From South Lake to the Statewide Conversation, a Receiver’s Rise Fueled by Production, Purpose, and Visibility
In a recruiting landscape driven by stars, rankings, and quick judgments, Keydrick Powell has taken a different route, one paved by production, consistency, and a growing belief that visibility can be built, not waited on.
Out of South Lake High School, Powell quietly put together one of the most impressive seasons by any wide receiver in the state. Over the course of his senior year, he hauled in more than 70 receptions for over 1,200 receiving yards, scored 11 touchdowns, and finished with 1,800+ all-purpose yards. When the lights got brighter in the postseason, he delivered three touchdowns and nearly 200 yards across three playoff games, helping South Lake reach the third round of the state playoffs.
Yet despite the numbers, Powell’s name wasn’t always accompanied by stars. That reality is exactly where the story shifts.
“When you look at the difference between a five-star kid and a no-star kid, a lot of times it’s exposure,” said Justin R. Felton, Sr., who represents Powell through Felton Athletic Management. “It’s marketing. It’s a media push. It’s who’s telling the story.”
Felton and his team stepped into that space intentionally. Rather than waiting on traditional recruiting pipelines to catch up, they leaned into cross-marketing, social storytelling, and a mini docu-series approach, documenting Powell’s journey in real time. The goal wasn’t hype it was access. Let coaches, programs, and decision-makers actually see the player behind the stat line.
The results followed.
Powell picked up scholarship offers from The Citadel, Southeastern University (SEU), Erskine College, Keiser University, St. Thomas University, and Warner University, with interest continuing to grow as his profile expanded. Along the way, he climbed to one of the top-ranked wide receivers in Florida, sitting near the top of his district and class validation that matched what the film had already been saying.
But beyond rankings and offers, those closest to Powell point to something more lasting.
“Any school that takes him is getting a jewel,” Felton said. “You’re getting a kid who’s humble, ready to work on day one, and still developing. That’s the scary part, there’s more there.”
Powell’s game reflects that outlook. He’s a physical receiver with strong hands, comfortable winning in traffic, and trusted in big moments. He plays fast for his size, embraces the details of the position, and brings a workmanlike approach that shows up snap after snap. Coaches don’t just see production; they see projection.
As he continues toward a college commitment, the strategy remains the same: keep building, keep telling the story, keep doors open until the right one is ready to close.
In an era where exposure often dictates opportunity, Keydrick Powell is proving that performance plus purpose can still cut through the noise and that sometimes, the most dangerous recruits are the ones who had to learn how to be seen.
