Ricky Powers

Last updated

Ricky Powers
No. 22, 44
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1970-11-30) November 30, 1970 (age 53)
Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school: Buchtel (Akron, Ohio)
College: Michigan
Undrafted: 1994
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Ricky Powers pregame with the San Antonio Matadors. Ricky Powers pregame with the San Antonio Matadors.jpg
Ricky Powers pregame with the San Antonio Matadors.

Richard Powers (born November 30, 1970) is a former running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns and a former University of Michigan Wolverines football co-captain. In the NFL, he had a brief career with the Browns during their final season before they relocated to become the Baltimore Ravens. His career ended due to being lost in the shuffle when the Browns moved to Baltimore and changed coaching staffs. [1] In college, he set the Michigan football freshman rushing record that stood for fourteen seasons, and as a sophomore was the leading rusher for the team during Desmond Howard's Heisman Trophy-winning season. With the Wolverines, he was a member of three consecutive Big Ten Conference football championship teams. In high school, he was the Parade All-American star running back of the two-time Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) football championship team at Buchtel High School, where he has returned to coach baseball and football.

Contents

High school

Powers was both born and raised in Akron, where he led the Buchtel High School football team to back-to-back OHSAA championships, as well as being named a high school All-American. [1] Powers graduated from Buchtel in 1990 after leading them to the 1987 and 1988 Ohio Division II state high school championships. As a sophomore in 1987, Powers rushed for 1,600 yards including 600 in four playoff games and helped his coach earn Summit County Coach of the Year honors. [2] [3] Powers rushed for 1,741 yards and 28 touchdowns as a junior, [4] including 289 yards against Nordonia High School in a playoff game, and 2,014 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior. [1] During that junior season, he became the third junior (following Chris Spielman and Jeff Logan, by one account and Spielman and Charles Gladman by another) to earn Akron Beacon Journal Player of the Year honors. [4] [5] During the season, he topped his sophomore Championship game 161 yard effort with a Championship game record 206 rushing yard effort. [4] He earned All-Ohio Division II honors. [6] Ohio rival, Robert Smith, earned USA Today Player of the Year honors and Powers earned an honorable mention during their junior years. [7] Powers entered his senior season on numerous lists including the Chicago Sun-Times national top 100 and 24-man All-Midwest lists, [8] [9] The Times-Picayune Top 25 national prospects, [10] and USA Today top 13 Ohio players. [11] His senior season ended with a "Turkey Day" City Championship game. [12] He and Smith, who chose to go to rival Ohio State, were the two top football prospects in Ohio and the nation in 1989. [1] [13] Smith was named Mr. Football (Ohio), but Powers was named the top player in the nation by the Dallas Morning News . [1] In a poll of 14 experts produced by the Detroit Free Press , Powers was the all-Midwest (Big Ten States of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin because Penn State had not yet joined the conference) Offensive player of the year in a first-team backfield with Jerome Bettis and Chris Weinke. [14] Powers became the first two-time Akron Beacon Journal Player of the Year. [5] He was a Parade All-American and earned first-team All-USA honors from USA Today. [15] [16] Many publications across the country listed Powers among the best five or ten players in the nation. [17] [18] Powers was recruited by both the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes. [19]

College

Powers and both the 1991 and 1992 Big Ten Champions appeared in the Rose Bowl. 2008-1226-Pasadena-008-RoseBowl.jpg
Powers and both the 1991 and 1992 Big Ten Champions appeared in the Rose Bowl.

Powers, who wore #12 for the Michigan Wolverines football program from 1990 to 1993, [20] shared the tailback position with Jon Vaughn as a freshman and Tyrone Wheatley as a junior and senior. Although he was only the official starter for one game as a freshman in 1990, [21] he set the Michigan freshman rushing record with 789 rushing yards, [22] a record broken by Mike Hart in 2004. [23] That season, he led the Wolverines, who three-peated as Big Ten Conference Champions, to victories in their last four games with 100-yard rushing efforts in each game, and tied Vaughn with five 100-yard rushing efforts. [22] [23] The next year, as a sophomore, he started eleven of twelve games and was named to the All-Big Ten Conference team. [24] Although as a sophomore in 1991 he led the team in rushing with 1251 yards, he shared the spotlight with Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard. That 1991 team would again win the Big Ten Conference Championship, [25] and it would produce eighteen National Football League draftees between 1992 and 1995. [26] In 1992 and 1993, his offensive totals were lower than in 1991 because he was sharing playing time with Tyrone Wheatley. However, in 1993, he was named Michigan Football Co-Captain of a five-time Big Ten Conference team. [27] Powers currently ranks 13th on the all-time Michigan rushing yards list with 2680 career yards. [22] Powers obtained his bachelor's degree in kinesiology. [1] Both the 1991 and 1992 Conference Champions went to the Rose Bowl. [28]

