One of the nation’s leading sack artists, Antwaun Powell-Ryland has been a force to be reckoned with on the Virginia Tech defensive line. Here is a 2025 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report and film analysis on him.
Overview, Film Analysis, and Early 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report of Virginia Tech EDGE Antwaun Powell-Ryland
Measurables:
- 6’3”
- 252 lbs
Player Background:
Antwaun Powell-Ryland began his collegiate career with Florida, committing to the Gators out of Indian River HS (VA) as a four-star recruit. The graduate in the class of 2020 appeared in two games his freshman year, not tallying any stats. He played in 12 games his sophomore season, collecting his first 1.5 collegiate sacks with five tackles to go with them. His role expanded a bit in 2022, starting five of the 12 games he played and doubling his previous year’s sack total. He accumulated three forced fumbles on the season, a pass deflection, and 29 total tackles.
He entered his name into the transfer portal that offseason and ended up back in Virginia with the Hokies. VT fans were immediately familiar with his game, as he picked up 9.5 sacks and another three FFs in his first year with the team. Following his career trend, 2024 has been another major step forward for the redshirt senior. Powell-Ryland has 13 sacks in the team’s first 10 games and is one of college football’s most dominant EDGEs.
Accolades:
- Second Team All-ACC (2023)
- Phil Steele Honorable Mention All-American (2023)
Strengths/Pros:
Powell-Ryland’s explosiveness absolutely pops on tape and he can take over a drive in an instant. He launches off the line and has the noticeable functional strength to overpower linemen consistently. He’s an incredibly springy athlete and snaps his hips violently when navigating both around and through linemen. His hands are strong and violent at the point of attack, ripping by the OL and forcing his way into the backfield no matter the lineman’s size.
His bend is above average and he can sink into his hips well when working off the edge. Powell-Ryland has shown that he knows how to set himself up early to attack OL weak spots and works his leverage to extend past them skillfully. He can anchor the outside of the line well and hold his side of the field often. His pursuit speed is solid and he’s technically sound in finishing through blocks with his arms to prevent getting moved off his path.
Weaknesses/Cons:
If there’s one thing that Powell-Ryland is going to be glad to lose once he gets to the NFL, it’s having to face option-heavy offenses. His vision into the backfield is subpar and he continually struggles against reading and executing against option plays. He’s a bit of a jerky mover that fails to stabilize himself often. His initial drive can lead him past ball carriers and he misses some tackles because of it.
Powell-Ryland needs to extend out more often to decrease the probability of momentum misses in the backfield. He drops his head too much initially, leading to plays developing near him that he can’t impact. He tries to move linemen forward sometimes instead of plugging holes, causing larger run plays to open up. His spin move, which he tries to use a decent amount, is very stationary and ineffective.
Potential Team Fits:
NFL Projection:
Putting on some weight might be needed once he enters the NFL, but there’s really no trait Powell-Ryland possesses that shouldn’t be able to translate. He has all the tools to become a prized pass rusher on an NFL defense, and success could come early. His violence and explosiveness are rare to see in college and should lead to pass-rush wins immediately. Ironing out some of his struggles could lead to him becoming a 10+ sack player for years to come.
Prospect Grade:
- Mid-Late 2nd Round
Film Exposures:
- 2024 vs. Rutgers
- 2024 vs. Vanderbilt
- 2024 vs. Miami
Main Photo Courtesy of Mark Konezny – Imagn Images
