Indiana University Athletics
Stanford Graduate Transfer Powell to Boost IU’s Offensive Line
2/20/2020 12:28:00 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Home called and Dylan Powell listened.
Can you blame him?
Cream & Crimson opportunity surfaced, and this veteran offensive lineman took it.
How big is this?
We'll start finding out in about six months.
Indiana's newest offensive lineman gave up California cool for Midwest practicality by transferring from Stanford upon his graduation, and optimism rules.
"I couldn't pass up this opportunity," he says.
Powell moved closer to his Missouri roots to join an up-and-coming program that went 8-5 with a TaxSlayer Gator Bowl berth this past season. He listened to head coach Tom Allen and offensive line coach Darren Hiller pitch Hoosier possibilities and recognized what change could mean.
"I believed in everything Coach Allen and Coach Hiller told me."
Belief has Powell enrolled for the second semester, one of nine IU newcomers to do so. In less than two months in the Hoosier strength program, he's gone from 290 pounds to 306, with an end goal of 315 pounds.
But he didn't come to Bloomington to just gain weight.
"I wanted to get closer to home. That was a big part of it. The Kelley School of Business is going to set me up for life. That was a big part, too."
As for the football, Allen turned the Indiana program around with a Love Each Other approach Powell has embraced.
"I can see it everywhere," he says. "Everybody has accepted me. I feel like I'm home. I have a great relationship with the coaches and the players. It's been a great experience. I can't wait to keep building those relationships and do something special this year."
IU's recent success in developing offensive linemen -- Dan Feeney, Rodger Saffold, Brandon Knight, Wes Martin and Jason Spriggs are in the NFL -- caught Powell's attention, but didn't distort his perspective.
"That's something I would like to do, but I have a lot to prove.
"I'm not thinking about that. I'm trying to work as hard as I can and do whatever I can to help us win."
Offensive line was a huge recruiting priority (see the 6 other linemen who signed in this class). IU targeted a veteran presence in the wake of losing Simon Stepaniak, Hunter Littlejohn and Coy Cronk.
Enter Powell. He'll join an offensive line rotation that will include Caleb Jones, Harry Crider and Matthew Bedford.
By graduating in December, he's immediately eligible.
What kind of player is Indiana getting?
Powell played in 19 games for Stanford, with three starts. He missed all of last season with a torn labrum, when the Cardinal were 4-8.
His best season came in 2018, when he played in 11 games at guard and center. He earned Pac-12 all-academic second team as Stanford went 9-4.
"We said it would be nice to have an older guy," Allen says. "That's where Dylan gives us a chance to get a grad student from Stanford. He's an excellent student. He gives us a chance to fill some of those holes we have in the upper part of our class."
Powell seeks to make a quick – and significant – impact next season. That means continuing his recovery from last season's injury. He still can't lift weights with his right arm. He will have limited work in spring practice.
The hope is he'll be full-go by August camp.
"Coaches would prefer to recruit younger guys to play," he says, "but they have a need. They lost Hunter. They lost Simon. They lost Coy.
"The coaches told me I'd have a chance to play right away, but I have to earn that every day.
"I'm not worried about that right now. I'm attacking the off-season. I want to get bigger and better."
He also wants to master a new offense.
"At Stanford, we had a complex offense," he says, "so I'll be alright learning it.
"I've had several meetings with Coach Hiller. We've gone over some of the schemes. I feel comfortable with the basics. I keep working hard so I can get all of that memorized before spring ball."
Powell adds that IU's attack has, "Some similarities with Stanford."
"The big thing for me is getting used to the calls and the different things I can do here," he says. "I don't think it will be too bad of a situation."
Powell was a two-time all-state offensive lineman at Hannibal High School in Hannibal, Mo. As a senior, he was rated as the state's No. 11 overall prospect and the No. 39 offensive guard by Rivals.
He was athletic enough to play four years of basketball and track. He holds his school's career rebounding record.
That helped get him to Stanford. Now it's taken him to Bloomington where family and friends figure to get a much closer view of what he can do.
