Drew Powell (born September 26, 1993) is an American professional indoor football quarterback for the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He played college football for Livingstone College.

Early life Powell was born on September 26, 1993, in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. He went to high school at Wakefield High School in Arlington County, Virginia. In his senior season, he passed for 1,867 yards, rushed for 676, and had 39 return yards. He also had nine receiving touchdowns. He was named the 2011 Sun Gazette's Offensive Player of the Year. On February 2, 2012, Powell committed to Virginia State University. Powell then de-committed from VSU and committed to Livingstone College.

College career 2012 season Powell immediately earned the starting job in his first season at Livingstone. He then passed for 343 yards in his first game and had four passing touchdowns. In 2012, Powell went 197-of-349 passing for 2,322 yards with 18 touchdowns. After the season, he was named Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Offensive Rookie of the Year while also making the CIAA All-Rookie Team.

2013 season In his sophomore season in 2013, Powell went 180-for-334 for 2,129 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

2014 season In their first game in 2014, Powell passed for 256 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also added 21 rushing attempts for 75 yards and a touchdown. He was then named Week 1 CIAA Quarterback Player of the Week. In their game against Paine College, Powell ran for 92 yards and had five total touchdowns. On September 17, Powell was named CIAA Quarterback of the Week again. Against Bowie State University, Powell had 329 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and 94 rushing yards. For the third week in a row, Powell was named CIAA Quarterback of the Week. Powell finished the season 184-of-333 passing for 2,419 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions, as well as 784 rushing yards, and six rushing touchdowns. On November 14, Powell was named to the All-CIAA First Team.

2015 season In 2015, Powell went into his last season at Livingstone. On October 31, Powell threw for 364 yards and four total touchdowns. He was named conference Quarterback of the Week for his performance. Powell finished the season with 184 completions on 315 attempts, 2,166 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, as well as 155 rushing attempts, 614 rushing yards, and eight rushing touchdowns. On November 11, Powell was named CIAA Offensive Player of the Year and All-CIAA First Team. Powell played in the 2015 Euro-American Challenge, earning himself the game's MVP in the process. He was also given an honorable mention as a Boxtorow HBCU All-American.

Professional career Sydney Express In 2016, Powell signed his first professional contract with the Sydney Express of the National Gridiron League (NGL) in Australia.Staff (August 1, 2016). "Wakefield High graduate to play pro football in Australia". InsideNoVa.com.

Sioux Falls Storm On January 8, 2017, Powell was signed by the Sioux Falls Storm of the Indoor Football League (IFL).beepbeep™ (January 8, 2017). "The Sioux Falls Storm sign rookie QB Drew Powell (Livingstone)". Powell did not just play as a quarterback, but as well as running back, wide receiver, defensive back, and return specialist. Powell appeared in seven games for the Storm totaling two completions for 25 yards, six rushing attempts for six yards, a rushing touchdown, six receptions for 83 yards, and three receiving touchdowns. Powell was then released.NBC Nebraska Sports (June 21, 2017). "Drew Powell: The new face of the Nebraska Danger". ksnblocal4.com.

Nebraska Danger On May 24, 2017, Powell signed with the Nebraska Danger.

In his first career professional start, Powell completed nine passes on 16 attempts for 142 yards and two touchdowns as well as 81 rushing yards and an additional touchdown on the ground.Braswell, Scott (May 28, 2017). "Danger can't overcome mistakes in 43–33 loss to Arizona". nebraska.tv. Powell's breakout game came in Week 16 when he went 16-for-25 for 145 yards, and a touchdown while having 102 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns against the Cedar Rapids Titans.Douglas, Miles (June 3, 2017). "Xzavie Jackson, Nebraska Danger rally past Cedar Rapids Titans in overtime". TheGazette.com. Powell was awarded his first-ever IFL Offensive Player of the Week Award for his efforts.Braswell, Scott (June 7, 2017). "Danger QB Drew Powell ready to face old team, Sioux Falls". nebraska.tv. Powell ended the season on a high note, being awarded Week 18 Offensive Player of the Week for tying a franchise record of five rushing touchdowns.Hamar, Bob (June 17, 2017). "Powell has big day in Danger victory". theindependent.com. With a win in the season finale, the Danger qualified for the Intense Conference Championship game with a 9–7 record. Powell ended the season with Nebraska having 54 completions on 81 attempts for 564 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions as well as 49 rushing attempts for 334 yards and 13 touchdowns.

In the Conference Championship, Powell finished 14-for-22 for 129 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions while rushing for an additional touchdown. Despite this performance, the Danger lost to the Arizona Rattlers, 36–62.Littler, Ed (June 24, 2017). "Nebraska Danger falls to Arizona in IFL playoffs". ksnblocal4.com.

Iowa Barnstormers On October 8, 2017, Powell signed with the Iowa Barnstormers of the Indoor Football League (IFL).Braswell, Scott (October 8, 2017). "Drew Powell signs with Iowa Barnstormers". Nebraska.tv. Powell made his Barnstormers debut on February 25, 2018, against the Green Bay Blizzard. He had 20 completions on 26 attempts for 208 yards, four touchdowns, and 48 rushing yards. He would be awarded the IFL Offensive Player of the Week Award for his efforts.

