Colts 2009 Third-Round Selection Plays With Same Style as
Kelvin Hayden, Polian Says
INDIANAPOLIS – Jerraud Powers said he never lost faith.
Powers, a cornerback from Auburn University, said shortly after he was selected in the NFL Draft by the Colts that he knew there were some who didn't believe he would be chosen early in the process.
He said he saw the mock drafts.
He read a bit of what the analysts had to say.
One publication had him as a sixth-seventh round selection.
Another had him in the fourth or fifth round.
But Powers said NFL teams were telling him third round, and that's what he believed.
"Some teams had me sneaking into the late, late second round, but if not, I had a feeling somebody would probably pick me up in the third round," Powers said.
How right he was.
Powers, a two-year starter for the Tigers who opted to forgo his final season of eligibility, joined a young, deep position when the Colts selected him with the No. 92 overall selection of the 2009 NFL Draft, the 28th selection of the third round.
And if Powers looks familiar to Colts fans, Colts President Bill Polian said there's a reason:
His style of play is similar to that of a current Colts corner:
Fifth-year veteran Kelvin Hayden.
"If you think, 'Same style of play as (Colts cornerback) Kelvin Hayden,' that's him,' Polian said, adding that Powers is a "tough, feisty, hard-nosed, a good cover guy."
Polian said Powers played both outside and in the slot at Auburn.
"He was pretty versatile and we felt very good about that pick," Polian said. "He's a 4.44(-second) in the 40(-yard dash), and we felt like we needed to upgrade the speed and coverage ability there. He has good ball skills, but he's a very feisty, roughhouse kind of player."
Powers (5-feet-10, 192 pounds) finished his career with six interceptions, playing in 36 games after red-shirting as a freshman, and said while he avoided watching the draft on television he quickly embraced his new organization.
"It was a blessing," said Powers, who golfed and bowled on the first day of the draft to take his mind off the process.
He said he was able to ignore the draft until early on the second day, when he finally texted his agent to find out how he thought things were going. About 10 minutes later, the Colts phoned.
"I thanked God after my name was called," Powers said "I went and told my mom, and she was already crying because she was watching (on TV). I didn't even watch it (the draft on TV). I was just waiting for the phone call because I didn't want to stress myself out.
"After everything settled down, I realized what a great organization this is and what a great team this is and what success it has had over the last eight to 10 years. It's a blessing."
Powers, like seven other Colts draft selections and 13 undrafted rookies, spent the first weekend of May at the Colts' 2009 rookie mini-camp. He said his first impression was that shared by many rookies interviewed during the mini-camp's first day – that the college phase of his football career was clearly over.
"It's all business," Powers said. "This is a job now. They're paying you to play this game. You have to take it from a business standpoint, and take it as work.
"That's the way they (coaches) expect us to take it."
And while Powers said that's when he knew it was a business, he started getting a feel for the Colts – and his new defensive backfield mates – shortly after the draft. And from the beginning, he liked what he heard.
"They're all great players," Powers said. "They have been in the league a while. Right after I got drafted, I called Marlin (Jackson), and he was giving me a run down. He was saying the same thing, just how blessed he is being a part of this organization.
"I can tell just talking to him it's a family-type atmosphere."
