Arkansas 2017 QB Taylor Powell Talks Alabama Visit and Elite 11 Competition in Dallas

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Few quarterbacks have been as prolific and as successful as Taylor Powell over the past two seasons. The Fayetteville product passed for over 2,500 yards during his sophomore season with 20 touchdowns keeping a 63 percent completion rate taking his team to the Arkansas state championship game. He followed that up with a big spike in production passing for over 3,500 yards with 49 touchdowns while completing 71 percent of his passes helping win a title for the Bulldogs in 2015.

With a winning resume and great stat lines came college offers. To date Arkansas State, Illinois, Maryland, Memphis, Purdue, San Diego State, Wake Forest, and Washington State have all offered. More offers could be around the corner with Oklahoma State, Auburn, Missouri, and Vanderbilt all showing interest.

Another big program that has built their own winning resume is showing a lot of interest in Powell – Alabama. The Crimson Tide hosted Powell on Friday before he had to take off for Dallas to compete in the Nike Opening/Elite 11 regional. In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I caught up with Powell on his way back to Fayetteville from the Elite 11 competition to get his thoughts on Alabama and his performance in the Nike Opening regional.

Interview

Taylor, walk me through your visit with Alabama.

“I got there Thursday to get there early. I went Friday morning and visited Alabama. I sat in some meetings with Coach (Lane) Kiffin (offensive coordinator) and the quarterbacks. After that, I visited the campus, toured the facilities, and watched a practice.”

What were the quarterback meetings like for you at Alabama?

“It was fun. It was nice to see a college meeting first-hand. I really enjoyed it.”

What did you learn from sitting in on the team meetings at Alabama?

“I liked – I saw how important studying the game is and how much of it is mental at the college level. Everyone is athletic and fast. Everyone is good but you have to separate yourself from everyone else above your shoulders with your brain. All the quarterbacks at Alabama are smart. They take pride in that.”

What was your overall opinion of the campus and the facilities?

“The facilities were awesome. Everything was state of the art and really cool.”

Did anything else about Tuscaloosa, the campus, or the football program standout to you?

“I liked how the town felt. I was very comfortable. It was a fun time for my parents and me.”

How was everything left in terms of recruiting for you with Alabama?

“The first week of our spring ball Coach Kiffin or Coach (Billy) Napier (wide receivers) will come out and film me throwing. That’ll be fun.”

So they want to evaluate you in person before possibly extending an offer?

“They did not say anything about an offer but they did say they only offer a quarterback if they have seen him throw in person.”

What other unofficial visits do you have coming up?

“I’m visiting Purdue, Vanderbilt, Mizzou, Washington State, and that’s it right now. My next visit is to Purdue but I’m not sure when. I’m visiting Auburn too. Coach (Rhett) Lashlee (offensive coordinator) has been recruiting me.”

What other schools are recruiting you right now but have not offered yet?

“I would say Alabama, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Oklahoma State are all the schools that are recruiting me right now but have not offered me yet.”

What exposure camps are you going to coming up?

“I just got done with the Elite 11 regional in Dallas. I’m planning on going to the Elite 11 regional in New Orleans and a Rivals camp. As for college camps, I’m not sure yet.”

How did the Elite 11 regional in Dallas go for you?

“It went well. I did not get MVP or get an invite to the finals but it was good to be in the competition. The best quarterbacks come from Texas. I was excited to compete against them today. I was told by the coaches that I was top two-three all day. I’m excited to compete in New Orleans. The finalist from Dallas were not first time guys in the competition.”

What were some of the things that you did well during the Elite 11 drills?

“The coaches said – they complemented my quick release, my footwork, being smart, being sharp, and clean in all the drills. I was told during the one-on-ones I did not do as well there. That’s where the other guys got the MVP, from the one-on-ones. I’m ready for New Orleans and I’m going to work hard for my goal.”

Taylor, thanks for your time today and good luck in the New Orleans regional.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Powell family; Taylor Powell at Alabama (March 2016).