Miami football adds highly ranked, versatile Washington DB Mishael Powell

The Miami football program added versatile Washington defensive back Mishael Powell late Wednesday night. Powell provides Miami with needed depth and experience in the secondary for 2024. Powell will likely primarily play safety for Miami. Miami previously added safeties Savion Riley and Isaiah Taylor as transfers.

Powell is the fourth-ranked safety in the 2024 On3 comprehensive transfer rankings. The 247 Sports Composite rankings list Powell as the 191st cornerback and 29th player in Washington out of Seattle O'Dea in the 2019 class. Powell redshirted as a true freshman and did not play during the 2020 season.

In 2021 Powell played in all 12 Washington games with 11 tackles, three passes defended and one forced fumble. As a late bloomer, Powell played nine games in 2022 with eight starts recording 43 tackles and 1.5 TFLs. Powell had 38 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, three interceptions and nine PBUs in 2023.

Powell finished his tenure at Washington with 92 tackles, four TFLs, three interceptions, 12 PBUs and one forced fumble. Gaby Urrutia of Inside the U via Pro Football Focus reported that Powell played 477 snaps in the slot, 165 in the box and 122 at free safety in 2023 with a 73.9 coverage grade.

Powell had his best game with five tackles three times in 2023. An 89-yard interception return for a touchdown by Powell in the fourth quarter at Arizona State put Washington in front to stay 12-7 in a critical win in Tempe. Powell also had three tackles and a pass breakup versus the Sun Devils.

Powell earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week after his performance at Arizona State. Powell is the ninth 2024 Miami transfer addition. Seven of the transfers are on defense. Riley, who transferred from Vanderbilt, is expected to compete to be a starter. Taylor transferred to Miami from Arizona and adds depth.