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


Powell entered his freshman season at Livingstone College in 2012 as the starting quarterback. In his freshman season, Powell threw 197 completions on 349 passes (both school records) for 2,322 yards, 18 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Powell led the conference in completion and pass attempts. He was named to the CIAA All-Freshman Team for his record-breaking season. He also earned the CIAA Offensive Rookie of the Year Award for his efforts.

In his sophomore season, Powell completed 180 passes on 335 pass attempts for 2,127 yards, 16 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

In 2014, Powell led the conference in passing touchdowns (26), rushing attempts for quarterbacks (192), rushing yards for quarterbacks (881), and rushing touchdowns for quarterbacks (7). Powell earned First-Team All-CIAA honors for his junior season.

During the 2015 season, Powell finished 184-for-315 passing for 2,166 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He again led the conference in rushing attempts (155), yards (614), and touchdowns (8) out of all quarterbacks. He was awarded Conference Offensive Player of the Year after the season as well as First-Team All-CIAA honors.

He finished his career (2012–15) with 732 completions on 1,312 pass attempts, and 10,861 total yards, all of which were conference records. He also totaled 100 total touchdowns which was a school record.

Sydney Express
In 2016, Powell signed his first professional contract with the Sydney Express of the National Gridiron League (NGL) in Australia.

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 return specialist. 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.

2017: IFL rookie season


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 against the Cedar Rapids Titans. 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. With a win in the season finale, the Danger qualified for the Intense Conference Championship game with a 9–7 record. 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 and United Bowl championship


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 the IFL Offensive Player of the Week Award for his efforts. Powell would leave the team for the CFL for two games. 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 of the season. 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. They also converted Powell into a defensive back. He 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: United Bowl appearance
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 quarterback 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 and United Bowl appearance
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. In his second game back against the Northern Arizona Wranglers, Powell had eight total touchdowns (four passing, four rushing) in their dominating 60–34 win.

IFL records

 * Most rushing yards by a quarterback, season: 945 (2018)
 * Most rushing yards, season and playoffs: 1,105 (2021)

Barnstormers franchise records

 * Most rushing yards in a season: 945 (2018)
 * Most rushing yards in a season and postseason: 1,041 (2018)

Rattlers franchise records

 * Highest completion percentage, career (min. 100 pass attempts): 68.5%
 * Most rushing yards, career: 2,129
 * Most rushing yards, season: 902 (2021)
 * Most rushing touchdowns, season: 35 (2021)

Awards and honors

 * IFL
 * United Bowl champion (2018)
 * 3× 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× )