Reviewing Florida early enrollee Brandon Powell: Recruitment, highlights, impact

Brandon Powell made his commitment to Florida official by signing his National Letter of Intent and, like, walking it to the Gators' football offices on National Signing Day, probably. He's been on campus and been a Florida Gator for a while now.

In fact, he's been a Gator for a lot longer than he was a Florida recruit. Let's look at his highlights, and project his future impact for the Gators.

Recruitment

Powell, a Deerfield Beach native, was a Hurricane long before he was even being considered by the Gators. And, unlike with other new offensive commits, that didn't change when Florida hired Kurt Roper as its offensive coordinator. While Powell was in the process of getting to Miami as an early enrollee, Florida swooped in and offered him — Travaris Robinson taking point — and, days later, Powell committed to his "dream school."

Powell, an outstanding athlete that some compare to Miami's Duke Johnson, had offers from Miami, LSU, Nebraska, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, among others.

Highlights

Future Impact

Powell has the ability to become an playmaker right away in Florida's new spread offense under Roper. On tape, Powell shows incredible burst, and gets upfield in a hurry. Florida will most likely not redshirt Powell, given its ongoing search for a home run hitter at running back, and will probably try to use him in the backfield on swing passes or occasionally in the slot, in a role similar to the one Valdez Showers had in 2013.

Powell, who stands 5'9" and weighs 165 pounds, is listed as an athlete but will come to Gainesville as a running back, looking to add versatility to a backfield that struggled in 2013.