Drew Powell

Drew Powell (born September 26, 1993) is an indoor American football quarterback for the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He played college football for Livingstone College.

College career
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Sioux Falls Storm
On January 8, 2017, Powell was signed by the Sioux Falls Storm of the Indoor Football League (IFL). Powell did not just play as a quarterback, but as well as running back, wide receiver, defensive back, and kick returner. Powell appeared in nine games for the Storm totaling two completions for 25 yards, six rushing attempts for six yards, a rushing touchdown, six receptions for 83 yards, and three receiving touchdowns. Powell was released 12 games into the 2017 season.

Nebraska Danger


On May 24, 2017, Powell signed with the Nebraska Danger after starting quarterback Patrick McCain went down with an injury. In his first career professional start, Powell completed nine passes on 16 attempts for 142 yards and two touchdowns as well as 81 rushing yards and an additional touchdown on the ground. Powell's breakout game came in Week 16 when he went 16-for-25 for 145 yards, and a touchdown while having 102 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Powell was awarded his first-ever IFL Offensive Player of the Week Award for his efforts. Powell ended the season on a high note, being awarded Week 18 Offensive Player of the Week for tying a franchise record of five rushing touchdowns. The Danger qualified for the Intense Conference Championship game. Powell ended the season with Nebraska having 54 completions on 81 attempts for 564 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions as well as 49 rushing attempts for 334 yards and 13 touchdowns.

In the Conference Championship, Powell finished 14-for-22 for 129 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions while rushing for an additional touchdown. Despite this performance, the Danger lost to the Arizona Rattlers, 36–62.

2018: First IFL MVP


On October 8, 2017, Powell signed with the Iowa Barnstormers of the Indoor Football League (IFL). Powell made his IFL debut on February 25, 2018, against the Green Bay Blizzard. He had 20 completions on 26 attempts for 208 yards, four touchdowns, as well as 48 rushing yards. He would be awarded his first career IFL Offensive Player of the Week Award for his efforts. Powell would leave the team for the CFL for two games, on April 14 and April 28. Returning on May 5, Powell rushed for his first 100-yard rushing performance. On June 2, Powell rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns, earning his second Offensive Player of the Week Award. On June 8, Powell went 17 for 19, 166 yards, and five passing touchdowns, earning his second straight Offensive Player of the Week Award. He finished the 2018 IFL season leading the league in completion percentage (68.1), rushing attempts (191), rushing yards (945), and rushing touchdowns (23). His 945 rushing yards were second-best and the most by any quarterback in league history.

In the first round of the playoffs, Powell threw for 111 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 48 yards and three touchdowns. The Barnstormers would defeat the Nebraska Danger, 48–17. They played the Sioux Falls Storm in the 2018 United Bowl. Powell passed for 178 yards and four touchdowns as well as rushing for 48 yards and a touchdown. Powell led the Barnstormers to a 42–38 victory and their first United Bowl victory. Following the season, Powell earned his first All-IFL selection and his first IFL MVP Award.

Saskatchewan Roughriders
On October 4, 2018, the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) signed Powell off of their mini-camp roster. Powell spent the entire 2019 season on the team's practice squad.

Atlantic City Blackjacks
Before the 2019 AFL season, Powell was announced as one of the eight players assigned to the Atlantic City Blackjacks. Despite being added to the active roster, Powell did not play a single game in the Arena Football League (AFL). On April 19, 2019, Powell was placed on a recallable reassignment, but was never reassigned to the team's active roster.

2019 season
On April 24, 2019, Powell signed with the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League (IFL). Despite being signed midway through the season, Powell was an instant starting caliber QB for the Rattlers.

In his Rattlers debut, Powell took over for Arizona's starting quarterback, Jeff Ziemba, in the third quarter against the Nebraska Danger. Powell finished the game 8-for-10 for 96 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, one interception, 63 rushing yards, and three rushing touchdowns. He earned the starting job in the Rattlers' next game against the San Diego Strike Force, where he threw for 152 yards and four touchdowns as well as running for 104 yards and five rushing touchdowns. In his third game against the Tucson Sugar Skulls, Powell went 13-for-15 on 180 passing yards and five passing touchdowns as well as two rushing touchdowns. In his next game, Powell was subbed out of the game in the third quarter in an 86–0 blowout of the Cedar Rapids River Kings. Powell finished the 2019 season with 62 completions on 84 attempts for 807 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also finished with 13 rushing touchdowns in only six games.

