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Jack Potenza is in his second season at Nebraska in 2024 and his first as an analyst.
As a graduate assistant, Potenza helped Nebraska post its best statistical defense of the Big Ten era in his first season in 2023, when the Huskers ranked in the top 15 nationally in rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense.
Potenza spent three seasons as a graduate assistant at Syracuse from 2020 to 2022, where he worked under Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White. Potenza also worked with the defensive line at Syracuse.
Syracuse had the nation’s most improved defense in 2021, climbing from 112th nationally in total defense in 2020 to 19th in 2021. The Orange ranked in the top 30 nationally in total defense in each of Potenza’s final two seasons on staff. Syracuse also ranked in the top 10 nationally in defensive touchdowns in two of Potenza’s three seasons.
In 2022, Syracuse ranked 10th nationally in defensive touchdowns (3), 19th in passing defense (188.8) and 29th in total defense (338.1). The year before, the Orange were 16th nationally in sacks (2.5 per game), 19th in total defense (330.3) and 26th in both rushing (126.1) and passing (204.2) defense. Syracuse was one of only eight teams to rank in the top 30 nationally in both passing and rushing defense in 2021. In Potenza’s first season on staff in 2020, Syracuse ranked seventh nationally with three defensive touchdowns.
A native of Fairfield, Connecticut, Potenza was a two-sport athlete in football (quarterback) and lacrosse (midfielder) at St. Lawrence University before transferring to Syracuse. He worked as a recruiting office assistant and student coach for the Orange as an undergraduate, assisting with recruiting prospect summaries and analysis in 2018 and assisting with the defensive line in 2019. His work with the defensive line included assisting with the planning of defensive individual and scout team practice periods.
Potenza also has experience at the NFL level. In 2018 and 2019, he spent the summer as a training camp intern with the Washington Commanders.
Potenza earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Syracuse in 2020. He went on to earn his master’s degree from Syracuse in instructional design, development and evaluation in 2022.