2012 NFL Draft: Penn State University Cornerback Chaz Powell

Chaz Powell is a physically gifted football player and cornerback from Penn State.  Powell is a one-year starter at cornerback after moving from wide receiver during his junior season. 

At the NFL combine, he measured in at 6’3/8” and 203 pounds.  Powell is the type of player that has the ability to surprise because he has a lot of physical tools and can help out everywhere.

He and I sat down to talk about football, what it was like at college and the upcoming NFL draft. 

I asked him about the position switch and what it was like going from wide receiver to defensive back.  He said, “It was basically just a blessing, I sat down and talk with Coach Paterno because I felt we needed some help over on defense as we were missing some key players.” Paterno said that he would give him a shot coming into spring ball to see what he could do.

He went further. “Playing wide receiver helped me over a corner but it was stressful at times and I asked a lot of questions.” He said he learned from the guys that were playing the position, that they helped him out the best way they could and it was great that he could showcase his talents.  He said he was versatile and that he would do anything the coaches asked him to do.

Everyone is curious about what the combine is like for the players.  I asked him what it was like for him.  He told me that it was different and he didn't expect the medical evaluation process to be so long.  He said, "Only playing the position for a year so far I've learned a lot and going into the combine it's all about competing,” and, "I felt good with everything I did even though I did drop one ball, but I bounced back from that and like I said it was just a blessing for me to be able to showcase my talents.”

We talked about playing college football and what it was like playing a place with such a storied tradition.  I asked him what his favorite moment was from his college career.  He said, “Playing in 110,000 people and getting coached by the best college coach of all time.”  He summed up what he enjoyed most about his college life with “my time with Coach Paterno.”

We talked a little more about Coach Joe Paterno.  He told me that “one of the guys that I really look up to is Coach Paterno, he shaped me into a man.”  He told me that Paterno preached to them not so much about football but about being good in the classroom, being respectful and always being on time.  He said that Paterno taught them to be humble in anything that they do but to work hard in everything that they do.

I asked him what he thought were the things he did well on the football field.  He said, “I'm willing to do whatever it takes to win and I love special teams.”  He also told me that he would play any position a team asked him to play.

He talked about having to figure some things out on the fly as far as playing defensive back so I asked him what he meant.  He said, “I'm the type of player that if you ask me to do something and I don't know what to do I'm going to find a way to do it.”  He also mentioned his abilities to find ways to win and find ways to compete against the best players on the field.

We talked about the NFL him what he thought he could offer as a player.  He talked about as a player that was going to be very dedicated and a guy that's going to be very respectful. 

“I'm a kid who stays out of trouble and I'm going to give you 110 percent in anything that I do,” he said. He added that he would give others the type of respect that he would want in any scenario he found himself in.  Powell is going to work hard at everything he does.

When I pressed him about what kind of a player he was and I asked for a comparison, he said that everyone was different in their own way, but he was the type of person that would give 110 percent no matter where he played, and he was going to work hard to play to the best of his abilities.

We talked about what it would take to be a cornerback at the next level.  He said that his attributes were that he was big, strong and fast and that, “I'm going to go out there and do my best and compete to win each and every time I step onto that field.”

Chaz Powell is interesting player as a one-year cornerback.  He has really good size and can run as evidenced by his 4.5 40-yard dash at the combine.  Whether it's at wide receiver, cornerback or on special teams, I get the feeling that he can help a team. 

Scott Bischoff is a Contributor for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand or from official interview materials.