 Carlton Powell Interview Virginia Tech defensive lineman Carlton Powell took time out to talk with Mike McCollom about a wide array of topics. First of all, thank you Carlton for taking the time to do this interview for Football.com At the combine you measured in at 6' 2" and 290 pounds. You ran a 5.1- 40 yard dash benched press 225 pound 23 times. Does that information all sound accurate? Yes it does. Is that the current weight you played at during the season? I usually played around 295 pounds. I just lost a few from all of the working out prior to the combine.
Do you think that is your most effective playing weight or will you try to add more weight to your frame as you start your NFL career? I think I can definitely add another 10 or 15 pounds to my frame and still play at a comfortable weight and not lose any of my quickness. How long did you prepare specifically for the combine? 6 ½ weeks Where and what kind of workouts did you do to prepare yourself? I trained in Orlando with Tom Shaw at his NFL training center. We worked a lot of speed, footwork, and conditioning. Did strength and bench press training. We also did full combine workouts once a week to see what kind of groove we were in. Was there a certain area you looked to improve yourself in the most heading into the combine? We focused a lot of work on 40 starts. Making sure you are explosiveness coming out from the start. Do you think your combine results are an accurate reflection of the athletic ability you show on the field? They were probably a little sub par. You can look at the film. I am all out there showing quickness, getting off blocks, shooting gaps, making plays all game. How many teams did you do interviews with at the combine? I had 5 or 6 scheduled interviews, but pretty much talked to just about everyone. Can you tell us who any of the specific teams are? Oakland, Miami, Minnesota, Indianapolis, San Francisco, and Carolina.
Which would you say you are getting the most amount of interest from? Carolina, Minnesota, and Miami. Are any teams giving you a general idea of where you might be drafted? As far as that, it is still up in the air and there is a long ways to go. In your opinion where do you expect to be drafted? I mean anywhere from the 2nd round to about the 5th round, I hope at least by then. Did you work out at the March 20th pro day or are you working out at the March 27th Virginia Tech pro day? I worked out on the 20th.
What workouts did you do at the pro day? I did everything again besides the broad jump. How were your results? I improved on everything a little bit from the combine. It seems the trend is that most players will do a little better at the pro day then they do at the combine, why do you think that is? Is it being in a more comfortable setting? Yeah definitely the setting and there is a lot less stress. I mean you can get everything done all in one day, and it’s much more relaxing being around somewhere you are familiar with.
You’re known as a guy that plays really stout against the run and does a good job holding at the point of attack. Do you fell that is the strongest point of your game? Yeah I believe so. Me being able to maintain my gap integrity, holding up at the point, taking on double teams, and keeping the offensive lineman off of the linebackers. What are some of the other positives about your game you feel you have? I think I can collapse the pocket and make it so the QB can’t step up and I can come off of blocks well. A lot of people also see you as a very versatile player, one that can probably play both inside in a 3-4 defense and also DE in a 3-4. Do you think you could play in either defense? Yeah definitely I can. I’m a smart guy, I judge things very well and am quick to learn, so it won’t be a problem playing inside in a 4-3 or outside in a 3-4. What part of your game do you fell you would like to improve the most on? Using my hands more, my pass rushing moves, not letting an offensive lineman get in on my pads, keeping my pad level low, and just continue to improve my overall technique.
Coming out of high school, what made you choose Virginia Tech over other teams reported to have interest in you such as North Carolina, Maryland, and Virginia? I just liked the style of people around there. I wanted to play for Coach Foster who runs the defense. I wanted to play for the #1 defense in the country, wanted to play for the best you know, and in my career we were able to do that two years in a row.
How did you enjoy the experience of playing football at a big time program such as Virginia Tech? It was a great experience. I’ll cherish every moment of it for the rest of my life and wouldn’t take anything away from it. It’s sad to move on, but it’s time to move on to bigger things.
What about Virginia Tech helped you prepare yourself for a potential NFL career not only as a player, but off the field as well? When we first came in Coach Beamer let us know and understand the meaning of responsibility. All of the freshman when they first come in are really preached about learning proper time management. And over the years it has just helped you learn to become an adult and be a man.
Virginia Tech has obviously had one of the top programs in the country for quite a few years now and many good players from there have made there way into the NFL. Do you believe the success of both the Virginia Tech program and past players from there will help your draft stock? Definitely, because we are all coming from the same program. A lot of us guys have come out with the same characteristics and work ethic. We’re trying to set a trend at Virginia Tech. Through out your college career, who would you say was the toughest player that you had to go up against all game? I’d probably say Jason Spitz from Louisville. Now you played a few years in High School at MLB. How did that prepare you for the eventual move to DT? Do you think that is an advantage over someone who started out as a defensive lineman? I think it definitely helped with my footwork and quickness, with being able to shed blocks, and being able to read and react to an offense. Overall I think it was an advantage that helped me. Growing up was there a favorite NFL team you rooted for? Green Bay Packers Did you have a favorite player? Brett Favre What are your opinions on his retirement? I mean he was a great player and had a great career. It would have been nice to get the chance to play against him.
Is there a certain team that you hope drafts you? I can pretty much play for anyone, but I could claim Miami with all the beaches and nice weather down there. Do any current NFL players stand out as one you would compare yourself to or model your game after? I like to watch and take what I can from a lot of different players. I can say Warren Sapp, Albert Haynsworth, maybe Marcus Stroud, Kris Jenkins. Try to take bits and pieces from everyone. Apparently over the summer you were caught on fire by a candle at a media event, what can you tell us about that situation? It was just one of those freak accidents that happen. They just hand candles everywhere. I had a big shirt on and one of the candles just caught it on fire. I had to take my shirt off to put it out, but it was nothing to serious. According to your bio you have graduated with a degree in human nutrition, foods and exercise. Is that the field you would like to get into after your football career is over? It definitely is. I was thinking after I am done with football about coming back and get my masters, then pursue going into pharmacy or therapy. Alright Carlton, I think that will about wrap us up. Is there anything else you would like to let the readers know about yourself? I’m a strong man of faith, I attribute everything to our lord and savior, and nothing would be possible without him.
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