Oakridge's Jamie Potts commits to Grand Valley to play both baseball and football



Jamie Potts Scores TD vs. Muskegon Hts.  in District Finals

Oakridge's Jamie Potts commits to Grand Valley to play both baseball and football


Mike Mattson
The Muskegon Chronicle, December 17, 2010

Jamie PottsThree-sport standout Jamie Potts plans to become a two-sport man at Grand Valley State University.

Potts, an all-stater in football and baseball at Oakridge, made a verbal commitment Thursday night to play both sports for the Lakers.

“Central (Michigan) offered me a full ride for football, but it would be hard for me to give up baseball,” Potts said. “It came down to Grand Valley and Saginaw Valley. I wanted to go somewhere to win championships and that’s Grand Valley.”

Grand Valley football coach Matt Mitchell and baseball coach Steve Lyon were both present when Potts made his verbal commitment.

The Division II school has won four national championships in football and has one national runner-up finish in baseball.

In football, Potts broke or tied 12 school records as a quarterback and kicker. In baseball, he’s been an all-stater as a pitcher and center fielder.

Potts said he’ll likely be turned into a tight end in football. In baseball, he’ll likely play center field.

Both of Potts’ older brothers also graduated from Grand Valley.

Potts said the hardest part of his decision was passing on a full scholarship at CMU. But he also wanted to play college baseball and that opportunity seemed more manageable at Grand Valley.

“I was close to taking the Central offer,” said Potts, who is a key player on Oakridge’s boys varsity basketball team. “There was a lot of pressure from some people to go D-I.

“I just stepped back and knew I wanted to do both sports. Grand Valley gave me the best opportunity to succeed at both sports.”