"They've already hit me up for tickets," he says. "It will be nice to have them in the stands. My parents will come to every game. I'm excited for that."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Home called and Dylan Powell listened.
Can you blame him?
Cream & Crimson opportunity surfaced, and this veteran offensive lineman took it.
How big is this?
We'll start finding out in about six months.
Indiana's newest offensive lineman gave up California cool for Midwest practicality by transferring from Stanford upon his graduation, and optimism rules.
"I couldn't pass up this opportunity," he says.
Powell moved closer to his Missouri roots to join an up-and-coming program that went 8-5 with a TaxSlayer Gator Bowl berth this past season. He listened to head coach Tom Allen and offensive line coach Darren Hiller pitch Hoosier possibilities and recognized what change could mean.
"I believed in everything Coach Allen and Coach Hiller told me."
Belief has Powell enrolled for the second semester, one of nine IU newcomers to do so. In less than two months in the Hoosier strength program, he's gone from 290 pounds to 306, with an end goal of 315 pounds.
But he didn't come to Bloomington to just gain weight.
"I wanted to get closer to home. That was a big part of it. The Kelley School of Business is going to set me up for life. That was a big part, too."
As for the football, Allen turned the Indiana program around with a Love Each Other approach Powell has embraced.
"I can see it everywhere," he says. "Everybody has accepted me. I feel like I'm home. I have a great relationship with the coaches and the players. It's been a great experience. I can't wait to keep building those relationships and do something special this year."
IU's recent success in developing offensive linemen -- Dan Feeney, Rodger Saffold, Brandon Knight, Wes Martin and Jason Spriggs are in the NFL -- caught Powell's attention, but didn't distort his perspective.
"That's something I would like to do, but I have a lot to prove.
"I'm not thinking about that. I'm trying to work as hard as I can and do whatever I can to help us win."
Offensive line was a huge recruiting priority (see the 6 other linemen who signed in this class). IU targeted a veteran presence in the wake of losing Simon Stepaniak, Hunter Littlejohn and Coy Cronk.
Enter Powell. He'll join an offensive line rotation that will include Caleb Jones, Harry Crider and Matthew Bedford.
By graduating in December, he's immediately eligible.
What kind of player is Indiana getting?
Powell played in 19 games for Stanford, with three starts. He missed all of last season with a torn labrum, when the Cardinal were 4-8.
His best season came in 2018, when he played in 11 games at guard and center. He earned Pac-12 all-academic second team as Stanford went 9-4.
"We said it would be nice to have an older guy," Allen says. "That's where Dylan gives us a chance to get a grad student from Stanford. He's an excellent student. He gives us a chance to fill some of those holes we have in the upper part of our class."
Powell seeks to make a quick – and significant – impact next season. That means continuing his recovery from last season's injury. He still can't lift weights with his right arm. He will have limited work in spring practice.
The hope is he'll be full-go by August camp.
"Coaches would prefer to recruit younger guys to play," he says, "but they have a need. They lost Hunter. They lost Simon. They lost Coy.
"The coaches told me I'd have a chance to play right away, but I have to earn that every day.
"I'm not worried about that right now. I'm attacking the off-season. I want to get bigger and better."
He also wants to master a new offense.
"At Stanford, we had a complex offense," he says, "so I'll be alright learning it.
"I've had several meetings with Coach Hiller. We've gone over some of the schemes. I feel comfortable with the basics. I keep working hard so I can get all of that memorized before spring ball."
Powell adds that IU's attack has, "Some similarities with Stanford."
"The big thing for me is getting used to the calls and the different things I can do here," he says. "I don't think it will be too bad of a situation."
Powell was a two-time all-state offensive lineman at Hannibal High School in Hannibal, Mo. As a senior, he was rated as the state's No. 11 overall prospect and the No. 39 offensive guard by Rivals.
He was athletic enough to play four years of basketball and track. He holds his school's career rebounding record.
That helped get him to Stanford. Now it's taken him to Bloomington where family and friends figure to get a much closer view of what he can do.
"They've already hit me up for tickets," he says. "It will be nice to have them in the stands. My parents will come to every game. I'm excited for that."
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