Prior to the season, ESPN released their Top 100 college football players for the 2024 season and there was one name missing from it, Virginia Tech edge Antwaun Powell-Ryland. As it turns out, the senior opened a ton of eyes during the season.
He opened so many eyes that he raised his draft stock after having a tremendous season in Blacksburg. He also caught the eye of Chip Hale of ESPN who ranked the former Hokie No. 44 in "Ranking the top 100 college football players of the 2024-25 season.'' Jumping into the final ranking inside the top 50 is a testament to Powell-Ryland's season.
"Powell-Ryland finished just a half-sack shy of Donovan Ezeiruaku's Power 4 lead, but when he was on his game, there might not have been a better pass rusher in the country. Powell-Ryland had three different games with at least three sacks each -- vs. Old Dominion, Boston College, and Virginia -- something no power conference defender had done since Missouri's Michael Sam in 2013. Powell-Ryland's 15.1% pressure rate ranked in the top 10 among Power 4 defenders, and he added three forced fumbles and a blocked punt for good measure."
The numbers that Powell-Ryland put up this season speak for themselves. He had two four-sack games against Old Dominion in September and Boston College in October. He was overshadowed by Ezeiruaku in the ACC and nationally, but he was a valuable piece of the Hokies' defensive line.
No matter what teams tried this season, they had trouble with Powell-Ryland. When they double-teamed him, that opened things up for Aeneas Peebles and others to get after the quarterback. His two seasons in Blacksburg were big as he solidified the defensive line for Brent Pry and now will look to impress this week in the East/West Shrine Bowl ahead of April's draft.