Interview: Fayetteville 2017 QB Taylor Powell Proving on the Field to be Among the Best

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Criteria for recruiting rankings are never fully revealed but when the new rankings come out for the 2017 class, Fayetteville High School standout quarterback Taylor Powell deserves to be in the national discussion. As a sophomore he helped lead the Bulldogs to an Arkansas state championship runner-up finish and has his team sitting at 8-1 before ending the regular season against rival Bentonville for area bragging rights Friday night.

At the end of his sophomore season Powell dropped back 271 times completing 172 passes for 2,513 yards with 20 touchdowns against eight picks. The 6’2”, 195 pound, gunslinger is on pace to surpass all of his numbers from a year ago already with 177 completions off 240 attempts for 2,371 yards with 35 touchdowns and just three interceptions. The stats will show through nine games but the reality is he has only played in one complete game due to lopsided scores with a total of 22 quarters logged or 5.5 games worth of playing time.

For those that have never seen Powell play, he is an almost perfect blend of arm, mobility, pocket awareness, toughness, and intelligence. Powell can make all the throws, releasing the ball with great accuracy on a back shoulder toss before the receiver has completed his route, buys time with his feet allowing for the play to develop, and can connect on a deep pass with touch just over the heads of the safety and corner into his receiver’s arms. The footwork matches the head movement too and, as his highlight reel shows, he will stay in the pocket releasing the ball at the last second to move the chains taking one on the chin if that is what is needed.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I caught up with Taylor ahead of Fayetteville’s highly anticipated showdown against Bentonville (8-1) to get a rundown on the 2015 season, picked his brain on his play in the pocket, and received a recruiting news update.

Interview

Taylor, you took Fayetteville to the championship game last season having a great individual season in the process. What is the biggest difference for you on the field between your sophomore and junior season as the leader of the offense?

“I’d say its experience and being out there playing against Class 7A competition. It is as close to college football as you get. The speed of the game has come along. I got stronger and faster in the offseason and watched a lot of film. I take pride in that. One thing that is different for me this year, I can go through a whole field progression tying my feet with my eyes. I’m also better at taking what the defense gives me. I feel like in our offense now, we were in a pro-style last year but this year we are no huddle-spread team, we are putting up big numbers and being more explosive with our offense.”

You mentioned offseason training, what all did you do in the offseason to prepare for your junior season?

“Right after the state championship game, I took a two week break and then got back into it. I worked on timing with my receivers. We went out and threw in the snow and cold during the winter. In the spring, I started hitting the weights hard. I also did a lot of work with my nutrition and diet. I worked on my speed training too. In this offense the quarterback has to be more mobile, that is another thing that has changed in my game. I did a lot of 7×7 in the summer and then fall camp came and we just back after it.

“After the season last year I was a 203 pound sophomore. I decided to cut back and lose the fat. I worked on putting on lean muscle. I dropped down to 175 at 6 percent body fat put I have added 20 pounds of muscle back on. I’m trying to become a better athlete and I think it is starting to show.”

How does Fayetteville look heading into the playoffs?

“I’d say our team is known for playing well in November and in December. That’s when we are supposed to play our best ball. The overall aspect of our team is becoming really strong. Everything is starting to click. We have experience in games and are executing to the best of our abilities trying to get to Little Rock (championship game).”

What are the strength of this year’s football team?

“Starting on offense, I’d say our line is real athletic and very good at run and pass fit. In the spread they have to be athletic to get to the linebackers and safeties. Our receivers, we have two great receivers in the slot. They are really fast running a 4.5 and our outside receiver is very athletic, he’s a really good receiver. We have a receiver that runs great routes that is 6-foot 6-inches – a red zone kind of guy. Our running backs are real good at cutting and running with great vision. Both are really talented. Being in the spread, the box does not have that many people in there so our running backs take advantage of that. We’re two dimensional on offense with the run and the pass.

“Our defense has two great corners and two linebackers that play well. Our defensive line is good and our special teams is good too. I’m just glad to be a part of it.”

What are your strengths on the field as a quarterback?

“When I think of myself, I think of Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints), Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers), and Andy Dalton (Cincinnati Bengals). I try to play with their pocket presence and accuracy. I think I can make all the throws. At the same time I can extend the play with my feet. I feel that I have an advantage over other quarterbacks with that. One of my best things is my poise in the pocket and my toughness. If the receiver is not open and a linebacker is coming down, I’ll take the hit and deliver a strike. I take a lot of pride in that.”

It is a little early but do you have an idea which college camps you may attend in the offseason?

