There was a lot of uncertainty around the Miami football program over the past 72 hours regarding the future of Head Coach Al Golden and his interest in Penn State. The fans weren’t the only ones in the dark about Golden’s status at Miami though, as recruits were questioning whether he would return as well. Canes commit Brandon Powell was relieved when Golden released a statement that he would return.
“Yeah, I was worried he would leave. I was just waiting until something came out, but I tried not to think about it too much. I was real excited when he said he was going to stay because I’ll be down there in school in one more day,” said Powell.
The speedster out of Deerfield Beach will arrive on campus this week as an early enrollee.
“I’ll be there on Wednesday. I’m about to start college workouts, learn the playbook, and all that. So it’s about to get real. I need to go in and work. It really hasn't hit me yet, but it will when I start packing tomorrow.”
Powell has already heard stories about the difficulty of the offseason workout plan at Miami.
“When I went there on my visit, I was with Tracy Howard, Deon Bush, and Malcolm Lewis and they were telling me about the UTough workouts and how that made them almost want to quit football. I’ve been working out with my trainer who has been pushing me since the third grade so I’ll just have to push through.”
Although Powell has the ability to play multiple positions at the next level, he projects himself as a running back.
“I see myself at running back, but I’m a very versatile player. I can line up at the slot or catch the ball out of the backfield. I see myself as a running back though, because that’s what they recruited me as and that’s what I want to play.”
Powell had an incredible season with 1339 rushing yards and 20 TDs, but for some reason seems to be a forgotten member of Miami’s class.
“It motivated me a lot. I really wasn’t paying attention about all that talk about Joseph Yearby and Dalvin Cook because even if they would have came, I would compete still. It still motivated me that people don’t think I’m one of the elite running backs around. I’m just going to go in there and work hard to show people why I’m going to the University of Miami.”
