Tydreke Powell, Senior, Defensive Tackle, North Carolina
Overview:
After redshirting in 2007, defensive lineman Tydreke Powell played a big role on North Carolina’s defense in 2008. He played in a dozen games, missing one with an injury, and even earned a start. On the year he totaled 18 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss and one sack. The following year Powell was once again a role-player off of the bench. However, he did see much more playing time at the end spot and tallied 24 tackles on the year.
It was not until his junior season when Powell stepped into a starting role at the tackle position. Even as a starter, Powell was often overlooked due to the large amount of talent around him. Powell proved to be a solid tackle and helped pave the way for ends Quinton Coples and Donte Paige-Moss to have huge years.
Final Projection:
Powell still needs to develop some consistency, but he has the physical tools to play at the next level. The problem for Powell is going to be separating himself from the rest of North Carolina’s defensive line. Powell may do the dirty work, but Coples and Paige-Moss will get almost all of the headlines.
1/5/12 Update:
Powell did not quite live up to his potential during his senior season. His draft stock has been slipping all year long. He is not a bad player and did not have a bad year, but he did not get much better either. The pre-draft workouts will need to go very well for Powell or he will be passed by many other defensive tackles and likely be taken in the middle rounds.
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