Note: The following appears in the Syracuse gameday football program.
While hunkering down in a jam-packed stadium during a torrential downpour, Cornell Powell had an epiphany, realizing that his future was destined to run through Clemson and recognizing just how badly he wanted to become a Tiger.
Powell, now a senior wideout, was swayed to play for the Tigers after attending their heart-pounding 24-22 victory over Notre Dame in October 2015. The thrilling matchup was played in front of a raucous Memorial Stadium crowd in the midst of monsoon-like rainfall brought on by Hurricane Joaquin. Attending that riveting contest won Powell over and sparked the true beginning of his Clemson journey.
“That game pushed me over the edge and made me think, ‘I want to play in this environment.’ The atmosphere was amazing.”
Although it may seem surprising that spending a rain-soaked evening in a frenetic environment would be the blissful experience that it was for Powell, that detail makes perfect sense when factoring in his forward-thinking outlook on life.
The wideout from Greenville, N.C. is constantly planning ahead, proactively plotting out his future and opting to make the most of every opportunity presented to him. For many seniors in high school, that fateful night at Death Valley would have been nothing more than a fun time, but for Powell, it opened his eyes to a bright future made possible by Clemson football.
Since becoming a member of the Clemson family thereafter, Powell has never looked back, and he credited the infectious winning attitude that is synonymous with the Tiger program for bettering him as a player and person.
“It’s helped me compete and be the best version of myself. Seeing my teammates make plays pushes me to work that much harder to make plays.”
Powell is one of many talented pass catchers to suit up for “Wide Receiver U” during Head Coach Dabo Swinney’s Clemson tenure, and his contributions on the gridiron have certainly been impactful.
However, Powell’s off-field contributions have made an even broader impact, as he has stimulated change within the Clemson community and potentially played a role in carving out some of his teammates’ career paths.
In June 2020, Powell was at the forefront of Clemson football’s peaceful demonstration on campus. As one of the leaders in the locker room, he helped organize the team-led event, which was put together in order to draw attention to social issues.
“It was powerful because it showed athletes around the world that we’re more than just athletes,” said Powell of Clemson’s demonstration and the countless other peaceful protests taking place within college athletics at that time. “We’re human beings with thoughts and feelings, and what we say matters just as much as the next person.”