Potts eagerly awaiting ETSU season opener

Isaiah Potts will welcome his friends with collisions instead of simple hugs when East Tennessee State hosts Campbell in the football season opener on August 29. The graduate student defensive lineman transferred from Campbell to ETSU prior to the 2025 season. Potts still has friends on the Camels' roster, but instead of taking it easy on them, it becomes serious business once the ball is kicked off. Potts wants nothing more than for the Bucs to come out victorious at Greene Stadium. "I'm very excited. I've got some guys I still talk to over there, and you know we talking a little bit of junk to each other, so it's gonna be a good game," Potts said. "I get to see some of my old friends, some of the guys I used to strap it up with. But between them lines, it's no friends." ETSU will certainly be the favorite and the Bucs are coming off a 7-5 season, while Campbell struggled to a 2-10 campaign last year. But, both rosters have been heavily revamped. As for Potts, he feels much better than a year ago. He's gotten in better shape, taken off some pounds and built up his endurance. He had plenty of motivation of wanting to be a bigger part of the gameplan and to fully take advantage of his final year. "Last year, I wasn't the best in shape, but I've lost some weight, got a little bit of leaner, and feel pretty good," he said. "I just wanted to play more, be out there more, get more snaps than last year. That's the biggest thing for me." In this first week of full pads, Potter sees an ETSU team which is faster and harder hitting than a year before. There was a definite uptick when the team put on full pads for the first time on Wednesday. "I see the physicality all around. Offensive linemen, defensive linemen, receivers, running backs, DBs, we all putting pads on each other, just hitting each other," he said. "It's just good form tackling, and the physicality. I love it." As far as the defensive line, the Bucs return preseason All-Southern Conference selection Brenden LeBlanc, but lost others like Kaven Call and Dailen Howard. Potts, who played in 11 games for the Bucs last season and started the last two, believes they've actually upgraded on the line. "I don't think it's any drop-off. This year, we'll be able to rush the rush the passer with base guys," he said. "We lost some speed, but this year we got even more speed and even more power." For Potts, there is a familiarity of his second year playing under ETSU defensive coordinator Chad Staggs. It's a defense which requires a lot of repetition and film study, but one that he's gotten much more comfortable in. It's more about making it uncomfortable for their opponents. "It's complex, very complex, but it works," Potts said about the defense. "One minute, we could be in four down (linemen), next minute we could be in the three down. You just to keep offenses on their heels."