Teko Powell
Defensive Tackle
6′-3″, 295 lbs.
True Freshman (on scholarship, 5 years to play 4)
Norland HS / Miami, Florida

ALE Ranking last year: NR

What I Know About Him:

OK, now we’re getting somewhere. I see Powell at 62 and think “I see him playing as a freshman – why is he at #62?” And then I look above him on the list and realize most all of the players listed in front of him will likely play some this fall. So I’m calling Powell our watershed player on this list. From here on in, it’s likely that most every player will be on the field this fall at some point.

For Powell, he’s a defensive tackle wearing #93 from Miami, Florida with offers from schools like Florida and Florida State. So he’s very obviously Corey Liuget 2.0. No pressure.

What I Expect From Him:

I think he plays this fall. Glenn Foster and Akeem Spence will obviously start and get the bulk of the minutes, and Austin Teitsma and Jake Howe are the likely backups, but I think there’s room for one of the freshmen to get a few plays here and there. Keith Gilmore has said he likes to have “two pair and a spare” (five players) in the rotation at defensive tackle, and I think Powell can be one of those five.

The other reason I don’t think he redshirts: both Foster (a senior) and Spence (likely to declare for the NFL Draft) are gone after this year, and we need to find two starters for 2013. I’m guessing Vontrell Williams and Powell will push Teitsma and Howe for those spots, and the competition begins this fall.