Russ Potokov
Offensive Lineman
Urbana
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Russ Potokov: I am 6’4 and I was 330 during the season. I am 317 right now and I never ran my 40 time. I am flying to LA on April 6th to participate in a Combine. It is a new combine for the new leagues. I should be able to do all of the testing up there.
Alex Khvatov: Where are you currently training for the NFL Draft?
Russ Potokov: I am currently training at Parabolic Performance in New Jersey.
Alex Khvatov: You played in the College Gridiron Showcase. Tell us about that all-star game.
Russ Potokov: It was different types of competition. They had high level guys there. It was fun. I was coming from a small school in Ohio. It was my second time going to Texas. I was getting coached up and learned new techniques.
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your Dream Bowl experience?
Russ Potokov: They also had a combine. I pulled my hamstring running my first 40. They taped it up, and I participated in practices and the game. It took me three or four weeks to be at a 100%.
Alex Khvatov: Tell us about the BSN Combine in Indy.
Russ Potokov: BSN was really good. I wanted to participate in everything, but my Parabolic trainer told me to wait for my pro day. I didn’t do testing, but I did the field drills. I was hoping to get into the pro day. My agent has been trying to get me into a couple of schools. So far, we have been unsuccessful. I also did the bench press. I got 19 reps, but I know that I can do more now.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Russ Potokov: I started playing football my junior of high school. I was playing basketball before. I was at a gym class one day, and my PE teacher, who was a football coach, told me that I am a big kid and I should be playing football. One of my closest friends joined football and he told me to join the team. I came to practice and fell in love with it because you get to hit people. I played DT during my junior year. The coaches just told me to run straight and through people. During my senior year, I started learning football more. I was 280 pounds in high school. None of the coaches helped us get into college. I had a pretty good year. I had 45 tackles and four sacks. Schools didn’t look at me because of my grades. Our DL coach told me that I could go to a junior college. I made film and sent it out. Nassau community college told me to come out for a tryout. They were a powerhouse at the time. I made the team at DT. They moved me to OT once I got there. It took me a year to learn and practice at the new position. I played for two years. I had Maryland, FAU and Texas Tech looking at me, but my grades were holding me back. I had a 2.3 GPA. I went to Fairmont State, which is a D-II school in West Virginia. The timing was off. My mom had heart surgery. It was hard for me to concentrate on football. My mom was in New York. I had to leave. I went back home for the spring and took summer classes at Nassau.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose Urbana?
Russ Potokov: My former teammate who played at Ohio State told me about Urbana. He told me that their OL coach was going there. It was a culture shock at first. I was at Ohio. We had 500 people in our town. The coaches and the players were good.
Alex Khvatov: Describe your overall career.
Russ Potokov: I was supposed to start my first year, but I missed four weeks because I bruised my tail bone. I came back and played. During my senior year, I started every game and gave up only one sack. After I did that, I started getting invites to different all-star games.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Russ Potokov: Explosiveness off the ball and my high IQ. I am football smart. My upper body and lower body are strong. I am 317 pounds now. I move faster now and communicate well with my teammates.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Russ Potokov: Mostly my pulling and opening up my hips. I have been getting better in pass blocking. We were a running team in college.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Russ Potokov: At my junior college, we won the championship. I was part of the team that went 11-0. We went to a bowl game. During my senior year at Urbana, I had a great season. I gave up only one sack.
Alex Khvatov: What have you learned the most from your coaching staff?
Russ Potokov: My OL coach taught me a lot. He taught me how to use my hands and stay low. Parabolic coach also taught me a lot. My technique is definitely better and my footwork is quicker.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Russ Potokov: The Texans are my favorite team. My second team is the NY Jets.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Russ Potokov: J.J. Watt is my favorite player.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for an OL?
Russ Potokov: Your feet. You have to have great feet. You have to be able to move and be flexible. We are athletes. We have to be able to pull and go to the second level. Athleticism is a big part.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for next season?
Russ Potokov: #76 OT Marcelys Jones spent one year at Ohio State. He also spent some time at Winston-Salem State in North Carolina. He has one more year. My friend from Nassau CC LT Chris Hawkins. He is my roommate. He was an Arizona State commit.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?
Russ Potokov: John Cominsky from Charleston. He was a hard guy to block. He was really big. I faced him my junior and senior year.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Russ Potokov: Just meeting new people. I have met so many people in my life through football. The bond with my teammates. I love the excitement and the rush that the game brings.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Russ Potokov: Go to the movies and play video games.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Russ Potokov: I speak a different language. I speak Russian. I got a criminal justice degree. I want to become an FBI agent.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Russ Potokov: Happy, energetic, active, hard-worker and playful.
