# Taylor Potts

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**Taylor Potts** (born October 13, 1987) is an American former [football](/source/American_football) [quarterback](/source/Quarterback). He played [college football](/source/College_football) at [Texas Tech](/source/Texas_Tech_Red_Raiders_football),[1] and was signed by the [St. Louis Rams](/source/St._Louis_Rams) as an [undrafted free agent](/source/Undrafted_free_agent) in 2011. He was waived during training camp, and then signed as a free agent by the [San Diego Chargers](/source/San_Diego_Chargers) in May 2012, where he was expected to compete for the third-string quarterback position.

At Texas Tech, Potts served as a backup for quarterback [Graham Harrell](/source/Graham_Harrell) and took over the starting role in 2009.[2]

## Early life

Prior to coming to [Texas Tech](/source/Texas_Tech_University), Potts played at [Abilene High School](/source/Abilene_High_School_(Texas)) in [Abilene, Texas](/source/Abilene,_Texas). In his senior season, Potts threw for 3,162 yards and 53 touchdowns and garnered Class 5A Region and All-State teams.[3] In addition to Texas Tech, Potts was recruited by [Michigan](/source/Michigan_Wolverines_football), [Baylor](/source/Baylor_Bears_football), [Notre Dame](/source/Notre_Dame_Fighting_Irish_football), [Oklahoma](/source/Oklahoma_Sooners_football), [Texas](/source/Texas_Longhorns_football), and [Texas A&M](/source/Texas_A%26M_Aggies_football).[1]

## College career

### 2006–2008 seasons

Potts spent his 2006 freshman season as a [redshirt](/source/Redshirt_(college_sports)), seeing no game action but working as a member of the scout team.[1] He then served as a backup to [Graham Harrell](/source/Graham_Harrell) for the 2007 and 2008 seasons, seeing limited playing time in several Tech blowout victories. In those two seasons, he compiled 669 yards passing, 5 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.[4]

### 2009 season

Potts was named Harrell's heir apparent and starter by [Mike Leach](/source/Mike_Leach_(American_football_coach)) in April 2009. Potts beat out classmate and former walk-on [Steven Sheffield](/source/Steven_Sheffield) and highly touted redshirt freshman [Seth Doege](/source/Seth_Doege). In his first game against the [North Dakota Fighting Sioux](/source/North_Dakota_Fighting_Hawks_football), he completed 34 of 48 passes for 405 yards 2 touchdowns passing and 2 on the ground, and threw three interceptions in a 38–13 win. The next week against the [Rice Owls](/source/Rice_Owls_football), Potts threw 7 touchdowns and no interceptions in 55–10 blowout win. For his performance, he was named [Big 12 Conference](/source/Big_12_Conference) Offensive Player of the Week. The next week, Potts played his best game to date as he faced off against the No. 2 [Texas Longhorns](/source/Texas_Longhorns_football) quarterbacked by [Colt McCoy](/source/Colt_McCoy). Potts started slow but ended up with 46 completions out of 62 attempts for 420 yards, 3 touchdowns and an interception. Potts took a vicious hit from Texas defensive end [Sergio Kindle](/source/Sergio_Kindle) that caused a turnover that in effect sealed the close win for the Longhorns, but got back up to throw his third touchdown of the game to Tramain Swindall. Despite losing 34–24, pundits noted that Potts outplayed McCoy with better numbers, and going into a hostile environment against a top 2 team and taking a vicious hit in the process.

Tech fans were optimistic after the Texas game, but they lost 29–28 to [Houston](/source/Houston_Cougars_football) after the Texas Tech offense failed to convert on fourth and goal from inside the one. Critics blamed Potts' inability to use his 6'6" frame to punch the ball in and seal the victory. In the next game against the [New Mexico Lobos](/source/New_Mexico_Lobos_football), Potts started slow and was knocked out with a Concussion. With the game tied at 7 with a minute left, Sheffield came in and scored to give the Raiders the lead en route to a 48–28 win. Potts was taken to the hospital and sat out the next 2 games, as Sheffield led Tech to blowout wins over [Kansas State](/source/Kansas_State_Wildcats_football) and [Nebraska](/source/Nebraska_Cornhuskers_football) 66–14 and 31–10, respectively. Potts found himself back as the starter against [Texas A&M](/source/Texas_A%26M_Aggies_football) after Sheffield broke his foot against Nebraska. Potts played poorly and was benched by Leach for Doege to the chants from the crowd of "No more Potts".[5] Tech lost to A&M 52–30.

