A former Clemson wide receiver has landed with this NFL team.
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Tuesday they have signed former Tiger wideout Cornell Powell to their practice squad.
Powell previously signed with the Houston Texans on Aug. 19 before being waived on Aug. 26 as part of final roster cuts.
Powell now joins the Steelers after playing with the United Football League’s DC Defenders earlier this year. He recorded 29 receptions during the regular season and ranked eighth in the UFL with 418 receiving yards, while he was first in the league with seven touchdown receptions. The 6-foot, 204-pounder added two receptions for 83 receiving yards across two postseason games for the Defenders, helping them win the 2025 UFL Championship.
Prior to signing with the Defenders back in March, Powell was signed to a reserve/future contract by the Seattle Seahawks in January before being waived by the Seahawks in February.
Powell finished the 2024 season on Seattle’s practice squad after he was released from the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad last November. His most recent playing time in the NFL regular season came during the 2022 campaign, when he played 31 snaps for the Chiefs over three games, including three snaps on offense and 28 on special teams.
Powell was selected by Kansas City in the fifth round (181st overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft and earned a pair of Super Bowl championship rings during his time with the Chiefs.
Prior to entering the NFL, Powell was a part of Clemson teams that earned five ACC titles, five College Football Playoff berths, three national title game berths and two national championships from 2016-20. He emerged as a fifth-year senior and had a career year in 2020, when he was a third-team All-ACC selection. After entering that season with 40 career receptions for 329 yards and three touchdowns, Powell finished his career with 93 receptions for 1,211 yards and 10 touchdown catches over 54 career games (12 starts).