by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
-MANI POWELL
(LB MCKINLEY HIGH)
⭐⭐⭐
One of the most under the radar linebackers of the 2022 class, Mani Powell hails from Canton, Ohio's McKinley High and has become glued to Blake Baker and new LB assistant Jake Olsen's radar.
Powell explodes from the screen: pure raw evidence of his hard hitting, acrobatic athleticism at inside linebacker.
Mani possesses the right kind of stuffing abilities needed in the SEC....in fact, he hits like a mack truck, plowing down anything in his path with bulletproof intensity.
Thanks to his Division Champion wrestling skills, Mani sheds blocks really well with a perfect swipe or a nice swat from his active hands, yet it's his tracking ability through traffic which made his tape stand out.
Powell has the powers to bury any back of any size from most angles, such is his finishing power as a MIC linebacker.
Standing 6'3 and 225 pounds, Mani is a predominantly thick LB already stacked and packed for SEC battle, but somehow he's still twitchy off the line, frenetic through contact, his pre-snap diagnosis is frequently correct, and his ability to create turnovers shouldn't go unrecognized.
Not only is Powell gifted as one of the strongest tacklers of any linebacker this class, Mani's speed isn't merely for show:
Capable of playing out of the backfield on offense as well (grabbing at least one verified 100+ yard rushing game this year), Mani runs a 4.4 40 & a verified sub 11 second time at the 100....the young bruiser's speed is outrageous and he's only getting quicker as he polishes his technique ahead of a colossal senior season.
Sadly, Mani has barely received any love or offers (Arkansas are one of only two current SEC teams to offer Powell, alongside other offers for Syracuse, Kentucky and Indiana) & even fewer articles or profiles.... yet another Grade A athlete falls from Geaux 247 or Rivals' view.
Well, we know for a fact he hasn't disappeared from Blake Baker's view and we're aware discussions are ongoing about getting Powell on campus for workouts....Baker and Jake Olsen want to see that speed in person.....and so do I.
LSU has a better history of turning 3 star talents into NFL Draft picks than any other program, from Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Joe Burrow, Lloyd Cushenberry, Damian Lewis, Rookie G.O.A.T Justin Jefferson, Tory Carter and Racey McMath just in the last two seasons...
IS POWELL NEXT???
by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
Copyright 2021 Uninterrupted Writings Inc
SHOUTOUTS: LET'S GEAUX MANI! I BELIEVE IN YOU BROTHER!!! DON'T LET THE LACK OF ATTENTION MESS WITH YOU! YOU'RE ABOUT TO DOMINATE, YOUNG KING!