Memphis gets a hometown star

Memphis is a city that is becoming an increasingly fertile hotbed for talented college football prospects. The University of Memphis is in a great position to capitalize on that talent and on Wednesday night it picked up its first hometown commit for the class of 2009. Memphis (Tenn.) Kingsbury athlete Randy Powell became Memphis' fifth commit of the 2009 class and second from the high school ranks.

"I just got off the phone with Coach Walton and Coach Ingram and I told them I wanted to go to Memphis," Powell said Wednesday evening. "It's my hometown school. It's a better deal, it's much sweeter knowing that I'm going to school but I'm going to school at my hometown."

Though he was recruited as a defensive back, Powell plays quarterback for his high school team and lines up in the backfield with three-star running back and Ole Miss commit Gabriel Hunter. If Powell has any say in it, Hunter may not be done with his recruitment.

"I'm trying to get my running back to come with me," he said. "We're trying to put our city back on the map. I just like the people there. They cooperate well together. They keep it real and they're down home people. I just like the way they role.

The Memphis staff did a good job recruiting Powell who said that they offered everything he wanted to make him comfortable.

"I was hearing from Ole Miss. I was hearing from Louisville too and Middle Tennessee. Memphis just gave me a sweeter deal as far as playing time, jersey number and everything. We took an unofficial visit up there and they asked what jersey do you want. I said number seven and they said he's graduating so it's yours."

As a high school quarterback, Powell knows he is being recruited primarily as a defensive back but with his speed and athleticism, the 5-foot-11, 175-pounder is ready to play wherever he needs to.

"They say DB and athlete," he said of Memphis' plans for him. "I talked to them and Tim Walton, he got all geeked up over my 50 time and my broad jump but overall if they need a receiver or if they need a back I'll play wherever they need me."

Powell's 40 time was a 4.37 at the Memphis camp this summer. He ran a 4.33 the summer before. Along with that speed, Powell says that Memphis will be getting a player ready to play.

"They're getting a hometown guy," he said. "They can call me Mr. Memphis. As far as all the DBs, I'm going to get faster and I'm going to get bigger and I'm already coming in at 6 feet, 200 and I'm college ready as it is."