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Cornell Powell
Cornell Powell
from Wikipedia

Cornell Powell (born October 30, 1997) is an American professional football wide receiver for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the Clemson Tigers. Powell is the first player in history to win championships in the NCAA (2), UFL, and NFL (2).

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Powell attended JH Rose High School in Greenville, North Carolina. As a senior, he had 65 receptions for 1,557 yards and 38 total touchdowns. He committed to Clemson University to play college football.[1]

College career

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Powell spent 2016 to 2019 as a backup receiver.[2] He took a redshirt in 2018 after playing in only four games.[3] During his career, he totaled 40 receptions for 329 yards and three touchdowns.[4] He became a starter for the first time in his redshirt senior season in 2020.[5][6] He finished the season with 53 receptions for 882 yards and seven touchdowns.

College statistics

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Season Team Games Receiving
GP GS Rec Yds Avg TD
2016 Clemson 9 0 12 87 7.3 0
2017 Clemson 14 0 8 57 7.1 1
2018 Clemson 4 0 5 63 12.6 0
2019 Clemson 15 0 15 122 8.1 2
2020 Clemson 12 12 53 882 16.6 7
Career 54 12 93 1,211 13.0 10

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 0+14 in
(1.84 m)
205 lb
(93 kg)
32+34 in
(0.83 m)
9+78 in
(0.25 m)
4.53 s 1.60 s 2.66 s 4.21 s 7.03 s 36.5 in
(0.93 m)
10 ft 8 in
(3.25 m)
16 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[7][8]

Kansas City Chiefs

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Powell was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round (181st overall) of the 2021 NFL draft.[9] He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 13, 2021.[10] Powell was waived on August 31 and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[11][12] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Chiefs on February 2, 2022.[13]

On August 30, Powell was waived by the Chiefs and again re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[14][15] He was placed on the practice squad/injured list on January 3, 2023.[16] Powell won Super Bowl LVII where the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles.[17] He signed a reserve/future contract on February 15.[18]

On August 29, 2023, for the third consecutive year, Powell started the season as waived by the Chiefs and re-signed to the practice squad.[19][20] He won a second consecutive Super Bowl when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.[21] His contract expired when the team's season ended on February 11, 2024.

On February 21, 2024, Powell re-signed with the Chiefs.[22] He was waived on August 27.[23] He was re-signed to the practice squad on October 22.[24] He was released on November 19.

Seattle Seahawks

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On November 26, 2024, Powell was signed to the Seattle Seahawks practice squad.[25] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 6, 2025.[26] Powell was waived by the Seahawks on February 22.[27]

DC Defenders

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On March 3, 2025, Powell signed with the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL).[28] Powell led the league with seven receiving touchdowns, recording 418 yards on 29 receptions across nine games.[29]

Houston Texans

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On August 19, 2025, Powell signed with the Houston Texans.[30] He was waived by the Texans on August 26 as part of final roster cuts.[31]

Pittsburgh Steelers

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On November 25, 2025, Powell was signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad.[32] He was released by the Steelers on December 2.[33]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season

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Year Team Games Receiving
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD
2021 KC DNP
2022 KC 3 0
2023 KC DNP
2024 KC DNP
Career 3 0 0 0 0.0 0 0

UFL career statistics

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Regular season

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Year Team Games Receiving
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD
2025 DC 9 7 29 418 14.4 44 7
Career 9 7 29 418 14.4 44 7

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Cornell Powell (born October 30, 1997) is an for the Houston Texans of the (NFL). Powell played for the from 2016 to 2020, appearing in 54 games and helping the team secure national championships in 2016 and 2018. He was selected by the in the fifth round (181st overall) of the and spent three seasons with the team, winning in 2023 and in 2024. After being waived by the Chiefs in 2024 and a brief stint with the , Powell joined the of the United Football League (UFL) in March 2025, where he contributed to their 2025 UFL Championship victory over the on June 14, 2025. Powell is the first player in history to win championships in NCAA , the , and the UFL. In August 2025, he signed a one-year contract with the Houston Texans, marking his return to the .

