Tyreem Powell Details Virginia Tech Commitment

Tyreem Powell loved the plan Virginia Tech had for him. So much so in fact, he committed to the Hokies 10 days after he received his offer. All-in-all, that was three weeks since Tech began recruiting him in earnest.

"I went to the campus, visited," Powell told The Key Play. "I loved it. I loved the coaching staff. Me and Coach [Brian] Mitchell had a great relationship and our relationship kept growing. And I thought all positive things. I thought it was the best for my future."

Powell is rated a 3-star (0.8567) athlete per the 247Sports Composite. However, the Hokies envision him in a much more defined role — backer.

"In their scheme it's sort of the outside linebacker, sort of what Tremaine Edmunds played," said Powell.

That's an appealing position for Powell, a self-described sideline-to-sideline defender who loves to hit. And his length, 6-4 ½, makes the Edmunds comparison more tangible.

"[Bud Foster] loved my film," said Powell. "He liked how I played physical."

But as it stands now, for Vineland HS (NJ) he's the deep safety in its 3-3-5 stack defense.

Vineland head coach Dan Russo believes the experience as an over-the-top defender with a nose for the ball will ease the transition down inside the box.

"I think it's going to help him because everything is alway in front of him, the defense and then he looks at the complete offense," said Russo. "Knowing that position [safety] and then going into this new position they're going to put him at [backer], I feel it's going to benefit him because he knows what linebackers are doing, the d-line, it's all in front of him. He has a complete understanding of the defense just like he would if you're the quarterback of offense."

The repetitions as a run-pass read defender will also benefit Powell in the move closer to the line of scrimmage.

"I'm reading the quarterback," said Powell. "As the safety, I'm looking at the quarterback, reading his eyes. If he's handing off, I'm straight attacking. But I'm also reading the receivers at the same time. See what kind of movements they make. And basically how they come off, I'm going to come off regarding pass or run."

Ahead of signing with the Hokies in 2020, the 17-year-old is working to improve his speed. Meanwhile, Russo is eager to see how Virginia Tech's diet plan and strength and condition program will transform Powell's body.

"He's got the frame," said Russo. "And they're going to fill him out."