Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.- West Virginia defensive back Andrew Powdrell has played three different positions during his time with the Mountaineers.
When he arrived in Morgantown earlier this year, he started at nickel before moving to free safety. Now the senior has returned to cornerback, the position he played during his previous three seasons.
While the transition to corner came during the season, it was a natural move for Powdrell.
“I played corner at my other schools these past three years,” he said. “So just transitioning, main thing was just (knowing) what the play call was and what the corner do their play call. That was really it. But other than just, playing football and playing corner, like it was second nature to me.”
Playing nickel and free safety has given the UNLV transfer a broader understanding of WVU’s defensive scheme.
“It actually kind of helped cuz I I’ve been at three different positions now, nickel, free safety, and corner. And just knowing what everybody’s doing, everybody’s on a string, and just made made it all make sense.”
Each position came with a different set of responsibilities.
At cornerback, defensive backs can often find themselves isolated against opposing receivers. Playing nickel brought him closer to the action and added responsibilities against the run, while free safety required him to cover more space.
“I say it’s definitely a little different like when I played nickel in the spring, it was a little different, but it was like a learning curve for sure just because (at) corner, you’re on an island. Nickel, you’re in the run fit. There’s more to think about, but I think it was, naturally comfortable for me to be able to do multiple things and and be more in the mix,” he said. “And then going to free safety, like I said, that’s also different from Nickel because then it’s a lot more space. You could be in the post, half field. So like I said, there’s definitely adjustment, but at the end of the day, football’s football, and I’m a defensive back, so to be able to show I can play multiple positions, the more the better.”
With all of the Woodlands, Texas native’s experience at other positions, he feels more confident and comfortable in defensive coordinator Zac Alley’s system.
“I’d say it just gave me more confidence in defense in general,” Powdrell said. “Just knowing what other guys are doing like just learning three positions here and under you know Zac Alley’s defense is very cool and just seeing how he thinks and seeing why he calls these plays, the reason he calls them, it just puts me in a more comfortable position.”
For Powdrell, learning multiple positions has provided more than just an opportunity to move around the secondary. It has given him a better understanding of how each piece of the defense works together.
Now back at cornerback, Powdrell will look to use that experience to help the Mountaineers as they continue their season.
WVU returns home against Kansas on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium.
Photo Credit: Kelsie LeRose, WVSN