Professional career

In the NFL, Powers, who measured 6 feet (1.83 m) and 213 pounds (96.6 kg), was signed as a free agent in 1994 by the Detroit Lions, but he was waived before the season started. [1] [29] He later that year signed with the Cleveland Browns, joining their practice squad. He remained on the practice squad until being promoted to the regular roster for the final three games of the 1995 National Football League season. He totaled 51 yards on 14 rushes, one six-yard pass reception, and three kickoff returns for a total of 54 yards. When the Browns relocated following the 1995 season to become the Baltimore Ravens, and Ted Marchibroda replaced Bill Belichick as coach, Powers got lost in the shuffle. He dabbled with World League of American Football, the Ohio Cannon of the short-lived Regional Football League in 1999, [30] and the San Antonio Matadors of the Spring Football League afterwards, but soon retired. [1]

In 2007, Powers assumed the football coaching duties at his high school alma mater, Akron Buchtel High School, where he has been the head baseball coach since 2004. At Buchtel, he inherits a football team that has a tradition of producing major college scholarship athletes and a few professional ones. Recent Buchtel Griffins who have become professional athletes include Antonio Pittman, Charlton Keith, and Ramon Walker. [1] For 2007 and 2008, Buchtel competes in Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II, which is for schools with enrollments of between 365 and 523. [31] Buchtel has qualified for the state tournament 9 times in the past as both a Division II and Division III entrant, [32] but they were not among the 32 teams in the 120 team Division II class to qualify in 2007. [33]

Personal

Powers' older brother, Scott, had been an All-District cornerback who recorded nine interceptions, six fumbles recoveries and four blocked field goals and three blocked extra points during his 1987 senior season. [34] Ricky Powers' final decision came down to Michigan State and Michigan according to his mother. At the time, Scott was a Sophomore starting cornerback for the Cincinnati Bearcats and was trying to transfer to Michigan State. Due to a suspicion of tampering, Scott would only be allowed to transfer if Ricky chose Michigan. Powers' mother, Rosetta, claimed Ricky had been leaning toward Michigan State prior to the determination regarding his brother. [35]

See also

Related Research Articles

Tyrone Anthony Wheatley Sr. is an American college football coach and former professional player who is the head football coach for Wayne State University, a position he has held since 2023. Previously, he served as the running backs coach of the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played as a running back for 10 seasons in the NFL.

Tshimanga "Tim" Biakabutuka is a former American football running back. He played college football at the University of Michigan from 1993 to 1995, and was drafted with the eight overall pick in the 1996 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He holds the Michigan Wolverines single-season rushing record with 1,818 rushing yards in 1995. He is also distinguished as being the first Zairian to play in the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonio Pittman</span> American football player (born 1985)

Antonio Pittman is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. After his football career, he became a firefighter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akron Zips football</span> Football team of the University of Akron

The Akron Zips football team is a college football program representing the University of Akron in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Akron plays its home games on InfoCision Stadium on the campus of the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. The Zips compete in the Mid-American Conference as a member of the East Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thom Darden</span> American football player (born 1950)

Thomas Vincent Darden is an American former professional football player who was a safety and punt returner for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). The Ohio native is memorable for important plays in both the Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry and the Bengals–Browns rivalry.

Jonathan Stewart Vaughn is an American former professional football running back and return specialist who played in the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons from 1991 to 1994 with the Seattle Seahawks, the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs. In the 1992 season, his most productive, he led the Patriots in rushing and led the NFL in kickoff returns with 20 that averaged 28.2 yards apiece. Vaughn was the tenth NFL player to score four touchdowns on kickoff-returns and the second to score a kickoff-return touchdowns for three teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Grady</span> American football player (born 1986)

Kevin Lee Grady, Jr. is a former American football running back. He completed his athletic eligibility for the Michigan Wolverines football team during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. He began his Michigan career as a tailback, but was converted to fullback. He has also played for the Chicago Slaughter of the Indoor Football League.

Marquise Walker is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and punt returner who signed to play in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, setting many of the school's receiving records and becoming an All-American in 2001, when he led the Big Ten Conference in receptions. In 2004, Braylon Edwards surpassed most of his school records. In high school, Walker set several important New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) football records for receptions and reception yardage. All of these records have since been broken. Walker is remembered for a pair of spectacular one-handed catches during the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season.