“I have a general idea. Based on the interest I’ve been receiving I’ll go to the camps for those schools. This year I went to a lot to get my name out there. Taking visits have helped. The places that have shown interest in me I’ll show interest in them, I’ll go to those camps.”

Which schools are recruiting you right now?

“I’d say Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Notre Dame, Purdue, Wake Forest, Louisiana Tech, Nebraska, Illinois, Pitt, Kansas, West Virginia, Vanderbilt, and Memphis. I have an offer from Arkansas State.”

Have you been on any unofficial visits this fall?

“I’ve been to Arkansas and over the summer I went to Pitt, Illinois, Memphis, and Oklahoma State, and went to a West Virginia camp.”

How did your visit to the Arkansas camp go?

“It was nice. I’ve grown up here in Fayetteville so I know all about the school, but getting to see the facilities first-hand and see the game from another perspective as a player was interesting. There is a lot to consider with a place you might want to play at for four years. Visiting Arkansas was a neat experience and I’m looking forward to going again.”

Do you have another visit to Arkansas set up?

“Not right now. Notre Dame has been asking me to visit. I might visit Vanderbilt, Wake Forest or Oklahoma State. OSU has invited me to go for the TCU game this weekend.”

When you breakdown different schools what are some of the things that influence you most about a school or program?

“Academics is first. Is the school a place that will help me after college with what I want? I want to go into medical school, my dad is an orthopedic surgeon. Is this a place where I can go, receive the education that I want, and then venture off successfully after playing football? Second I would say is the type of offense a school runs, but that does not matter as much. I’ll watch to see how each college uses their quarterbacks and the type of formations and schemes they run.

“On visits, I try to get to know the coaches. I look at the campus life and how the people are at the school. I try to get to know the school. You never know when your career will be over and you’d just be a student. All athletic programs are pretty much top notch. I look into the education, offensive type, and coaching relationships. Distance from home is not a problem. My parents have encouraged me to go as far away or as close to home as I may need to be. They have encouraged me to see everything in a different light. Going to school near or far away from home might be good for me as a person.”

When talking to the different college coaches, what are some of the things that you like during their communication with you?

“I really like when I can talk to them like I play for them right now. I like to hear “good luck” before the games and “keep up the good work.” I like when they hand out compliments about my game. I like knowing where I am on their recruiting board.”

Of the schools that you mentioned previously, where are you on each recruiting board as you have been told?

“All I know – I don’t know where I am with Arkansas, but I know on Illinois I am at the top of their list because the two guys ahead have already committed. With West Virginia I am No. 2, No. 3 with TCU, Wake Forest I’m not sure, and No. 1 with Arkansas State.”

What is your time frame on making a decision?

“To be honest, I don’t know. I’ll base everything off recruiting and talk to my family before making a decision. Right now I’m not really sure. To give a range, I’d say anywhere from after my junior season to National Signing Day in 2017, anything can happen. All is based off the offers I get in the offseason and after I weigh the pros and cons. Whatever school fits – fits.”

Do you have a favorite in mind already?

“There are some schools that I am really interested in. I’d say the schools that are interested in me I am interested in them like Arkansas, Missouri, Notre Dame, Purdue, Louisiana Tech, TCU, West Virginia, SMU, Arkansas State, and Vanderbilt because of their prestigious academics. I don’t really have a favorite right now. I can’t pick a favorite right now.”

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What individual honors did you earn at the end of your sophomore season?

“I got sophomore of the year for Arkansas, All-Conference honorable mention, and New Comer of the Year. Right now I am up for the Landers Award, which is the highest honor in Arkansas football and Gatorade Player of the Year.”

Do you play any other sports for Fayetteville like baseball or basketball?

“No, I stopped playing basketball and baseball in ninth grade. I love to play golf.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“There are a lot of things I love about playing football. I’ve grown up playing tackle football since second grade. I grew up playing football every day. After elementary school we’d go play football, eat dinner, go to bed, and repeat the process. I always played quarterback and liked being in charge. I love throwing things and being in charge.

“The other thing I love about football, it’s a chest match. Sometimes when it gets past the X’s and O’s, you have to be more physical than the other team. If the defense is in a specific coverage, can I get to the outside and run over a linebacker for the first down? You can beat the other team with your mind, arm, and your feet. I look forward to the challenge of trying to get the defense into the wrong play. Being in the south, football is always around me. Football is a great mix of intelligence and physical play and a great team game. Football is the best sport that you can play.”

Photo credit: Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Taylor in action.

Photo credit: Powell family, Taylor at Arkansas.