Princeton football fans will appreciate it Will Powers. They are rooted. Will Powers. They just don’t want to see. Will Powers Play often.
Don’t worry, he understands.
Powers is a two-time All-Ivy League linebacker for the undefeated and nationally ranked Princeton Tigers. He is averaging four plays per game this season, or about one play after several hours of practice each week. But what he does on those few occasions is what makes him special.
He knows how valuable a strong shooter is to a football team. He knows how valuable a strong shooter is to this football team.
It runs in the family.
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Powers will be at Powers Field this Saturday when they play at home against Dartmouth. That is no accident. His father, William (Bill) Powers 79, was an All-Ivy League player who made a $10.5 million gift to Princeton to support the FieldTurf playing surface at Princeton Stadium.
Bill Powers played a role in getting his son to Princeton, but it might not be the role you expect. Will, the youngest of five siblings, never bothered his father to choose his alma mater. He offered any fatherly guidance and advice he needed during the process, but the decision was always his son’s.
The father’s more direct influence came years ago, when his son realized that he could translate well on the football field as a football defender.
“When I started hitting and hitting in elementary school, it would take me out and we’d spend hours trying to make up for that,” he said. “He’s set a lot of records, and it’s a great competitive relationship. He’s pushed me with what he can do as a football player. It’s special to have him give me advice based on what he’s done.”
Will won Adidas All-American honors at Choate Rosemary Hall and spent several weekends playing his own game and then traveled with his dad to Saturday’s Princeton game. Those trips created his bonds with both the program and current players, and it was that connection that prompted him to choose Princeton.
Relationships with teammates were critical to Powers. One year of high school he fully invested in tennis, traveling to Barcelona to train and compete. By his sophomore year, he was back on the gridiron.
“The individual nature of the sport was not attractive to me,” Powers said. “Your wins and losses are just free, and it really got a little lonely. The team aspect of football has always stuck with me, and I think that’s what brought me back to it.”
And it finally brought him to the Princeton team, which was set on the ultimate goal of 2022.
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Most of us have hit a ball and thought nothing of it. But the margins of success for a punter are razor thin and require dedication and skill. In order to achieve success in the craft, there are three things on which energies should be concentrated.
“The biggest one is to be fast,” he said. “We have guys who rush us as fast as possible, especially on the edge, so you have 2.2 seconds at most to avoid that point. Second, the drop is very important. If it’s one millimeter off, I can avoid it. Two to three millimeters, you’re playing with fire. That drop is huge.” It has to be the same every time you have a pivot point. That means third place. You don’t want that ball in the middle of the field.
2.2 seconds. 2-3 millimeters. Placement on a certain side of the field. Defenders will rush you. Limited opportunities to do your job, and if you make a mistake, the blame is squarely on you.
It’s not so easy, is it?
Even after Hailat got his first job, he was brilliant. He averaged 40.9 yards in his career, which would be the second-best career mark in Princeton history. Of his 93 career games, 28 have teams pinned inside the 20s and 28 have been caught correctly. Seventeen have gone over 17 meters.
The number is impressive, but the impact on the team is important to him.
“You only get a few chances a game, so you have to lock in every game as a specialist,” Powers said. “I’ve got 119 other guys around me. Even though it’s an independent position, my team is supportive. I look at my position as trying to help my team as opposed to trying to hit a long point. I consider myself part of the team. Defense: I’m trying to get back as much as possible to help the defense.
His influence was felt and noticed.
“He plays a position that may not get a lot of recognition, but his impact every week has been huge,” said the head coach. Bob Souras he said. Not only did he constantly turn the field over when we were backing up, but he did a fantastic job of trapping the opposition in their territory.
Powers knows that Suras believes in him, but this does not mean that he sends her down every quarter. A powerful and successful offense is an attractive variable for a claimant. For all the preparation you do in your role, you know that your chances of your team playing better are more limited.
For example, if it’s 4th and 1, well, Powers will be ready… but he won’t exactly end up on the field expecting to get a nod from Souras.
“4th-and-4 is a pretty good indicator of the gray zone, whether it’s going to be a hit or not,” Powers said. “between Ryan Butler And our offensive line, I have a lot of confidence that we’re going to get those yards. I want my team to do well, but I put a lot of hours into my craft and I want to get out there and pursue what I love to do. I have absolutely no hope that my team won’t get the first drop.
“But maybe with a big lead, I wouldn’t mind another point,” he added with a smile.
Powers, executive director of public and international affairs with an interest in entrepreneurship after his football career, has met many big-name leaders. He also posted a 7-0 record in his three seasons as a starter. It’s the 8-0 feeling that eluded him, and he’d love nothing more than to get that experience this weekend.
“We’re going to focus on taking this one game at a time,” Powers said. “The biggest thing is to be humble, but to be confident in why we’re here.”