Mercury Wayne Hayes is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver, kickoff returner, and punt returner in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, and in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Montreal Alouettes. Prior to his professional football experience he was a University of Michigan Wolverines football star. He was selected with the 136th overall pick in the 5th round of the 1996 National Football League draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Pace (American football)</span> American football player (1936–1983)

James Edward Pace was an American professional football player who was a running back for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, earning first-team All-American honors playing halfback in 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon Bell (American football)</span> American football player (born 1953)

Gordon Granville Bell is an American former professional football player who was a running back, kickoff returner and punt returner who played for the Michigan Wolverines from 1973 to 1975, and professionally for the New York Giants (1976-1977) and St. Louis Cardinals (1978) of the National Football League (NFL).

Clarence Williams is a former professional American football running back who played for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He led the 1996 Michigan Wolverines football team in rushing and was a member of the undefeated national champion 1997 Michigan Wolverines football team.

Steven Craig Morrison is a retired professional American football linebacker who played for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL) from 1995 to 1998. He is currently the associate head coach/linebackers coach at Bowling Green Falcons football. He previously served as the linebackers coach for the Eastern Michigan Eagles football team, on the coaching staff at Western Michigan, and as the linebackers coach at Syracuse Orange football. Prior to these professional experiences, he had excelled in college football as an All-Big Ten Conference inside linebacker from 1990 to 1994 for the Michigan Wolverines, whom he served as captain. In high school, he had been a Detroit Free Press first-team All-State (Michigan) and second-team All-Midwest selection in football and an All-American in lacrosse.

Tony Boles is an American former professional football player who was a running back and kick returner who was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). After starring in college football for the Michigan Wolverines, where he once led the Big Ten Conference in rushing, he went on to a scandal ridden life. His college football career was ended prematurely due to a knee injury. He has been sentenced to prison multiple times and placed in homes for addicts due to cocaine abuse.

Harlan Charles Huckleby is a former professional American football running back and kick returner who was drafted by the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). Over the course of his NFL career he accumulated nearly 2500 all-purpose yards, with over half of that being return yards. He had played for three Michigan Wolverines football Big Ten Conference Champions. He also was a member of the Michigan Wolverines track team for one season where he became a Big Ten Champion and All-American as a member of the 4x400m relay race team. He had also been a four-time Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) state champion in track and field. He played high school football at Cass Technical High School, graduating in 1975.

Thomas Wilcher is a college football administrator for Michigan State University and former high school athletic coach and teacher as well as a former National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I track and field and college football athlete for the University of Michigan. He was the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships national champion in the indoor 55 m hurdles and a three-time NCAA All-American in track and field. Wilcher was also a running back for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 1983–1986. In his redshirt senior year, he was a member of the Big Ten Conference football champion team as well as a 110 m hurdles Big Ten individual champion. Wilcher was a 9th round selection by the San Diego Chargers in the 1987 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1991 Michigan Wolverines football team</span> American college football season

The 1991 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head coach was Gary Moeller. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium. The team was undefeated in the Big Ten Conference and was led by Heisman Trophy-winner Desmond Howard, Butkus Award-winner Erick Anderson and national statistical champion Elvis Grbac. The team won the fourth of five consecutive Big Ten championships. The team lost to split national champion Washington Huskies in the 1992 Rose Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoltán Meskó (American football)</span> American football player (born 1986)

Zoltán Meskó is a Romanian former professional player of American football who was a punter in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines. Born in Romania, Meskó emigrated with his family to the United States and eventually settled in Ohio. There he was discovered as a potential kicker for his school's football team, the Twinsburg Tigers, and became one of the best high school football kickers in the nation, excelling as both a punter and placekicker. After earning top honors in his state, Meskó was recruited by several college football teams. He selected Michigan over several schools including Indiana, Ohio State, and USC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990 Michigan Wolverines football team</span> American college football season

The 1990 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head coach was Gary Moeller. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium. The team won the third of five consecutive Big Ten championships. They were co-champions with Michigan State, Iowa and Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Shaw (American football)</span> American football player (born 1989)

