'10 CA ATH Ronald Powell (Florida Verbal)

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Rivals
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Athlete
Moreno Valley (CA) Rancho Verde

Ht: 6-foot-3
Wt: 248 lbs
Forty: 4.9 secs
Class: 2010 (High School)

Matt Calkins: Recruiting Process Starts Early for Some Football Stars | Sports | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

Last month, USC offered Moreno Valley Rancho Verde defensive end Ronald Powell a football scholarship.

This isn't particularly uncommon for a 6-foot-3, 248-pounder who runs a 4.9 40, but it is a tad unusual for a kid yet to begin his junior year of high school.

Powell didn't even participate in the prestigious Rising Stars Camp held on the Trojans' campus in June because of a split lip, yet still their intuition said to offer him tuition.

I know what the general public is thinking: Committing wholeheartedly to a 10th grader? Sophomoric, right?

What if they don't pan out? Couldn't this stifle their motivation to improve? Is it a concern that this might swell their heads so big they need custom-made helmets?

"Absolutely," said Brennan Carroll, USC's recruiting coordinator and Coach Pete Carroll's son. "I don't like how this has gotten so sped up. If it were up to me, we'd wait until they're going into their senior year."

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ESPN - College Football Recruiting On the Trail 2009

Two early offers for 2010 Ronald Powell
Junior ESPNU 150 Watch List defensive lineman Ronald Powell already holds scholarship offers from in-state power USC and Nebraska, affiliate Web site WeAreSC.com reports.

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FVSports - The Elite100: Class of 2010

9. Ronald Powell
6'4" / 250 pounds / Defensive End / Rancho Verde High School / Moreno Valley, California
Contenders: USC, Florida, Auburn, Nebraska, UCLA
Scouting Report: Physically reminiscent of a young Darrell Russell, now burgeoning into a dominant three-down lineman. Started at linebacker as a freshman and sophomore, Powell's athleticism and movement for his size is of the cliched freakish variety. Great explosion off the snap combined with power and speed that few can match. Progressing from a great prospect to player, the proverbial light has gone on for Powell as a junior, as he's averaging 10 tackles and 2 sacks a game from the defensive end position. With his wide shoulders and a frame that isn't close to filled out, expect Powell to eventually grow into a three-technique tackle with another 25-30 pounds. Still raw in his techniques and had a tendency to disappear in games as an underclassman, needs to keep up his improved consistency. Has outstanding character and leadership skills, really the complete package of tools for a defensive lineman.

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West Recruiting Blog - ESPN

There is no doubt one of the elite players in the national class of 2010 is athlete Ronald Powell (Moreno Valley, Calif./Rancho Verde). Anytime you're first scholarship offer is from USC, you know you're a pretty big deal and Powell landed another Pac-10 offer earlier today.

I first saw Powell as a freshman at a NIKE Combine two years ago and he already looked like a college player at the time. He was 6-3, 230 pounds and built like a tank.

Powell is now 6-4, 245 pounds and did little of everything for Rancho last year.

"I played defensive end, tackle, outside linebacker and tight end on offense," Powell said. "Most schools are recruiting me as an athlete right now and I really don't have a preference, I just want to play whatever gets me on the field."

Powell has a huge frame and will likely be in the 6-4, 290 pound range in a few short years. For that reason, I love his upside as a future defensive tackle but his most recent offer came as a linebacker.

"Cal just offered me this morning," Powell said. "They want me as an outside linebacker in their 3-4 defense and I'm definitely interested in them. I like the Pac-10 a lot and I like that Cal is close to home.

"My other offers are from USC, Nebraska and Arizona. USC is looking real good right now. I like that they were the first to offer me and they have been very loyal to me and that means a lot. They have a great program and my family likes that they're close to home and can see me play."

Powell said he's in no hurry to make an early decision and wants to take his visits before committing anywhere.

"My family and my coaches have all talked to me about that," Powell said. "Everyone is saying to wait and make sure I don't rush in to anything and that's what I want to do. I really like the SEC a lot and I've gotten some letters from Florida and Georgia. Hopefully when my film gets out there, the offers will come in even more."

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Powell could be Top DT prospect in the West - ESPN

It's never easy to find elite defensive tackles out West, especially in California. For whatever reason, they just don't grow them out in the Sunshine state but one player who is drawing major national interest is Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley, Calif.) athlete Ronald Powell.

It's still early but Powell looks like one of the top five prospects in the state right now and has picked up some major heavyweight offers in the last two weeks.

"It's incredible what's happening with him," RV coach Pete Duffy said. "Last week, Florida and Tennessee offered and this week, it's Georgia and Auburn. Tyron (Smith-USC OL) didn't even have those kind of offers when he was here and he was probably the best offensive lineman in the country.

"Every school that has seen Ronald has offered. I told you when he was a freshman that he was going to be able to go anywhere he wanted and that's what is happening. The kid is just a freak on the field and he's still growing in to his body."

In addition to the national offers, Powell has offers from most of the Pac 10 with USC being the first to offer him locally over a year ago. The Trojans always seemed like the odds on favorite, but according to Duffy, things could be changing there.

"Honestly, I think he wants to play in the South," Duffy said. "He has a ton of family in the South and he loves the SEC. I know he likes SC a lot still but if I had to guess, right now, I would say he's leaning to playing at one of these SEC school and he'll take all of his visits before making a commitment anywhere."

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Scout $

5/29

Talks about his interest in USC.

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The Independent Florida Alligator: Sports - Five-star Powell shines at Friday Night Lights