Tag: Cornell Powell

Former Clemson WR sticking around with Chiefs

A former Clemson standout wide receiver is sticking around in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs. This week, Chiefs reporter Matt McMullen published a list of players currently under contract on “Reserve/Future” deals with the Chiefs. One of those …

A former Clemson standout wide receiver is sticking around in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs.

This week, Chiefs reporter Matt McMullen published a list of players currently under contract on “Reserve/Future” deals with the Chiefs. One of those players is former Tiger wideout Cornell Powell, who signed a “Reserve/Future” contract with Kansas City on Feb. 1.

As McMullen noted, “Reserve/Future” contracts “are specialized deals meant for players who were not on an active roster when the previous season came to an end,” and “these deals will officially begin when the new league year kicks off on March 16, but in the meantime, no other team may sign this group of players.”

A fifth-round pick (181st overall) by the Chiefs in the 2021 NFL Draft, Powell was waived by Kansas City after training camp last year but then brought back as a member of the Chiefs’ practice squad, where he spent all of last season. He recorded four receptions for 34 yards in the preseason.

Powell had a breakout campaign as a fifth-year senior at Clemson in 2020, starting all 12 games while hauling in 53 passes for 882 yards and seven touchdowns.

–Photo for this article courtesy of USA Today Sports Images 

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Elliott responds to former player’s call to open up the playbook

During Clemson’s eventual 17-14 win over Syracuse last Friday night, some former Clemson players, like wide receiver Cornell Powell, voiced frustration about the offense on social media. Powell posted a tweet during the contest calling for offensive …

During Clemson’s eventual 17-14 win over Syracuse last Friday night, some former Clemson players, like wide receiver Cornell Powell, voiced frustration about the offense on social media.

Powell posted a tweet during the contest calling for offensive coordinator Tony Elliott to open up the playbook for quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei.

During his media availability on Monday, Elliott was asked about comments like that and whether the playbook is perhaps a bit scaled down from what it was when guys like Powell were there with Trevor Lawrence at quarterback.

“It’s the same playbook for the most part,” Elliott said.

“But in response to those guys, it’s the same playbook,” Elliott added. “But right now, you can’t throw everything on the table when you’re trying to get and establish an identity and get these guys in a rhythm.”

Against Syracuse, Clemson (4-2, 3-1 ACC) totaled 314 yards of offense, including 116 rushing yards on 37 attempts (3.1 yards per carry). The Tigers had 20 first downs, went 5-of-15 on third downs and averaged 4.3 yards per play overall.

Uiagalelei completed 21-of-34 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown, while Kobe Pace was the leading rusher with 76 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.

“We knew we were going to have to run the ball versus that structure,” Elliott said of the offense’s game plan against the Orange. “With that three-man structure, we really wanted to run the ball.”

Added Elliott: “It’s the same playbook, and as the guys really get going and we get our depth back, then maybe we can open it up a little but more. But the biggest thing is guys just gotta make plays. They complete those plays down the field, I think it’s a different ballgame.”

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Good news on former Clemson receiver in NFL

Good news on a former Clemson wide receiver who was cut by an NFL team on Tuesday. Cornell Powell, who was waived by the Kansas City Chiefs, is being brought back as a member of the Chiefs’ practice squad according to a report from Herbie Teope of …

Good news on a former Clemson wide receiver who was cut by an NFL team on Tuesday.

Cornell Powell, who was waived by the Kansas City Chiefs, is being brought back as a member of the Chiefs’ practice squad according to a report from Herbie Teope of the Kansas City Star.

Prior to waiving Powell this week, the Chiefs picked him with the No. 181 overall pick in the fifth round of April’s NFL Draft. He recorded four receptions for 34 yards this preseason.

Powell had a breakout campaign as a fifth-year senior at Clemson in 2020, starting all 12 games while hauling in 53 passes for 882 yards and seven touchdowns. The Greenville, N.C., native had just 40 career receptions for 329 yards and three touchdowns prior to 2020.

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Former Clemson receiver waived by NFL team

A former Clemson football standout was waived by an NFL team on Tuesday. The Kansas City Chiefs announced they have waived former Tiger wide receiver Cornell Powell as part of their roster moves to get to 53 players ahead of the 2021 NFL season. The …

A former Clemson football standout was waived by an NFL team on Tuesday.

The Kansas City Chiefs announced they have waived former Tiger wide receiver Cornell Powell as part of their roster moves to get to 53 players ahead of the 2021 NFL season.

