June 16, 2017
By Clara Frances McClure
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - The past four years have flown by for long snapper Ike Powell, who has made a major impact on Auburn's special teams.
A senior from Tifton, Ga., majoring in exercise science, Powell is excited about the upcoming football season. As he looks back, Powell recalls his initial draw to Auburn University.
"Auburn recruited me harder than anybody else in the nation; out of the six schools I had offers from, Auburn recruited me the hardest," Powell said. "I felt like they wanted me the most. Obviously, it's the SEC and a great football program. I knew anywhere I'd go, I'd get a great degree, but at Auburn, that just really separated it."
As he reflects on his Auburn career, the senior gives insight into the close relationships and connections he has made during his time here.
"Most of my friends here are my teammates," he said. "I have a couple friends outside of football, but most of my friend group is inside the football team -- guys that are going be in my wedding, guys I'm going to talk to till the day I die."
In addition to his teammates, Powell expresses his love and appreciation for the Auburn Family. "Individually everybody knows who we are," Powell said. "Everybody out in the community is saying "Hi" because they know who we are, and they have our back wherever we go. Everybody's always showing a bunch of support."
Powell says his time at Auburn has helped him mature, and where he found out who he was and what he will do later in life. Powell hopes to begin training for the NFL as soon as he graduates in December. As he begins his final season in a Tiger uniform, Powell offers some words of wisdom for incoming freshmen.
"Soak this in as much and as long as you can, because four years go by fast," Powell said. "You wouldn't believe how fast it goes by. Just listen to everything your coaches tell you to do, work your hardest, and it'll take you far."
Clara Frances McClure was a student assistant in Auburn Athletics Communications during the spring semester.