Dalen Powell, a standout from Ruston, Louisiana, picked up a scholarship offer from Miami Tuesday, giving Mario Cristobal’s staff another backfield target. Powell checks in at 5-foot-11.5 and 190 pounds, and the 247Sports Composite ranks him No. 202 nationally, No. 13 among running backs and No. 3 in Louisiana.
Miami’s offer adds another major program to a recruitment that has accelerated this spring. Powell recently added LSU, USC, Ole Miss, West Virginia and Nebraska to a growing list of options, according to 247Sports. LSU’s move mattered since Powell plays in Louisiana, but Miami’s entry gives him another high-profile out-of-state option.
The Hurricanes have placed an emphasis on early evaluations under Cristobal, and this offer fits that approach. Miami does not need to wait for Powell’s recruitment to explode any further, and the Hurricanes can start building the relationship now, get him to campus and show how he would fit in an offense that wants backs with burst.
At nearly 190 pounds, he brings enough size to handle volume while still offering room to develop physically. That matters in a class where projections will shift as prospects grow, add strength and face tougher competition.
Running back boards form early. Programs want to identify their priorities before summer visits and national camp settings reshape the rankings. Ruston has produced enough talent to draw national attention, and Powell’s recruitment reflects that. He will not lack options, especially with LSU now involved. The home-state Tigers will likely carry weight, but Miami has never shied away from difficult national battles.
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