was a good moment. I went to a camp my freshman year — I think it was Coach Johnson’s second year there. I knew from then I wanted to play for him.”
Potter said his final decision came down to Penn State, North Carolina State, Florida and Wisconsin, though he had 27 offers to sort through. In the past two weeks, Potter made trips to Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Wisconsin.
No one measured up to his “dream school” — Ohio State — and his dream coach, Johnson.
“What he’s done with the Bosa brothers, Tyquan Lewis, Sam Hubbard, and even before that with Tamba Hali (at Penn State),” Potter said. “He’s had so many defensive ends and defensive tackles who have been successful.
“The relationship I had with him is the best I’ve had with any coach. It’s just a great feeling to get this all over with.”
Potter changed his number from 43 to 97 because of his admiration for former Ohio State star defensive end Joey Bosa (now with the San Diego Chargers) and current OSU defensive end Nick Bosa.
Blending a combination of speed and power that the Bosa brothers display on the gridiron, Potter hopes to have success in his own right with No. 97 on his chest.
“Coach Johnson said he’s saving 97 for me. He told me that a long time ago,” Potter said. “I guess it’s nice he thinks I’m worthy of that number. I hope I live up to it. I know what I need to do to be successful.”
Potter is the second junior from Mentor to commit to Ohio State. He joins offensive tackle Ryan Jacoby as a future Buckeye. Jacoby gave his verbal commitment on March 1 for Ohio State’s 2019 recruiting class.
Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno said the plan is for Potter and Jacoby to sign their national letters of intent on the first day of the early signing period on Dec. 19 and enroll at Ohio State for the spring semester that starts in January.
“How about that? What are the odds?” Trivisonno said. “What are the odds of having two players in one class? It’s pretty impressive. They are two good kids who worked hard to get where they’re at. I can’t be happier for them.”
Trivisonno lauded the process Potter went through to reach his decision. The youngest of the three Potter boys — middle son Micah Potter is a 6-foot-10 sophomore on the Ohio State men’s basketball team — Noah was meticulous in his recruiting homework.
“I wasn’t sure when he was going to decide or how quick it would be,” Trivisonno said. “But I know it was a place he really liked. I give him credit. He did his due diligence throughout the process, handled it the right way. I’m proud of him.”
Potter is coming off a junior year in which he had 68 tackles, 32 quarterback hurries, 10 sacks and eight tackles for loss. He helped lead Mentor to the Division I state championship game.
Trivisonno said Potter has the tools to play defensive end at Ohio State, but also has the frame to put on some weight and play a defensive tackle position.
“That’s up to the Buckeyes,” Trivisonno said of Potter, a second-team AllOhioan this past fall. “He’s hard to block on-on-one. He’s pretty dominant, and he’s still developing.”
He will join his brother Micah as a Buckeye following his graduation this coming year.
“We grew up as Buckeye fans,” Potter said. “Him being at Ohio State already affected my decision, but it wasn’t the main reason I went there. It’ll be sweet being there together. We are like best friends.”
Potter is the fifth verbal commitment Ohio State has received for the Class of 2019, the others being Jacoby, four-star offensive lineman Doug Nester of Huntington, W.Va., fourstar running back Sampson James from Indiana, and four-star athlete Ronnie Hickman from New Jersey.
With his college decision out of the way, Potter, who plans on majoring in business finance, said his full attention will go toward the Mentor Cardinals.
With Potter anchoring the Mentor defense this past fall, the Cardinals were the Division I state runner-up to Pickerington Central.
“I didn’t want the recruiting process to be a distraction to my team,” Potter said of why he committed now. “I didn’t want college coaches coming in during the season. My focus is on Mentor. I want a state title. I want to get Coach Triv his first state championship.”