Saskatchewan Roughriders On April 24, 2018, the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) signed Powell to their mini-camp roster. On April 26, Powell was released.

Iowa Barnstormers (II) Returning to the Barnstormers on May 5, Powell rushed for his first 100-yard rushing performance against the Sioux Falls Storm. On June 2, Powell rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns, earning his second Offensive Player of the Week Award of the season. On June 8, Powell went 17-for-19, 166 yards, and five passing touchdowns, earning his second straight Offensive Player of the Week Award. He finished the 2018 season leading the league in completion percentage (68.1), rushing attempts (191), rushing yards (945), and rushing touchdowns (23). His 945 rushing yards were second-best and the most by any quarterback in league history. Powell won his first IFL Most Valuable Player Award and was a First-Team All-IFL selection.

In the first round of the playoffs, Powell threw for 111 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 48 yards and three touchdowns. The Barnstormers would defeat the Nebraska Danger, 48–17. They played the Storm in the 2018 United Bowl. Powell passed for 178 yards and four touchdowns, rushing for 48 yards, and a touchdown. Powell led the Barnstormers to a 42–38 victory and their first United Bowl victory.

Saskatchewan Roughriders (II) On October 2, 2018, Saskatchewan signed Powell to their practice squad following the end of the 2018 IFL season, but he was again released on October 25.

Atlantic City Blackjacks Before the 2019 AFL season, Powell was announced as one of the eight players assigned to the Atlantic City Blackjacks. Despite being added to the active roster, Powell did not play a single game in the Arena Football League (AFL). On April 19, 2019, Powell was placed on a recallable reassignment but was never reassigned to the team's active roster.

Arizona Rattlers 2019 season On April 24, 2019, Powell signed with the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League (IFL). Despite being signed midway through the season, Powell was an instant starting caliber quarterback for the Rattlers.

In his Rattlers debut, Powell took over for Arizona's starting quarterback, Jeff Ziemba, in the second quarter against the Nebraska Danger. Powell finished the game 8-for-10 for 96 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, one interception, 63 rushing yards, and three rushing touchdowns. He earned the starting job in the Rattlers' next game against the San Diego Strike Force, where he threw for 152 yards and four touchdowns as well as running for 104 yards and five rushing touchdowns, winning the game 84–63. In his third game against the Tucson Sugar Skulls, Powell went 13-for-15 on 180 passing yards and five passing touchdowns as well as two rushing touchdowns. In his next game, Powell was subbed out of the game in the third quarter in a 56–0 blowout of the Cedar Rapids River Kings. Powell finished the 2019 season with 62 completions on 84 attempts for 807 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also finished with 13 rushing touchdowns in only six games.

In the semi-finals, Powell went 12-for-16 passing with 110 yards and two interceptions. He also added 91 yards rushing and three touchdowns. They defeated his old team, the Nebraska Danger, 62–45. In the 2019 United Bowl, Powell had 166 yards passing, two passing touchdowns, 27 rushing yards, and a rushing touchdown. The Rattlers would fall short of their championship run after the game ended in a 56–53 loss.

2021 season Powell rejoined the Rattlers for the 2021 IFL season after sitting out during the 2020 lockout season.

In the first game of the season, Powell led the Rattlers to a victory over the newest IFL team, the Northern Arizona Wranglers, 51–20. He went 8-for-9 for 90 yards and a touchdown. In Week 7, Powell earned his first Offensive Player of the Week Award of the season when he passed for 173 yards, five touchdowns, and an interception. On July 31, Powell set a career-high for rushing touchdowns in a season with 24, passing the mark of 23 that he set in 2018. On July 31, Powell broke the Rattlers' single-season rushing touchdowns record when he recorded five rushing touchdowns against the Duke City Gladiators. On August 13, Powell broke the Rattlers' single-season rushing record of 773 yards with his 59-yard performance bringing his total to 815 yards.

Powell finished the season leading the league in completion percentage (69.4), rushing attempts (137), rushing yards (902), and rushing touchdowns (35). His 35 rushing touchdowns broke the league record. Powell was awarded Second Team All-IFL honors as well as his second IFL Most Valuable Player Award.

In the first round of the playoffs, Powell threw for 170 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for two more touchdowns. He helped the Rattlers defeat the Sioux Falls Storm, 69–42. In the semi-finals, Powell had a touchdown and an interception passing while rushing for 98 yards and three touchdowns. They defeated the Duke City Gladiators, 58–55. The Rattlers faced the Massachusetts Pirates in the 2021 United Bowl. In the game, Powell had 136 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and two interceptions as well as running for 70 yards and three touchdowns. Powell would watch the last play from the sidelines as Pirates' kicker, Garrett Hartley, made a 31-yard field goal to win the game, 37–34.

2022 season Needs 2022 season

Edmonton Elks On August 23, 2022, Powell signed as an American to the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).Swane, Brian (August 23, 2022). "TRANSACTIONS | ELKS SIGN MARSHALL AND POWELL". goelks.com. Powell was then released on September 1.

Arizona Rattlers (II) After his second stint in the CFL, Powell signed on to play with the Arizona Rattlers for the 2023 IFL season.Siamon, Ben / Duenas, Brandon. "SEASON PREVIEW: RATTLERS TRAVEL TO QUAD CITY FOR SEASON OPENER". azrattlers.com.