Hokie ClubGREEN BAY, Wis. — Defensive lineman Antwaun Powell-Ryland has been drafted the No. 209 overall pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 6th round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Powell-Ryland's journey to the NFL first started at the University of Florida. As a Gator, the Portsmouth, Virginia native would see supplemental action over three seasons, his most successful being a 2022 campaign that featured five starts. His 3 sacks for 16 yards would rank third highest among defensive players in his redshirt sophomore year.
It wasn’t until Powell-Ryland moved back home to Virginia that he saw both his production and role on the defense grow tremendously. In 12 starts over the 2023 season, the first-year Hokie would post 40 tackles (23 solo) alongside a conference second-best 9.5 sacks. His 24.5 tackles for loss ranked in the top 25 across the country, enough to earn him All-ACC Second Team recognition at the season’s close.
2024 was no different for the 6-foot-3, 252-pound Powell-Ryland. His 16 sacks, including two four-sack contests (Old Dominion, Boston College) in just over a month’s time, would rank third nationally. Arguably his most dominant season, 2024 saw Powell-Ryland walk away as the winner of the Dudley Award, which recognized the top FBS player in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It was the first time since 2011 that a Hokie claimed the honor.
As an Eagle, it’s expected that APR will make an immediate impact. Joining Jalen Carter and Moro Ojomo in the trenches, the Virginia native is poised to be an integral part of a defense that was second in the league for points allowed to opposing offenses last season.
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