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Wisconsin Sports Network and WisSports.net are proud to announce Verona's Tre Poteat as the 2024 recipient of the Jim Leonhard Award as the most outstanding senior defensive back in Wisconsin, part of the WSN Senior Football Awards.

Tre Poteat is one of the top cornerbacks to come out of the state in some time, as the son of former Badgers assistant Hank Poteat stayed at Verona when his father took a job at Iowa State.

A three-time All-Conference choice, Poteat is dynamic on both sides of the ball, recording 43 tackles with six interceptions and five forced fumbles. He also ran for 318 yards and a touchdown and led the Wildcats with 43 catches for 552 yards and seven scores.

Poteat, who is committed to Tennessee, scored a total of six touchdowns on returns - four on punts, one on a kickoff, and one on an interception.

"He simply shuts down half of the field and no one throws to that side or runs to that side," said head coach Andrew Riley. "It's going to be a forced fumble or int if it comes to his side."

Poteat was a WFCA All-State selection for a second straight season.

Finalists for the award were Poteat, Cole Brenner of Stanley-Boyd, Marvanous Butler-Brown of Catholic Memorial, Grant Dean of Neenah, and Logan Zahour of Cedarburg.

Past winners of the award include Marquette's Michael Trotter (2009), Appleton North's Joe Makeever (2010), Edgar's Kyle Schueller (2011), Whitefish Bay's Jackson Weber (2012), Appleton North's Connor Rolain (2013), Kimberly's Bret Verstegen (2014), Marquette's Michael Crowley (2015), Monona Grove's Jarrett Maier (2016), Waunakee's Lucas Statz (2017), La Crosse Central's David Hayden (2018), Milwaukee Riverside's Amaun Williams (2019), Muskego's Hunter Wohler (2020), Rice Lake's Alex Belongia (2021), La Crosse Central's Boston Brindley (2022), and Mosinee's Keagan Jirschele (2023).

The award is named after Jim Leonhard, one of the most beloved players from the state of Wisconsin. Hailing from tiny Tony, Wisconsin and attending Flambeau High School, Leonhard was a two-time All-State selection. He walked-on at the University of Wisconsin, and quickly established himself as a leader and outstanding player. He started 39 games in his career, and his 21 career interceptions are tied for the most in Badger history and fourth in the Big Ten. He also broke the Big Ten punt return yardage record. Leonhard went undrafted, but hooked on with the Buffalo Bills before moving to the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and Cleveland Browns. He returned as an assistant coach and eventually defensive coordinator at Wisconsin.

The voting panel for the WSN Senior Football Awards consisted of:  Travis Wilson, WSN General Manager and Head Football Writer;  Norbert Durst, WSN Content Manager; Dennis Semrau, ESPN Madison; Jonathan Krause, WSCO The Score 95.3 in Appleton; Jimmie Kaska, WEAU in Eau Claire; Dan Barwick, WSN Contributor; Colton Wilson, WSN Content Producer; Fan Vote

Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisWSN.

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.