Film Don't Lie | Ronnie Powlus
This is a surprise and not one anyone was expecting, but there could be a quarterback crunch in the future at Notre Dame so adding another player is a smart move. I’m sure no one thought that player was going to be Ron Powlus.
The Irish just landed a useful piece to their roster who can help them in different ways over the next few years.
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 225
Projected Position: Quarterback
ISD Grade: 81 (3-star)
National Average Grade: 78 (2-star)
What he does best:
Why is a Division I quarterback? It starts with him being a natural thrower. This isn’t surprising given who his father is, but he’s sound mechanically and has a plus arm. He can fit the ball into tight windows over the middle of the field.
He looks very comfortable in the pocket and his movement is efficient. He does a nice job of staying balanced. He can throw with anticipation and put the ball on a receiver.
Powlus can throw the fade with touch and does a solid job with the deep ball.
He also shows a quick release and reacts well with pressure in his face.
What he needs to improve:
He makes some nice throws hitting receivers in stride, but there’s also some times when his ball placement can be better. That’s something every quarterback is constantly trying to perfect.
He’s not a dual-threat at all. He’s strictly a pocket guy and does not move particularly well. Powlus will never be fast, but it would help his cause a lot if he can put in the time with strength and conditioning to make himself more of an option as a runner.
What’s his ceiling?
Powlus is a bit of a throwback as a pocket passer and his skill set is more suited to offenses that don’t utilize the quarterback run game. With the evolution of college football, that puts a bit of a limit on his ceiling and whether he can be a full-time starter in a Power 5 offense.
But he has an arm that can make every throw, he can run an offense, and he looks like someone who could step in on a 3rd down in a pressure situation and deliver the football where a team needed it.
He’ll probably run the scout team for a few years and give a good look to the defense in practice, but he has the potential to develop into a competent back up for the Irish as well.