Hank Poteat

Henry Major "Hank" Poteat, II (born August 30, 1977 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Pittsburgh.

Poteat has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots and New York Jets. He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX.

Early years
Poteat attended Harrisburg High School in Harrisburg, PA and was a letterman in football, basketball, and track. In football, he was a two-time All-Conference selection as a running back and as a defensive back. He finished his college career with 136 tackles, 10 interceptions, a school-record 1,917 Kick Return yards, 90 rushing yards and 54 receiving yards. He also earned All-Big East honors as a senior after posting 55 tackles, three interceptions, nine Passes Defended and one Forced Fumble over 11 starts. He was also the last Pittsburgh defensive back before Jets 2007 first-round pick Darrelle Revis to earn All-Big East honors in back-to-back seasons. He established a single-season record as a junior with 764 Kick Return yards on 36 returns. In high school he twice earned all-conference honors as a Defensive Back/Running Back at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania High School.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Poteat selected in the third round (77th overall) in the 2000 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. As a rookie, Poteat was one of the top returners in the NFL setting a Steeler record with the longest Punt return for a TD by a Steeler in Three Rivers Stadium (54 yards) Poteat tied for fourth in the AFC and Sixth in the NFL with a 13.0 yard punt return average on 36 returns for 467 yards and 1 touchdown. At the end of the season Poteat was named to the all-rookie team as a punt returner.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
He signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers later that season and appeared in one game before being waived on November 12, 2004.

New England Patriots
Poteat signed with the New England Patriots prior to the 2004-05 playoffs and played in all three of the Patriots' playoff games en route to their victory in Super Bowl XXXIX. Poteat was released by the Patriots on August 29, 2006. Poteat was re-signed on September 27, 2006, after the Patriots placed Randall Gay on injured reserve. Poteat was released again by the Patriots on October 9, 2006 in order to clear a roster spot for Jabar Gaffney.

New York Jets
A day after his release from the Patriots, Poteat signed with the New York Jets. On February 21, 2007, the Jets re-signed Poteat to a one-year, $635,000 deal including $40,000 bonus money.

Poteat was re-signed in the 2008 offseason on May 6, but released on August 30 during final cuts. He was re-signed three weeks into the regular season on September 25 after offensive lineman Will Montgomery was waived.

Cleveland Browns
Poteat was signed by the Cleveland Browns on March 9, 2009. The move reunited him with Browns head coach Eric Mangini, for whom he had played in New England and New York.

Personal life
Poteat is the cousin of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill basketball player Justin Watts.