Powell ready for prime time
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – New Freedom (Pa.) Susquehannock cornerback Chaz Powell is used doing well in big-time events.
After blowing up at the State College NIKE Training Camp earlier this spring, he became a household name with college coaches, earning scholarship offers from Boston College, UConn, Georgia, Maryland and Penn State.
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It was that Penn State offer that he quickly jumped on, and now that he's in another big-time event – this time the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl – he's ready to step up on the stage and perform again.
"It's an honor to be in this game," Powell, who is 6-foot-1 and 184 pounds, said. "It just shows all the hard work is paying off. They say my performance at the NIKE just put my name on the charts, and I blew up from there. I'm still working hard. I'm not satisfied where I'm at now.
"It's fun to be competing again here at this game. I'm ready for the competition. I also want to go out there and have fun, meet some new guys. I've already met some of the guys and they're all really great. Everybody is good here, so you'll have to go out there and play well."
But for Powell, he's been there and done that.
"My leadership on the field was a lot better this season," Powell said. "People looked up to me more. I worked even harder in the weight room when the time came around. I worked hard to get to where I'm at now and in this game. I plan to make the most of it."
Just like he does when he arrives at Penn State. Powell said he'll take his official visit to Happy Valley on Jan. 19, which just happens to be his birthday.
"It's not my decision whether or not I play right away," he said. "If I play, then that's a good thing. And if I don't, then it gives me a better opportunity to get ready for the game when I'm a little bit older."
Powell said he's been pleased with the progress that PSU made this season.
"They did well, but they're young," he said.
"They have a young quarterback, and they have an opportunity to be good in the future with all those young guys.
"It'll be a good bowl game. If they play well, they'll win. If their offense does well, they'll win. Their defense always keeps them in games. If the offense plays well and the defense plays together as a team, then they'll do well."