Central Arkansas’ ShunDerrick Powell could be a deep sleeper

Currently holding the last pick in the draft, could Kansas City have hosted this year’s ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ last week?

Wednesday, April 16, marked the final day that NFL teams were permitted to host prospects at team facilities in preparation for this week’s draft. The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up their player visits with an intriguing prospect from a small school.

Per Aaron Wilson of Houston’s KPCR, Central Arkansas running back ShunDerrick Powell visited the Chiefs on Wednesday. The player himself later confirmed that he spent the day in Kansas City.

Here’s what to know about Powell:

Background

A product of Hoxie, Arkansas, Powell was not highly recruited out of high school, and he committed to Northern Alabama for the 2021 season. In his second season with the Lions, Powell amassed 1,755 scrimmage yards and scored 18 touchdowns. After entering the transfer portal, he spent his last two seasons as a Central Arkansas Bear.

For the 2024 season, Powell averaged 8.2 yards per carry. He finished the year with 163 carries for 1334 yards and 14 touchdowns. He added 36 catches for 318 yards and three more scores.

While not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, Powell did put up outstanding speed numbers at his pro day. Although his measured size of 5’7” and 183 lbs. will likely prevent him from becoming a high-end NFL starter, a smart team will be intrigued by the ways that his 4.4-second 40-yard dash time combined with a 40.5-inch vertical jump could be schemed into space to make explosive plays.

Let’s look at what teams see when they look at Powell:

Film evaluation

Powell’s film shows a player who was likely the fastest on the field for most of his college games. NFL teams will have speedier defenders than he faced at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, but he also would have outrun several professionals on this 95-yard run from 2023.

His very high average yards per carry reflects simply outrunning the defense regularly, but a closer look also shows some shifty moves and breaking tackles — as seen here against FCS powerhouse North Dakota State in 2023.

To be fair, Powell’s college opponents are underwhelming. In 2023, however, Central Arkansas played its season opener against an Oklahoma State team that finished the year with a top-20 ranking. Powell put up a respectable showing with the uptick in competition, finishing the day with 12 rushes for 71 yards.

It’s also encouraging in this clip that he stays on his feet (and maintains control of the ball) despite a big hit late in the play.

To maximize his NFL potential, Powell will need to stand out as an option in the short passing game, as he is unlikely to find success running between the tackles. He finished his career with 88 receptions for 747 yards and four touchdowns.

Powell will not find space after a reception close to this easy on Sundays, but the Chiefs should see him as an intriguing option for screens and wheel routes.

The bottom line

Powell is a pure lottery ticket, and he certainly faces a difficult path to an NFL roster. However, sometimes small-school gems surface. By possessing elite speed for his position and dominating his level of competition, a team could easily justify gambling late on his upside.

To make it in the NFL, he will likely need to show out as a pass-catcher. Regardless of the logo on his helmet, he shows traits that head coach Andy Reid has a long track record of using creatively.

During his press conference on Thursday, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach expressed interest in finding a running back who can work in the return game. Powell does bring 12 career kickoff returns from his two college stops, giving him another path to the back of a 53-man roster.

The Chiefs currently have three seventh-round selections scheduled for Saturday, including the 257th and final pick of the draft. Powell’s speed could have him on the radar to be one of the final players to hear his name called. Even if Kansas City uses the picks elsewhere, it would not be surprising to see Powell added as a priority undrafted free agent later in the weekend.