Feature Spotlight: Antwaun Powell-Ryland

BLACKSBURG – Through ten football games this season, one undeniable truth stands out: Antwaun Powell-Ryland is a force to be reckoned with. 

The defensive lineman, who is tied for first in the nation with 13 sacks, has been instilling fear in opposing offensive linemen since the season began in late August. His 37 total tackles, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries against opponents this fall speak volumes about the firepower Powell-Ryland brings to the Tech defense.  

Expectations were sky-high for the redshirt senior in his second year with the Hokies. After landing in Blacksburg from a 9-day stint in the transfer portal a year ago, head coach Brent Pry saw what Powell-Ryland could bring to the defensive line in 2023. 14.5 tackles for loss, 40 tackles, a conference second-best 9.5 sacks and an All-ACC Second Team recognition later, Hokie fans knew they struck gold with the Portsmouth, Virginia native.  

Coming into this season, it wasn’t just Pry and defensive coordinator Chris Marve who knew Powell-Ryland was poised for a special year. After earning a spot on ESPN’s CFB Top 100 players for the 2024 season, On3’s Top 100 Players in College Football and the Bednarik Award watch list before game action even started, it was evident that the hype extended wide beyond Blacksburg.  

“He’s been everything we thought he was when we brought him home,” said defensive line coach J.C. Price. When asked about his growing sack total on Oct. 23, Price kept it simple: “He’s a playmaker. That’s what he does.” 

Purely looking at the stat sheet doesn’t tell the full story of APR’s success this season. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 252 pounds, the redshirt senior retains power and strength that truly makes him the mayor of Sacksburg. Powell-Ryland's twitchy speed off the line combined with an innate ability to read offenses makes stopping him a formidable task.  

If APR’s growing list of accolades, watch list nods and award recognitions failed to turn heads, his performance against Old Dominion put the country on notice. With Virginia Tech sports hall of fame defensive end Bruce Smith in attendance, APR produced seven tackles, two forced fumbles and a staggering four sacks over 57 snaps at defensive end. The performance was Powell-Ryland's second career game with four sacks, but the stat was short-lived after another four-sack game against Boston College on Oct. 17.

After the 42-21 win over Boston College, head coach Brent Pry was asked about his defensive lineman’s 11 sacks, a total that led all of college football. 

“No, I’m not surprised,” said Pry during his weekly press conference. “His skillset, the way he works at his craft, the emphasis we put on it...he’s done a tremendous job. It goes along with the caliber of defense we need to play, year in and year out, at Virginia Tech.”  

The new semifinalist for both the Bednarik Award and Lombardi Award will look to continue his domination against Duke on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. ET. The Blue Devils offensive line, which lost all its 2023 starters entering this season, underwent massive personnel changes and fans should look for Powell-Ryland to take advantage.  

The Hokies will play their final home game against Virginia in the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash on Saturday, Nov. 30. The game, which has not been hosted in Blacksburg in full capacity since 2018, is the sixth home sellout this season. Fans interested in securing tickets can visit SeatGeek, the official fan-to-fan marketplace of Virginia Tech Athletics.