Vineland’s Powell is a Comeback Player of the Year Finalist

Former Vineland High School football standout Tyreem Powell was recently announced as one of 12 semi-finalists for college football’s 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award by College Sports Communicators in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization.

Since 2018, the Comeback Player of the Year Award has recognized college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness or other circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, in a vote by a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes are honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl.

According to Rutgers football, Powell, a team captain, missed the final five games of 2023 due to injury and suffered a separate injury in the winter. He returned to the field at Virginia Tech and contributed a tackle-for-loss on his first play from scrimmage of the season. Overall, the linebacker has totaled 49 tackles in nine games.

He forced a fumble against Minnesota that sparked a comeback win in the fourth quarter, ending the game with a season-best eight tackles. He also broke up two passes versus Washington and was named honorable mention All-Big Ten.

Powell has collected 193 career tackles with 11.5 for loss and five sacks in 42 games played for the Scarlet Knights. He was likely going to leave after last season and head for the NFL but returned. Head coach Greg Schiano has called Powell a second-day pick on numerous occasions.

“Tyreem was a pro football player, so when he is in there, it steadies a lot of things,” Schiano said of Powell.
With the Fighting Clan at VHS, Powell was dominant as a wide receiver, free safety, and quarterback. He was a two-time All-South Jersey pick on defense.

He also led the team to the playoffs and to winning its first playoff ever.