The Chiefs picked Powell with the No. 181 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Powell had a breakout campaign as a fifth-year senior at Clemson in 2020, starting all 12 games while hauling in 53 passes for 882 yards and seven touchdowns. The Greenville, N.C., native had just 40 career receptions for 329 yards and three touchdowns prior to 2020.

Chiefs waive 2021 NFL draft pick WR Cornell Powell

The #Chiefs are reported to have waived WR Cornell Powell, a fifth-round pick from the 2021 NFL draft.

Just months ago, Cornell Powell was selected at pick No. 181 overall in the 2021 NFL draft. Now, the former Clemson Tiger had been waived during the Kansas City Chiefs’ 53-man roster cuts.

The 6-foot and 204-pound wideout had a breakout campaign at Clemson in 2020, catching passes from No. 1 overall draft pick Trevor Lawrence. As a redshirt senior, Powell caught 53 passes for 882 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games played.

Arriving in Kansas City, excitement was abounding that the Chiefs had landed a potential steal in Powell. By training camp, it became apparent that this wouldn’t be the case. When we first suggested that Powell was on the roster bubble it was met with criticism. While players like fellow fifth-round pick Noah Gray routinely saw snaps with the first-team offense, Powell saw action with the third- and fourth-team.

The carried over into the preseason, where Powell saw just 30 total snaps, mostly in the third and fourth quarter of games. He finished the preseason catching four passes on six targets for 34 yards. He didn’t see much action on special teams either, with most of his work coming on the kick and punt return teams.

What’s clear is that Powell didn’t do enough to ingratiate himself to either the offensive or special teams coaching staff in Kansas City. I’m certain that the coaching staff is not willing to give up on him yet. Should he clear waivers, which isn’t a given, expect him back with the Chiefs on the practice squad.

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What They Are Saying: Tigers in the NFL

The NFL preseason is in full swing and plenty of former Clemson football players are getting ready for their respective campaigns. In this edition of What They Are Saying, we take a look at what is being said on Twitter about some of the former …

The NFL preseason is in full swing and plenty of former Clemson football players are getting ready for their respective campaigns.

In this edition of What They Are Saying, we take a look at what is being said on Twitter about some of the former Tigers in the NFL:

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Eric Bieniemy says Chiefs rookie WR Cornell Powell is trending in the right direction

Cornell Powell hasn’t received the hype of other rookies, but #Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy says he is working in the right direction.

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Kansas City Chiefs fans have heard plenty about most of their rookie class during training camp. One player who has circumvented the hype so far is fifth-round rookie WR Cornell Powell.

Powell opened up as a fifth-string wide receiver on the Kansas City depth chart, getting action behind the likes of players like Marcus Kemp, Antonio Callaway, Daurice Fountain and Gehrig Dieter. Powell’s work at training camp suggests he’s that far down the food chain too. He’s seen most of his snaps with backup quarterbacks Shane Buechele and Anthony Gordon so far.

Powell was even spotted getting an earful from Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy at practice one day. The offensive scheme in Kansas City is known for being tough on first-year receivers because they’re asked to do so much. Instead of defying expectations as several others have in this rookie draft class, Powell is performing like a rookie is expected to perform and that’s OK according to Bieniemy.

“Cornell (Powell) is a rookie, and he’s learning,” Bieniemy told reporters on Monday. “First of all, he’s a beautiful soul, he’s a great kid. He has a tremendous amount of talent in front of him, and the thing that I appreciate about those guys is that they support one another. So, if he does something wrong, they’re on him, ‘Hey man, listen, pick your head up and let’s go line up the next play.’ The best thing about him is that he understands the importance of coming to work every single day, and that’s what I appreciate about him.”

Showing a good work ethic and the ability to correct mistakes can go a long way with this coaching staff. Bieniemy admitted that they want more out of Powell than they’ve currently been getting. The good news is that the veteran offensive coordinator believe’s that Powell is trending in the right direction as we approach the 2021 NFL preseason.

“Now, is he quite where we want him to be? No,” Bieniemy explained. “Is he working in that direction? Yes, he is, and I appreciate his work ethic each and every day.”

Powell can do a lot for himself with a good performance in the preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers. If he can continue working in the right direction during practice, while also impressing on offense and special teams in the preseason, he’ll put himself in a good position with roster cuts looming.

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Powell doing ‘hell of a job’ for Chiefs

Former Clemson standout Cornell Powell received high praise from his offensive coordinator after training camp on Tuesday. Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was asked about the former Tiger and tight end Noah Gray and praised their hard …

Former Clemson standout Cornell Powell received high praise from his offensive coordinator after training camp on Tuesday.

Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was asked about the former Tiger and tight end Noah Gray and praised their hard work despite the expected rookie mistakes.

