Louisville football: The 50 greatest Cardinals of all time
“The Face” of Louisville football in 2010, Bilal Powell was the player that helped bridge the gap for Charlie Strong, while transitioning from the Steve Kragthorpe era.
Though he had three years probably not worthy of a top 50 all-time ranking under Kragthorpe from 2007 to 2009, Powell’s 2010 season remains one of the best from a running back in Louisville football history.
Upon Strong’s arrival, he knew he had a special talent in Powell. Strong recalled watching him in high school as a defensive coordinator at Florida and being quite impressed with his game. Strong reportedly had a discussion with Powell about his excellent potential. Together, they worked to get his game back to where it was before he arrived on campus at U of L.
The results were staggering. Powell’s play was a huge reason Louisville, who was at a low point under Kragthrope, was able to make a bowl game in Strong’s first year leading the program.
In Powell’s final season as a Cardinal, he racked up 1,563 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns en route to one of the best breakout seasons and one of the more surprising outcomes for a Louisville football season.
Powell’s incredible balance and power from his lower body, combined with his breakaway speed, made him a true every-down back that was a real problem for opposing defenses. One of Powell’s most memorable plays came on a run against Cincinnati in 2010 where he spun out of a number of tackles and burst down the sideline for a 75-yard touchdown.
His senior season was so incredible that it ranks No. 4 in Louisville football history in regards to total rushing yards in a game. And he didn’t even gain a yard in the Cards’ second to last game of the season, a road loss to West Virginia in which he sat out after the first drive due to a stomach bug.
In an era where Louisville football was in need of a jolt of energy, Powell was “The Face” that made the program cool again. After his college playing days, Powell was selected in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL draft by the New York Jets, where he has played for the entirety of his professional career.
In seven seasons with the Jets, Powell has racked up over 5,000 yards of total offense and accounted for 20 touchdowns. Powell is the longest-tenured player on the roster and currently ranks sixth in franchise history in yards per rushing attempt.