The 2021 NFL draft was filled with plenty of surprise selections, but quarterback Trevor Lawrence was assumed to be the top overall pick for months. One of Lawrence’s top targets at Clemson this past season was wide receiver, Cornell Powell. He had to wait a little longer to be drafted, going 181st overall to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Powell’s only season as a starter at Clemson came during his Redshirt Senior year, and he made quite the impression on scouts. Playing with Lawrence, a top college quarterback, and now with Patrick Mahomes is a rare occurrence. Powell won’t be making any comparisons between the two quarterbacks, as he told reporters on Saturday.
”What I have learned is that you can’t compare greatness,” said Powell. “Trevor is great. Patrick is great. I’m just blessed to go from one great quarterback to the next. As soon as I get to Kansas City, I’ll get to work with Patrick. Just try to get on the same page as him, try to get something to happen for the team. The ultimate goal is to win Super Bowls, so I’m ready to do that.”
At Clemson, Powell produced an impressive 882 yards, and seven touchdowns on 53 receptions in 12 games played last season. The 6-foot, 204-pound receiver reflected on his tenure at the university and the lessons learned regarding growth.
”Being at Clemson, you have great players around you,” Powell explained. “You just have to learn how to prove yourself every day. I had so much more to show to everyone. What I displayed this season was not even scratching the surface yet. I’m ready to come to Kansas City and just grind. Many of my brothers are in the NFL that I played with in that wide receiver room and I’m so proud of them. I learned a lot from them at Clemson. We just had this Clemson mindset to dominate everything, every play, every possession. I’m looking to continue that and just bring this winning attitude to Kansas City, which they already have, so it’s the perfect fit for me.”
Powell should fit in nicely with the Chiefs’ talented receiver room and eventually fill the role left by Sammy Watkins, another former Clemson wideout. The experience of playing in a winning program in college cannot be mitigated as he looks to build more success in Kansas City.
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