'10 CA ATH Ronald Powell (Official Offer)

[GoRU]

'10 CA ATH Ronald Powell



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."

[wadc45]

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.

[wadc45]

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.