Doege started the next game against [Kansas](/source/Kansas_Jayhawks_football) but was largely ineffective and Potts led the Raiders to a 42–21 win off the strength of the ground game. Potts had a fairly effective game despite a 24–17 loss to [Oklahoma State](/source/Oklahoma_State_Cowboys_football) in the next week. Potts delivered his biggest win to date, a 41–13 drubbing of the [Oklahoma Sooners](/source/Oklahoma_Sooners_football) and finished the season with a 20–13 win over [Baylor](/source/Baylor_Bears_football), giving Tech an 8–4 overall record and 5–3 in Big 12 play.

Tech was invited to the [Alamo Bowl](/source/2010_Alamo_Bowl_(January)) against [Michigan State](/source/Michigan_State_Spartans_football). Although Sheffield was healthy, Potts was given the start.[6] Potts was effective for most of the game, but was pulled late in the fourth quarter by the interim staff (Leach had been fired earlier in the week). With Tech behind, Sheffield rallied Tech to two late scores to beat the Spartans 41–31. Potts was named offensive MVP with 29–43 passing for 372 yards and 2 touchdowns.

### 2010 season

After battling against Sheffield for the starting quarterback job in spring and summer practices, Potts was named the starter for the 2010 season under new Red Raider head coach [Tommy Tuberville](/source/Tommy_Tuberville) and offensive coordinator [Neal Brown](/source/Neal_Brown). Potts suffered a hand injury in spring 2010 workouts and missed the spring Red-Black scrimmage. However, he was named the starter for Tech's season opener against [SMU](/source/SMU_Mustangs_football). Potts threw for 359 yards, completing 34 of 53 passes, as Tech won.

Potts started every game for Tech during the season except for the November 6 game against No. 14 [Missouri](/source/Missouri_Tigers_football). Sheffield started that game, but Potts came in shortly before halftime and led Tech to a 24–17 upset win. Potts was named the AT&T/ESPN All-America Player of the Week after passing for a [Cotton Bowl](/source/Cotton_Bowl_(stadium))-record 462 yards in Tech's 45–38 win over Baylor on October 9.[7] In his final home game, against Houston on November 27, Potts threw for 373 yards in a 35–20 win.

For the season, Potts finished with 3,726 passing yards, completing 369 of 551 passes (67.0 percent) with 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He finished his final season as Tech's fourth-ranked all-time leader in passing yards (7,835) and the school's third-ranked all-time leader in touchdown passes thrown with 62.[8]

Texas Tech faced [Northwestern](/source/Northwestern_Wildcats_football) in the [inaugural TicketCity Bowl](/source/2011_TicketCity_Bowl). Potts threw for 369 yards, completing 43 of 56 passes in Tech's 45–38 win. Potts connected with former high school teammate [Lyle Leong](/source/Lyle_Leong) for two touchdown and also had scoring passes to Austin Zouzalik and Swindall. Potts also scored one touchdown on a perfectly executed trick play, a double pass from Potts to Zouzalik and back to Potts. For his efforts, Potts was named Offensive Most Valuable Player.[9]

### Statistics

Season Team Games Passing Rushing GP GS Record Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD 2006 Texas Tech 0 0 — Redshirted 2007 Texas Tech 5 0 — 32 49 65.3 409 8.3 3 1 151.5 2 –20 –10.0 0 2008 Texas Tech 10 0 — 23 36 63.9 260 7.2 2 1 137.3 0 0 0.0 0 2009 Texas Tech 11 10 6–4 309 470 65.7 3,440 7.3 22 13 137.1 24 –166 –6.9 2 2010 Texas Tech 13 12 7–5 369 551 67.0 3,726 6.8 35 10 141.1 33 4 0.1 2 Career 39 22 13–9 733 1,106 66.3 7,835 7.1 62 25 139.8 59 –182 –3.1 4

