No official visits: Cornell Powell knows Clemson is home

Powell (right) has been helping Clemson recruit Diondre Overton (left)

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Mon Aug 10 14:55:05 GMT-04:00 2015

Clemson’s coaches no longer have to worry about Cornell Powell Cornell Powell
Wide Receiver
6-1, 200
Greenville, NC
ESPN:
View Full Profile de-committing or taking official visits to other schools this fall. Why? The 4-star wide receiver out of Greenville (NC) Rose knows he has a home in Clemson.

Powell committed to Clemson last February and has helped in the recruitment of several other prospects, including 4-star and good friend Diondre OvertonDiondre Overton
Wide Receiver
6-5, 195
Greensboro, NC
ESPN:
View Full Profile . However, Powell announced last week that he would be taking official visits to Georgia, Oklahoma, Ohio State and Clemson this fall.

Fresh on the heels of a similar announcement – and de-commitment – from 5-star linebacker Rahsahun Smith, many wondered if Powell would follow suit. He won’t, and he told TigerNet Monday afternoon the reason.

“I am not going to take any official visits because Clemson's policy is that they don't allow commits to take visits,” Powell said. “I am fully committed to Clemson. Clemson is a special place and I don't want to miss out on my opportunity to go play at Wide Receiver University. It had nothing to do with Shaq (Smith). It was just something I felt like I needed to do.”

Powell chose Clemson over Alabama, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Mississippi, North Carolina, N.C. State, and Ohio St., among others. He said that while the attention is flattering he knows where home will be.

“It has been great with all of the attention and stuff,” Powell said. “But I've found my home at Clemson. I will be there for probably the game against Appalachian St. At the beginning I was getting calls every day and answering people on Twitter and stuff like. After I committed and it slacked up and it's been normal since then. But right now I am only going to talk to Clemson.”

Powell said another reason he loves Clemson is because he knows the coaches will demand excellence.

“They expect the best out of you. I will go up there and give it my all in practice and games. I want to do my best and just carry on the legacy they have there,” he said. “I definitely look at next year as an opportunity for me. Whatever the team needs me to do when I get there I am going to do it, whether that is running routes or blocking. Whatever it is I will do it. I am ready to get there and get going.”

As a junior, Powell had 67 receptions for 1,248 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also carried the ball 12 times for 83 yards and had 14 kickoff returns for 445 yards and a score. As a sophomore, he caught 47 passes for 1,228 yards and 21 touchdowns.