Austin Powell #77 |
Two of the top lineman in the Pacific Northwest play for the same team and they have combined to dominate people up front for awhile now. Both Austin Powell (6-4 255 Jr OL/DL) and Bryon Bodon (6-4 265 Jr OL/DL) of Crescent Valley are legit D1 prospects that just ran into a few of life’s obstacles this past season.
CV caught the injury bug earlier in the year with the #1 ranked recruit from the 2014 class , Tanner Sanders (6-5 195 So. ATH), going down with an injury. This was followed by Bodon’s season ending arm injury. Just like that the #5 Raiders were without two of the State’s top players.
When it rains it poors, and we saw that happen with Powell catching the injury bug for part of the season and QB/S Chad Cochran getting injured as well. It turned out to be a tough season with CV finishing a respectable (5-5) but far from what they wanted.
The thing that didn’t change is Powell and Bodon’s stock. Both are 6-4 and can move and will wear opponents down by simply over powering them. Bodon looks like a bouncer and carries that mentality wherever he goes. He has natural strength and takes his football very seriously, “The injury was tough to deal with, but Ive been in the weight room working on my legs and looking forward to getting healthy”, Bodon Said.
Powell echoed his sentiments and says, “Tanner Sanders and I have always talked about the potential of our team going in to my senior year, and all the injuries have made us realize that the time is short and just around the corner”. Austin is a contender to win a state wrestling title currently ranked 4th in his class for Oregon. His overall athletic ability is what sets him apart from other lineman as you will see unexpected coordination from a big man on the basketball court. Colleges love to see a kid who’s not going to trip on his own two feet, and Powell feels confident about what he could do on the field. With Bodon out for the year schools were able to double team Austin and run away from him time and time again.
Bryon Bodon #58 |
It was a tough season to garner a bunch of accolades with all of the injuries so that will have to wait, but the potential for both athletes is ridiculous. They have received a variety of D1 letters with Powell earning an invite to the Army All American combine in San Antonio. They are considered the top 2 junior lineman in Oregon at the 5a level.
Both Powell and Bodon have MVP’d relevant combines this past off season, and we look forward to seeing them on the NEI/ Barton tour coming up in the Spring. Oregon will have one of the best O line classes in recent memory and we will be filming all the battles at each city that we are at. Coach Scott Sanders runs one of the classiest programs in the state, and they should be considered legit 5a contenders coming in to the 2012 season. We look forward to following the two Raider big men and wish them health and success moving forward.
