#16 – Mani Powell
Linebacker
6’2”, 230
Senior
Columbus, Ohio
Former School: UNLV
Projection: Starter/Key Reserve
Mani Powell arrives at Purdue with head coach Barry Odom from UNLV. As I’ve said throughout this series when I’ve had a player that Odom brought over, he brought him over for a reason. Odom obviously believes in the talent of the players he’s brought with him and particularly must feel that they are upgrades over what was on the roster at the time. In Powell’s cause that should mean a key spot in the linebacking
corps. During his junior year he started 7 games for UNLV and appeared in all 14 games. He amassed 59 tackles, 9 TFL, and 3.5 sacks. Pretty good numbers for a linebacker that didn’t start every game.
Purdue needs difference makers on both sides of the ball after a season in which they won just one game. Powell gives Purdue someone who has shown the ability to make plays. He was a key element in a UNLV rush defense that allowed just 115 yards per game. Imagine if that’s all Purdue allowed per game this season. It would be a miracle. I expect Powell to be given the opportunity to start but even if he winds up coming off the bench he should see plenty of action this season.
