Clemson Football: Has the light come on for Cornell Powell?
The Clemson football wide receiver unit needs to build depth and there could be an emerging star in the position group before it’s all said and done.
There has been one consistent name come up when Dabo Swinney has been asked about the success of Clemson football players during spring camp: Cornell Powell.
Powell, a redshirt senior, came into the Clemson football program as a 4-star WR prospect who was showing all kinds of promise. Powell showed great play-making ability and looked very similar to a running back on film in the way he was so comfortable carrying the ball.
Many Clemson football fans believed Powell would come in right away and make an impact, but that didn’t come to fruition.
Powell spent the majority of his freshman and sophomore seasons receiving minimal stats, combining for just 20 receptions for 144 yards and one touchdown. He played in four games during his junior season before redshirting and then finished last year as a redshirt junior catching just 15 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns.
As Powell enters his final season with the Clemson football program, it seems the light may have finally come on for the talented wide receiver.
The question of skills, talent or ability was never the question for Powell. It’s just the fact that the light comes on at different points for many players. Not everyone is able to come in and compete right away. Not everyone makes an immediate impact and it takes years for them to develop.
The promising portion for Powell is the fact that he was clearly one of the big winners from the spring. Powell is competing for a starting position- likely at the slot- and he has done everything to impress the coaching staff this spring.
He was the top receiving performer and is now in great position as we move forward.
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One thing’s for sure: If the light has come on for Powell, opposing defenses should watch out. If you can combine his play-making ability with the skills of guys like Justyn Ross, Amari Rodgers, Frank Ladson Jr. and Joseph Ngata, Clemson could have the deepest receiving core in the country- along with the most talented quarterback in Trevor Lawrence.