Early years

Early life

Cornell Powell was born on October 30, 1997, in . He grew up in the same city, where he was raised by his mother, Stephanie Powell, who played a supportive role in his development. From a young age, Powell displayed a keen interest in athletics, beginning with organized youth sports in Greenville. He played Pop Warner football for the Greenville Housing Authority until age 14 under coaches Carnell Burney and Moses Phillips, and participated in the Jackie Robinson Baseball League with the Philippi Eagles until age 13, coached by Steve Staton. To enhance his speed for football, he later shifted focus to track during middle school, guided by coach Bill Fuller. In 2010, at age 12, he attended the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Overnight Camp as an Academic All-Star after competing in a selection process, further nurturing his competitive drive. Powell's early determination and family support in these foundational activities foreshadowed his remarkable path, ultimately making him the first player to win championships across NCAA, , and UFL levels. This background transitioned into his organized high school athletics at J.H. Rose High School.

High school career

Cornell Powell attended J.H. Rose High School in , where he played varsity football from 2013 to 2016, primarily as a while also contributing as a rusher and occasional passer. As a junior in the 2014–15 season, Powell recorded 67 receptions for 1,248 yards and 19 touchdowns, helping lead the Rampants to a strong performance and earning all-conference recognition. His senior year in 2015–16 was particularly dominant, with 65 receptions for 1,557 yards and 25 receiving touchdowns, in addition to 249 rushing yards and five rushing scores; for these efforts, he was named All-County Offensive Player of the Year and selected to the all-state team. Rated as a four-star recruit by and ranked as the No. 16 prospect in and No. 229 in the Southeast region, Powell attracted scholarship offers from major programs including , Florida State, Ohio State, , and NC State. He committed to on February 4, 2015, and after graduating in 2016, enrolled that summer to join the Tigers.

College career

Clemson Tigers

Cornell Powell joined the as a highly touted recruit in 2016, rated as the No. 36 overall player nationally by . As a true freshman in 2016, he appeared in nine games with limited snaps, contributing to a Tigers team that captured the that season under head coach . In 2017, Powell saw increased action across 14 games but remained in a rotational role on an offense that advanced to the game. Entering 2018 as a junior, Powell played in four games before redshirting the remainder of the season to preserve a year of eligibility, during which Clemson again won the national title. He returned in as a redshirt junior, appearing in all 15 games primarily as a depth receiver and occasional kickoff , helping the Tigers secure the ACC championship and another playoff berth. Powell's role expanded significantly in his senior year of 2020, where he emerged as a starter and key contributor to the offense, tying school records with three consecutive 100-yard receiving games and delivering standout performances in the and the . Throughout his Clemson tenure, Powell was part of teams that amassed five ACC titles, five appearances, three game berths, and two between 2016 and 2020. His senior season earned him third-team All-ACC honors, along with ACC Receiver of the Week recognition and multiple team offensive player of the game awards. Following the 2020 campaign, Powell declared for the .

College statistics

Over his five-year collegiate career at , Cornell Powell appeared in 54 games, recording 93 receptions for 1,211 receiving yards, averaging 13.0 yards per reception, and scoring 10 receiving touchdowns. He had no rushing attempts or fumbles recorded in his statistical profile. The following table provides a year-by-year breakdown of Powell's receiving statistics during his time with the :
SeasonClassGamesReceptionsYardsAverageTouchdowns
2016FR912877.30
2017SO148577.11
2018JR456312.60
2019JR15151228.12
2020SR125388216.67
Career54931,21113.010
Data sourced from official NCAA records via Sports-Reference.com.

Professional career

The [Kansas City Chiefs](/page/Kansas_City_ Chiefs) selected Powell in the fifth round (181st overall) of the out of Clemson, where his college production as a contributed to his selection as a depth addition to the team's offense. He signed a four-year contract worth $3.72 million on May 13, 2021. Powell was waived by the Chiefs on August 31, 2021, during final roster cuts but was re-signed to their practice squad the following day. Throughout his tenure, he remained primarily on the practice squad, with multiple elevations to the active roster, including for games in 2022 and 2023. His regular-season playing time was limited to three games total, all with the Chiefs, during which he recorded no statistics. As a member, Powell was part of the Chiefs' roster for their victories in on February 12, 2023, against the , and on February 11, 2024, against the , earning championship rings for both despite his minimal on-field role. The Chiefs waived him again on August 27, 2024, as part of preseason roster reductions, ending his initial four-year stint with the organization.

