Potter will go from WR to QB in hopes of picking up where Clausen left off

So, what's next for Potter?

Even if the first name isn't Harry, it's still among the most intriguing questions of the summer.

For Chris Potter, the answer is as straightforward as the team goals for the Oaks Christian School football team: Why, quarterback is next.

After a prolific junior season as a wide receiver on the region's most acclaimed high school football team, Potter had a new assignment as the Lions launched their summer workouts last week.

He's striving to become the starting quarterback for a program seeking its fifth consecutive CIF-Southern Section championship.

"I'm excited, no doubt about it," Potter says. "I've grown up playing quarterback, so I'm comfortable playing the position. Really, I'm ready to do whatever I can to help us win football games.

"If the coaches want me to play wide receiver, I'll do that. If they want be to play quarterback, that's what I will do."

As Oaks Christian played host in its first 7-on-7 passing competition last Wednesday, Potter was taking snaps and launching passes to the Lions' array of skill players.

Last fall, he was one of quarterback Jimmy Clausen's top targets, hauling in 49 passes for 822 yards and eight touchdowns. Along with his role as punt returner, he tallied 11 touchdowns.

Now he is Jimmy Clausen in the Oaks Christian offense, or at least the heir apparent to the phenom who has gone on to Notre Dame. That's provided, of course, he emerges from a trio of candidates that includes Anthony Vitto and Isiah Kempf.

"Jimmy Clausen is a great quarterback and an amazing talent," said Potter. "I've got to be myself if I'm playing quarterback. I'll throw the ball. I'll run the ball sometimes. It would be my job to put us in a position to win."

Head coach Bill Redell said Potter is uniquely equipped to play the position.

"He's smart. He's a great athlete. He brings a lot of dimensions to the position," said Redell. "He's got a good arm. He also is quick and fast and a threat when he runs the ball. I have no doubt that he will do very well."

Wide receiver Chris Owusu, who recently committed to Stanford, said Oaks Christian will line up another standout quarterback.

"He (Potter) will do a great job," said Owusu. "He throws the ball well. He can run. We've been working hard during the spring to get our timing down. We should be in good shape by the time summer practices are over."

Though his focus was on playing wide receiver last fall, Potter did see action as the No. 2 quarterback behind Jimmy Clausen. He completed 16 of 25 pass attempts for 261 yards and two touchdowns.

Potter has a not-so-secret weapon to help him prepare for full-time duty behind center. His father, Dana, threw for more than 3,000 yards in leading Granada Hills High to an L.A. City Section championship in 1970. Dana later earned a scholarship to Nebraska.

"He's been there every step of the way for me," said Potter. "He's excited about me playing quarterback, and I have to live up to the way he played."

At 5-foot-11, Potter figures his future as a college player lies at wide receiver. Mississippi, Colorado State and Kentucky are among the schools leading the recruiting derby.

Potter said none of his favored schools object to him playing quarterback his senior year.

"They don't have a problem with it at all," he said.

"All the coaches say it's good for me to play another position and be a little more versatile. I think it will help me when I go back to wide receiver."

Along with the challenge of switching position, Potter embraces the quest for a fifth consecutive Southern Section championship.

Even minus 11 Division I recruits — or the number of seniors off last season's team who have earned athletic scholarships — Potter figures the Lions are in good stead to repeat. Again.

"If anyone wants to overlook us, they are going to find out that we're still a pretty good team," he said. "We've graduated a lot of good players, but we also played against those guys every day in practice and we know what we can do.

"I definitely think we have the talent and the coaching to play for another CIF championship.

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