Michael Shaw is a former American football running back. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by Washington Redskins in 2012. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines football team.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 King, Steve (May 31, 2007). "Ex-Brown Powers hired at Buchtel". Cleveland Browns. Archived from the original on July 11, 2007. Retrieved October 16, 2007.
  2. ↑ Paulk, Ralph (December 7, 1987). "Flossie Named Top Summit Coach". Akron Beacon Journal . Newsbank . Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  3. ↑ Paulk, Ralph (August 30, 1988). "Buchtel Is Among League's Powers". Akron Beacon Journal . Newsbank . Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 Paulk, Ralph (August 30, 1988). "Buchtel's Powers BJ Player of Year". Akron Beacon Journal . Newsbank . Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  5. 1 2 Paulk, Ralph (December 10, 1989). "Buchtel's Powers First Repeat Choice". Akron Beacon Journal . Newsbank . Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  6. ↑ "Buchtel Pair Honored Area Puts 5 on Div. II All-Ohio". Akron Beacon Journal . Newsbank. December 2, 1988. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  7. ↑ "The best across the USA;Ohio". USA Today . Newsbank. December 22, 1988. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Nation's Top 100 Seniors". Chicago Sun-Times . Newsbank. August 13, 1989. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Five Chicago players rank as All-Midwest". Chicago Sun-Times . Newsbank. August 13, 1989. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Best of the Preps". The Times-Picayune . Newsbank. September 3, 1989. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  11. ↑ "High School Football Across The USA;Ohio". USA Today . Newsbank. August 29, 1989. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  12. ↑ Paulk, Ralph (November 24, 1989). "As Usual, Ellet Tops Buchtel Gains Share of city Title". Akron Beacon Journal . Newsbank . Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  13. ↑ Hallman, Charley (December 24, 1989). "College Recruiters Agog Over State, National Talent//It's Banner U.S. Year For Runners". St. Paul Pioneer Press . Newsbank . Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  14. ↑ Kornacki, Steve (January 20, 1990). "Power and Speed The Calling Card". Detroit Free Press . Newsbank . Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  15. ↑ "USA Today's 1989 High School All-USA Football Team; First Team". USA Today . Newsbank. December 10, 1989. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  16. ↑ Bohls, Kirk and Reggie Roberts (February 5, 1990). "TEXAS LAGGING IN RECRUIT PURSUIT? - 6 All-Americans say Longhorns fall short in showing much interest". Austin American-Statesman . Newsbank . Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  17. ↑ Bohls, Kirk and Reggie Roberts (January 21, 1990). "National". Austin American-Statesman . Newsbank . Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  18. ↑ Barnhart, Tony (January 21, 1990). "RB Smith heads nation's top 50 - No. 1 prospect likes USC, Ohio State; from Georgia, Hearst 8th, Hastings - 12th". The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution . Newsbank . Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  19. ↑ "Ricky Powers' Recreational Football Clinic". Archived from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved October 27, 2007.
  20. ↑ "Bentley Historical Library -- -- U of M Football Rosters". The Regents of the University of Michigan. August 25, 2003. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved November 4, 2007.
  21. ↑ "1990 Football Team". The Regents of the University of Michigan. March 31, 2007. Retrieved October 15, 2007.
  22. 1 2 3 "M Go Blue - University of Michigan Athletics Official Site". Regents of the University of Michigan. Archived from the original on November 12, 2007. Retrieved October 16, 2007.
  23. 1 2 Spath, Michael (July 12, 2007). "Top 5 freshman impacts of the last 20 years". STATS LLC. Retrieved October 15, 2007.
  24. ↑ "1991 Football Team". The Regents of the University of Michigan. April 9, 2007. Retrieved October 15, 2007.
  25. ↑ "1991 Football Team". The Regents of the University of Michigan. March 31, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
  26. ↑ "University of Michigan Football NFL Draft History:1990s". Regents of the University of Michigan. Archived from the original on December 27, 2007. Retrieved October 18, 2007.
  27. ↑ "University of Michigan Football Co-Captain". The Regents of the University of Michigan. February 18, 2007. Retrieved October 15, 2007.
  28. ↑ "Michigan's Bowl History" (PDF). University of Michigan & Host Interactive. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 30, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
  29. ↑ "Ricky Powers". databaseSports.com. Archived from the original on February 16, 2007. Retrieved October 15, 2007.
  30. ↑ "Ricky Powers signs with SFL Matadors". Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio. April 28, 2000. p. 27. Retrieved January 30, 2019– via newspapers.com.
  31. ↑ "2007 Football Regional: Breakdowns and Assignments". The Ohio High School Athletic Association. Retrieved November 16, 2007.
  32. ↑ Fortuna, Bob (October 29, 2007). "Road to state finals carries 192 dreams". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Cleveland Live, Inc. Archived from the original on November 6, 2007. Retrieved November 16, 2007.
  33. ↑ "OHIO HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION News Release" (PDF). October 28, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 23, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2007.
  34. ↑ Paulk, Ralph (December 13, 1987). "Area's Talent Pool Overflows Ravenna Back Jones Heads Football All-Stars". Akron Beacon Journal . Newsbank . Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  35. ↑ Kornacki, Steve (February 10, 1990). "Powers Waits As Brother Struggles To Transfer". Detroit Free Press . Newsbank . Retrieved December 15, 2008.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.