Seattle Seahawks

Following his release from the Kansas City Chiefs' on November 19, 2024, Cornell Powell signed with the ' on November 26, 2024. This move offered Powell a chance to pursue a roster spot in Seattle's competitive room, leveraging his prior familiarity from three seasons with the Chiefs, including two victories. Powell remained on the Seahawks' through the end of the 2024 regular season without any elevations to the active roster or appearances in games. On January 6, 2025, he signed a reserve/future contract with the team, which positioned him to participate in the 2025 offseason program and . Powell was waived by the Seahawks on February 21, 2025.

DC Defenders

Following his release from the , Cornell Powell signed with the of the United Football League (UFL) on March 3, 2025, ahead of the league's spring season. As a starting , Powell quickly emerged as a key component of the Defenders' high-powered offense, leveraging his speed and route-running ability to create mismatches against defenses. Over the nine-game regular season, Powell recorded 29 receptions for 418 yards, averaging 14.4 yards per catch, and led the UFL with seven receptions, establishing himself as the league's premier red-zone threat. His explosive plays, including a league-long 44-yard , were instrumental in the Defenders' balanced attack, which finished the regular season with a 6-4 record and secured a playoff berth. Powell's consistency—highlighted by a standout Week 9 performance of eight catches for 104 yards and two s—provided a reliable target for Jordan , enhancing the team's vertical passing game. In the , Powell contributed to the Defenders' dominant run, including a 36-18 conference championship victory over the , before capping the postseason with a pivotal role in the UFL Championship Game on June 14, 2025. Against the , the Defenders routed their opponents 58-34 to claim the title—the franchise's —where Powell's gave his team an early lead and set the tone for the offensive explosion. His championship performance underscored a breakout UFL campaign that revitalized his professional trajectory, culminating in an NFL tryout and subsequent signing with the Houston Texans.

Houston Texans

Following his standout performance in the 2025 United Football League (UFL) season with the , where he led the league in touchdowns and contributed to their championship victory, Cornell Powell signed with the Houston Texans on August 19, 2025. Powell joined the Texans' roster ahead of , competing for one of the limited depth positions at amid a crowded group that included established veterans and younger prospects. His opportunity represented a brief return to the (NFL) after stints with other teams and his recent UFL success, but it was short-lived. On August 26, 2025, the Texans waived Powell as part of their final roster cuts to reach the 53-player limit, ending his tenure with the team before the began. As of 2025, Powell remains an unrestricted , eligible to sign with any team. This episode with the Texans capped Powell's diverse professional path, completing a unique resume that includes national championships at the collegiate level with Clemson in 2016 and 2018, two victories with the in 2023 and 2024, and a UFL title with the Defenders in 2025—making him the first player to achieve this across the three leagues.

Career statistics

NFL regular season

Cornell Powell has appeared in a total of three games across his professional career, all with the in 2022, recording no receptions, zero receiving yards, and no touchdowns. His limited on-field opportunities stem primarily from time spent on practice squads with multiple teams, including the Chiefs, , and Houston Texans. The following table provides a year-by-year breakdown of Powell's statistics:
YearTeamGamesStartsTargetsReceptionsYardsAverageLongestTouchdownsFumbles
2021KC0000000
2022KC3000000
2023KC0000000
2024KC/SEA0000000
2025HOU0000000
Career3000000
Powell has no postseason statistics in the NFL.

UFL regular season

In the 2025 UFL regular season, Cornell Powell played for the , appearing in 9 games and establishing himself as a key receiving threat with 29 receptions for 418 yards and a league-leading 7 touchdowns. His 14.4 yards per reception highlighted his big-play , including a longest reception of 44 yards. Powell had no rushing attempts or fumbles during the season. These statistics represent Powell's UFL regular season totals.
DateOpponentReceptionsYardsAverageLongestTouchdowns
03/30/25vs. BIR22311.5120
04/05/25vs. MEM000.000
04/13/25@ STL3217.0141
04/20/25vs. SA35217.3220
04/27/25@ ARL48922.3371
05/04/25@ MICH000.000
05/09/25@ SA57014.0291
05/18/25vs. ARL45914.8272
05/25/25@ HOU810413.0442
Season Totals: 9 games, 29 receptions, 418 yards, 14.4 average, 44 longest, 7 touchdowns.

UFL postseason

In the 2025 UFL postseason, Powell appeared in 2 games for the , recording 6 receptions for 83 yards and 1 touchdown.

References

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