In the semifinals, Powell went 12-for-16 passing with 110 yards and two interceptions. He also added 91 yards rushing and three touchdowns. They defeated his old team, the Nebraska Danger, 62–45. In the 2019 United Bowl, Powell had 166 yards passing, two passing touchdowns, 27 rushing yards, and a rushing touchdown. The Rattlers would fall short of their championship run after the game ended in a 56–53 loss. The Rattlers finished the season with a 15–1 total record with a 14–0 regular season record.

2021: Second IFL MVP
Powell rejoined the Rattlers for the 2021 IFL season after sitting out during the 2020 lockout season.

In the first game of the season, Powell led the Rattlers to a victory over the newest IFL team, the Northern Arizona Wranglers, 51–20. He went 8-for-9 for 90 yards and a touchdown. In Week 7, Powell earned his first Offensive Player of the Week Award of the season when he passed for 173 yards, five touchdowns, and an interception. On July 31, Powell set a career-high for rushing touchdowns in a season with 24, passing the mark of 23 that he set in 2018. On July 31, Powell broke the Rattlers' single-season rushing touchdowns record when he recorded five rushing touchdowns against the Duke City Gladiators. On August 13, Powell broke the Rattlers' single-season rushing record of 773 yards with his 59-yard performance bringing his total to 815 yards. Powell finished the season leading the league in completion percentage (69.4), rushing attempts (137), rushing yards (902), and rushing touchdowns (35). This was Powell's second rushing triple-crown, the first one coming with the Barnstormers in 2018. His 35 rushing touchdowns broke the league record. Powell was awarded Second Team All-IFL honors as well as his second IFL Most Valuable Player Award.

In the first round of the playoffs, Powell threw for 170 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for two more touchdowns. He helped the Rattlers defeat the Sioux Falls Storm, 69–42. In the semifinals, Powell had a touchdown and an interception passing while rushing for 98 yards and three touchdowns. They defeated the Duke City Gladiators, 58–55. The Rattlers faced the Massachusetts Pirates in the 2021 United Bowl. In the game, Powell had 136 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and two interceptions as well as running for 70 yards and three touchdowns. Powell would watch the last play from the sidelines as Pirates' kicker, Garrett Hartley, made a 31-yard field goal to win the game, 37–34.

Edmonton Elks
On August 23, 2022, Powell signed as an American to the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Less than two weeks later, Powell was released.

2023 season
After his second stint in the CFL, Powell signed on to play with the Arizona Rattlers for the 2023 IFL season.

Two games into the season, Powell suffered an upper-body injury. He would subsequently be placed on the short-term IR just days later. Jorge Reyna, who was previously on the San Diego Strike Force, was slotted in as the team's starting quarterback. The Rattlers also signed IFL Hall of Famer Chris Dixon as the team's backup. On May 11, the Rattlers announced that Powell was cleared to play in their Week 8 contest against the Vegas Knight Hawks. In his first game since injury, Powell had an impressive game with 206 passing yards, four passing touchdowns (one interception), 38 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns in a 54–55 loss.

IFL records

 * Most rushing yards by a quarterback in a season: 945 (2018)
 * Most rushing attempts by a quarterback in a season: 191 (2018)
 * Most rushing touchdowns in a season: 35 (2021)
 * Most rushing yards in a season and postseason combined: 1,105 (2021)
 * Most rushing touchdowns in a season and postseason combined: 38 (2021)

Danger franchise records

 * Most rushing touchdowns in a game: 5 (2017, tied)

Barnstormers franchise records

 * Most passing yards in a season: 1,604 (2018)
 * Most passing touchdowns in a season: 34 (2018)
 * Most rushing attempts in a season: 191 (2018)
 * Most rushing yards in a season: 945 (2018)
 * Most rushing touchdowns in a season: 23 (2018)
 * Most rushing yards in a game: 129 (2018)
 * Most rushing touchdowns in a game: 4 (2018)

Rattlers franchise records

 * Most rushing attempts in a season: 137 (2021)
 * Most rushing yards in a season: 902 (2021)
 * Most rushing touchdowns in a season: 35 (2021)

IFL

 * United Bowl champion (2018)
 * IFL Most Valuable Player (2018, 2021, 2022)
 * 2× First-team All-IFL (2018, 2022)
 * Second-team All-IFL (2021)
 * 8× IFL Offensive Player of the Week (2×, 3× , 3× )
 * IFL passing touchdowns leader (2022)
 * IFL passing yards leader (2022)
 * 2× IFL completion percentage leader (2018, 2021)
 * 2× IFL rushing yards leader (2018, 2021)
 * 2× IFL rushing touchdowns leader (2018, 2021)