Mobile Christian’s Ronnie Cottrell distinctly remembers the moment he realized how little his coaching means when it comes to versatile athlete Eric Poellnitz.
“We were playing Pelahatchie (Miss.) in the first game of the year and Eric was in at quarterback late,” Cottrell said. “The snap rolled on the ground. Eric picked it up, went to his left and ran 55 yards for a touchdown on a broken play. Sometimes, it’s just more of us getting out of the way with him.”
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Poellnitz is the Leopards’ most dynamic athlete. The senior has racked up 1,154 all-purpose yards this season and accounted for 14 touchdowns in five different ways. He has thrown a TD pass, rushed for four scores, caught seven TD passes and returned two kicks and one punt for touchdowns.
He and the Leopards (9-1) renew their rivalry with Gordo (9-2) in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs Friday at Lamar Harrison Field.
“I’ve never had anyone with his collection of skills,” Cottrell said of Poellnitz. “He can throw it, run it and catch it. Most of all, our team has a lot of respect for him because of the way he goes about what he does.”
Poellnitz has become particularly adept at returning kicks. He has returned two kickoffs for scores in each of the last three seasons and also has a pair of punt return TDs. He didn’t return punts in 2016 because Mobile Christian utilized current West Alabama star Jordan Graddy at that spot.
“I definitely love to return kicks,” Poellnitz said. “It’s not easy, but it’s not real hard either. I feel like if I can take a kick back that really changes the game and swings the momentum.”
The problem now for the Leopards is most opposing coaches choose not to kick it to Poellnitz. Most.
Pelahatchie coach Sam Williams opted to kick it to Poellnitz twice. He returned the first 50 yards to set up a touchdown and the second 70 yards for a score in Mobile Christian’s 41-29 victory.
“No. 17 (Poellnitz) is a heck of a player,” Williams told AL.com after the game. “I was dumb enough to kick the ball to him twice, and he made us pay both times.”
UMS-Wright coach Terry Curtis also opted to test Poellnitz earlier this season.
“I learned my lesson. That was great coaching,” he said. “I remember it like it was yesterday. I went in the huddle. We had just scored. I said, ‘Guys, we are going to kick it right to him. Get down there and cover and let’s make a statement right here.’ About 90 yards later, he had made a statement all right. I went down and told our coaches, ‘Look, I’ll take the blame on that one, but not anymore. Don’t kick it to him again.’”
Cottrell and company have used Poellnitz in a variety of ways. He has caught 28 passes for 899 yards, rushed 41 times for 311 yards and completed 13 passes for 192 yards.
“Every week, he does something that surprises me,” Cottrell said. “We ran a fake punt last week against Pike Road. It wasn’t really there, but Eric scored on it anyway. He split two guys and went 60 yards for a touchdown. I don’t know how many times I’ve turned to (defensive coordinator) Gus (Smith) and said, ‘Did you see that?’
Poellnitz’s heroics haven’t gone unnoticed by colleges. His offers include Memphis, Southern Mississippi, Troy, Florida Atlantic and South Alabama. He visited Memphis last week but said he’s not ready to make a decision just yet.
Cottrell said Mississippi State also has shown interest but has yet to offer.
“I’m not leaning toward anyone right not,” Poellnitz said. “I’m just going to weigh my options and see how the rest of the season goes.”
Cottrell and Smith both said Poellnitz’s maturity will make him a success on the next level wherever he goes.
“He’s been acting like a senior since his freshman year,” Smith said. “I’ve never had anyone quite like him.”