Florida lost several defensive standouts to the NFL, but it has one weapon who did not see the field last year — junior Ronald Powell.
Powell missed the entire 2012 season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee during the Orange and Blue Game. But through the first three weeks of fall camp, Powell is quickly getting back to his old self.
“I feel like I’m moving fast, moving as well anybody out there,” Powell said.
Powell used his quickness to lead Florida with six sacks in 2011, his last full season. The Gators need him to return to that form if they want to improve their pass rush.
UF finished ninth in the Southeastern Conference in sacks in 2012.
“We know what he can do,” defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin said on Aug. 14. “We’ve seen it before but it’s always that, ‘OK, let’s see how he comes back off the injury.’”
Powell said he learned more about himself while recovering from the injury. He was on track to return during the season before suffering a setback in September.
“Especially when you’re going through something as hard as that, you never thought you would go through … you got to strap up and take it on full speed,” he said.
Powell looked promising during Florida’s open practices during fall camp, blowing by offensive linemen in drills and scrimmages.
“(He makes) a big difference because he’s so physical,” linebacker Neiron Ball said. “He’s such a big guy he definitely can set the edge for us.”
Powell said his knee has been absorbing contact during practices, and he has not had any issues. The only problems he has had are reminding himself about hand placement and keeping his feet moving.
“He had a lot of anxiety about coming back,” Durkin said. “He’s doing really well out there, been in contact drills and doing great. Looking forward to him getting out on the field.”
Sophomore Dante Fowler Jr. helped fill the hole left by Powell’s absence last season. This year the two will see plenty of time on the field together. Both are listed at the hybrid Buck position and will play on the line and at linebacker.
“We can be in nickel, we can be in regular,” Powell said. “I’m going to put my hand on the ground, I’m going to be standing up, kind of like it was when I was on the field two years ago.”
Fowler played in all of UF’s 13 games last year, recording 30 tackles, including eight for losses. He notched 2.5 sacks last year.
“Six and seven off the edge,” Powell said, referring to his and Fowler’s numbers. “A lot of getting to the QB.”
Florida will have its first look at Powell when he takes the field against Toledo on Aug. 31. “We’re seeing the flashes of No. 7 to say, ‘Alright, we got what we think we had,” Durkin said.
Contact Adam Lichtenstein at alichtenstein@alligator.org.
Ronald Powell prepares on the field before Florida’s game against Georgia on Oct. 29, 2011. Powell will likely play in his first game since 2011 when Florida plays Toledo on Aug. 31.