“Those guys are working hard everyday and doing a hell of a job,” Bieniemy said in his press conference. “Are they right where we need them to be? Not quite but I will say this every day they are improving on something.”

“Now are they making mistakes? Yes, mistakes happen and like I said you want to encourage them because like I said when they do make a mistake it’s not about that particular play. It’s about what they are going to do the next time they get out there,” he said.

Kansas City drafted Powell in the fifth round with the 181st pick of this year’s NFL Draft.

In the wake of injuries in the wide receiver room at Clemson, Powell stepped up for a breakthrough senior year asserting himself as one of Trevor Lawrence’s premier targets. He caught 53 passes for 882 yards and seven touchdowns in his fifth and final season as a Tiger.

And he is already making a splash with his determination and playmaking ability.

“The good news is both those guys are working their tails off,” Bieniemy said. “They’ve found a way to make plays each and every day. So what we want them to continue to do is just strive to be at their best.”

The Chiefs open the preseason in San Francisco against the 49ers on Aug. 14 at 8:30 p.m.

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Chiefs OC Eric Bienemy shares impressions of rookies Noah Gray, Cornell Powell

#Chiefs OC Eric Bienemy revealed his early impression of rookies Noah Gray and Cornell Powell. | from @EdEastonJr

The bark of Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy can famously be heard on most days during training camp. The intense words may come off aggressive, but they strongly support the talent he is coaching.

As the new rookie class continues to learn and showcase their ability in the Chiefs offense, they will have eyes all over them constantly evaluating. Two of Kansas City’s top picks on offense, Noah Gray and Cornell Powell, have plenty of potential in Bienemy’s offense. The Chiefs’ respected offensive coordinator revealed his impression of the duo of rookie receivers during Monday’s press conference.

”Those guys are working hard every day,” said Bieniemy. “They’re doing a hell of a job. Are they right where we need them to be? Not quite, but I will say this, every day, I’m seeing them improve upon something.”

Both Gray and Powell have seen up-and-down moments at training camp, but that’s part of the process for a young player in the NFL. What Bieniemy is out to ensure they both do is learn from their mistakes in practice.

“Now, are they making mistakes? Yes, mistakes happen,” Bieniemy explained. “And like I said, you want to encourage them because when they do make a mistake, it’s not about that particular play; it’s what are they going to do the next time they have an opportunity to get out there. So, the good thing is that both of those guys are working their tails off. They’ve found a way to make plays each and every day, and so the thing that we want them to do is just to continue to strive to be at their best.”

Bienemy’s offense has been heralded as the best in the NFL over the past few seasons. The young additions are expected to help keep that trend going in a positive direction during the foreseeable future.

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Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman feels no extra pressure entering Year 3

2021 is a crucial year for #Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman, but the third-year receiver says he’s feeling no added pressure. | from @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs veterans have officially arrived for training camp at Missouri Western State University. With hopes of returning to a third straight Super Bowl, the core group will feature multiple position battles that should make training camp exciting.

Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman will be in the spotlight this season as he is expected to fill the starting role formerly held by Sammy Watkins. Watkins left Kansas City during free agency opening up the opportunity for the third-year WR Hardman to step into a more primary offensive role. The former Georgia Bulldog spoke about his offseason preparation on Monday.

“Just route running. Just trying to do the whole tree, getting in and out of my breaks,” Hardman told reporters on Monday. “Just being aware of coverages, going over film a little bit more. So, just trying to become an overall better player and just doing the little things to help out in the long run.”

Hardman has already proven himself as an explosive special teams player earning Pro Bowl honors in his rookie season. The chemistry he has built with quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be essential in his development. Hardman didn’t link up with the former league MVP this offseason, but he’s anticipating plenty of work in the coming weeks.

“No, I didn’t get a chance to get up with him,” said Hardman. “We just weren’t in the same vicinities when he was training and everything, but we got time in camp. Plenty of time in camp to get that chemistry down and the timing down, so it shouldn’t be an issue.”

Hardman is the frontrunner to start alongside fellow speedster Tyreek Hill at receiver but he will have competition in training camp. Veterans Demarcus Robinson and Byron Pringle will also be in the conversation, and rookie Cornell Powell has added his skillset to an already talented unit. The pressure, however, doesn’t exist in Hardman’s mind as he prepares to take a significant step forward this season.

“No, no pressure,” Hardman explained. “Just come in and do my job and do what I need to do and just get better as the days go by. So basically, just day by day getting better, and hopefully, that’s enough to put me where I need to be. But, just come in and be a dog and do what I need to do, so that’s what I’m looking forward to doing.”

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