The Philadelphia Eagles reportedly have a strong interest in Florida linebacker Ronald Powell, whose promising college career was derailed by knee injuries and ended with his decision to turn pro after the 2013 season.
Powell was the nation's No. 1 overall high school recruit in 2010, according to Rivals.com. He missed the entire 2012 season with a torn ACL that required two surgical procedures. Last year, he returned from the setback to deliver seven tackles for loss, and team highs in sacks (four) and quarterback hurries (eight). With Florida going just 4-8 and its defense -- vaunted in the preseason -- crumbling with various injuries late in the year, Powell's return to the field was somewhat lost in the team's poor showing.
Philadelphia's interest in Powell, who also led UF in sacks in 2011 (six), was reported by philly.com.
Helping Powell's draft status was a 4.65 40-yard dash clocking at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, tied for the fourth-best time among linebackers with Buffalo's Khalil Mack, who projects as a top-10 pick. At 6-foot-3, 237 pounds, Powell projects as a third- or fourth-round pick. The Eagles, meanwhile, had one of the NFL's most porous defenses last season and figure to plug holes with some early picks. Philadelphia's picks in the third and fourth rounds come at Nos. 86 and 122 overall.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