## Professional career

Potts went undrafted in the [2011 NFL draft](/source/2011_NFL_draft) and was later signed by the [St. Louis Rams](/source/St._Louis_Rams) on July 26, 2011, but was waived on August 15.[10]

In May 2012, Potts was signed as a [free agent](/source/Free_agent) and agreed to terms with the [San Diego Chargers](/source/San_Diego_Chargers) after a workout with the team.[11] He was subsequently released.

## Personal life

As of 2011, Potts was engaged to Erin Methvin, alumna of [Lubbock Christian University](/source/Lubbock_Christian_University).

## See also

- [2007 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team](/source/2007_Texas_Tech_Red_Raiders_football_team)
- [2008 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team](/source/2008_Texas_Tech_Red_Raiders_football_team)

## References

1. ["Taylor Potts Profile"](http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/potts_taylor00.html). Texas Tech Official Athletic Site. Retrieved February 25, 2009.

1. McDonald, Brian (February 23, 2009). ["2009 Look Ahead: Big 12 South"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090314022634/http://www.collegefantasyfootballinsider.com/article.aspx?ID=335). College Fantasy Football Insider. Archived from [the original](http://www.collegefantasyfootballinsider.com/article.aspx?ID=335) on March 14, 2009. Retrieved February 25, 2009.

1. Murphy, Brendan (July 20, 2006). ["'Summer House' profile: Taylor Potts"](https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=2524927). [ESPN](/source/ESPN). Retrieved February 25, 2009.

1. ["Taylor Potts Stats"](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/14622/taylor-potts). [ESPN](/source/ESPN). Retrieved February 25, 2009.

1. Griffin, Tim (October 27, 2009). ["'Year of the backup QB' marks Big 12 this season"](https://www.espn.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/5728/year-of-the-backup-qb-marks-big-12-this-season). *[ESPN.com](/source/ESPN.com)*. [ESPN](/source/ESPN). Retrieved April 5, 2026.

1. Beardsley, Howard (December 27, 2009). ["Alamo Bowl notes: Texas Tech to start Taylor Potts at quarterback against Spartans"](https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2009/12/alamo_bowl_notes_texas_tech_to.html). *[The Grand Rapids Press](/source/The_Grand_Rapids_Press)*. [MLive Media Group](/source/MLive_Media_Group). Retrieved April 5, 2026.

1. Williams, Don (October 10, 2010). ["Coach: Team better than it looked"](https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/sports/college/football/2010/10/11/coach-team-better-it-looked/15259432007/). *[Lubbock Avalanche-Journal](/source/Lubbock_Avalanche-Journal)*. Retrieved April 5, 2026.

1. ["Player Bio: Taylor Potts - TEXAS TECH OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110105231913/http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/potts_taylor00.html). *www.texastech.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/potts_taylor00.html) on 2011-01-05.

1. ["Texas Tech Tops Northwestern in TicketCity Bowl, 45-38 - TEXAS TECH OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110105233311/http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/010111aaa.html). *www.texastech.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/010111aaa.html) on 2011-01-05.

1. ["Rams release former Tech QB Taylor Potts"](https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/sports/2011/08/17/rams-release-former-tech-qb-taylor-potts/15218874007/). *Lubbock Avalanche-Journal*. 2011-08-17. Retrieved 2025-05-18.

1. ["Chargers sign QB Taylor Potts"](https://archive.today/20130216115949/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/47416566). *[NBC Sports](/source/NBC_Sports)*. May 14, 2012. Archived from [the original](http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/47416566) on February 16, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2013.

## External links

- [Player bio](http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/potts_taylor00.html) at Texas Tech athletics

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Taylor Potts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Potts) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Potts?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.