2019 OL Deiyantei Powell commits to CMU: 'I know the program is headed in the right direction'
Hailing from Bluefield High School in West Virginia, 2019 offensive lineman Deiyantei Powell traveled to Mount Pleasant to officially visit Central Michigan from Feb. 1-3.
Picking up an offer from the Chippewas on Jan. 28 and with National Signing Day just around the corner, Powell went into the trip hoping CMU was a place he could call home.
Turns out, Mount Pleasant proved as the perfect home away from home. On Feb. 3, Powell committed to continuing his academic and athletic career with CMU.
"It was my only Division I offer, and I've always wanted to play at the highest level I can for the competition," Powell said. "You don't get the competition in high school like you do in college."
The 6-foot-5, 270-pound high school senior had a Top 3 list of West Virginia State, Concord University and Charleston set on Jan. 13. Once the Chippewas came calling, everything changed.
"I know the program is headed in the right direction," Powell said.
On his official visit to CMU, Powell met with all the coaches and some players. As a defensive lineman at Bluefield High, he talked with defensive line coach Justin Hinds.
"He was a good guy like the rest of the coaches, but I'm going for offense," Powell explained.
Powell, rather than playing in a defensive role, is set to work on the offensive line for new offensive line coach Mike Cummings.
Before stints at Connecticut and Virginia Military Institute, Cummings was the offensive coordinator at CMU for four years (2009-13). He was responsible for offensive tackle Eric Fisher, who was selected first overall in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Cummings already notices spirts of greatness within Powell, the incoming freshman said.
"He likes how I pull and get into open space to make the block," Powell said. "I could play guard or tackle, so we'll just see what goes better with the program."
As for coach Jim McElwain, Powell is impressed with his resume. McElwain was an offensive coordinator at Montana State (1995-99), Fresno State (2007) and Alabama (2008-11) before becoming a head coach at Colorado State (2012-14), Florida (2015-17) and now CMU.
"He's a great guy," Powell said of McElwain. "He and the rest of the staff are happy to have me on board."
While Powell enjoyed meeting with Hinds, Cummings, McElwain and other coaches, he noted the camaraderie between players – specifically defensive back Darius Bracy and wide receiver Drayton Law.
"They are a good group of guys and you can tell they're close," he said.
One his time at CMU is over, Powell's goal is to make it to the National Football League.
CMU's 2019 class now has 20 scholarship members. Of the group, 16 put pen to paper during the December early signing period.
Powell is the fourth since then to make a commitment to the Chippewas. The other three are defensive linemen Jacques Bristol and Fred Stokes and punter Luke Elzinga.
