Florida’s 2028 recruiting board may be missing a running back right now, but that could change fast if Dalen Powell ends up in orange and blue.
The Gators are a finalist for the four-star back from Ruston, La., a prospect rated as the No. 5 running back in the 2028 class and the No. 1 player in Louisiana. Powell has trimmed his list to 10 schools, and Florida is in the mix with a group packed with heavy hitters.
His final schools include LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama, Arkansas, Miami, Florida State and Kansas State, along with Florida and two others from the top-10 group. The battle is shaping up to be a familiar one for a Louisiana standout, with LSU among the biggest threats.
Powell, who plays at Ruston High School, sits roughly 60 miles east of Shreveport. Florida offered him in Jan. 2026, and his only camp visit so far came at Florida State in June. That limited exposure makes sense for a 2028 recruit, but his profile is already loud.
The numbers back it up. Per his 247Sports bio, Powell missed last year’s playoffs as a sophomore after a leg injury, but during the regular season he piled up 1,156 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on 7.23 yards per carry.
He also added 18 catches for 239 yards and three scores, giving Ruston another weapon in the passing game. And on kickoff returns, he’s shown he can flip field position in a hurry.
One clip from last season captured that explosiveness: “DALEN. MIDDLE-NAME.
POWELL. 😮💨
The 2028 Ruston running back is putting on an absolute show.
Add the 89-yard kickoff return to his three rushing touchdowns in the first half.
Ruston 28, Acadiana 7.
2Q, 4:25. pic.twitter.com/D302chdoJ3”
For now, Rivals lists Ole Miss as the early favorite with a 33.4% chance to land him. LSU is expected to be the other major contender, with Lane Kiffin pushing to keep Louisiana talent close to home.
Powell has not set a commitment date yet. If Florida can pull him in, he would join Sumrall’s No. 6 overall class nationally, a group that already includes four-star offensive tackle Samuel Bailey and three-star safety Clayton Smith and receiver Armani Strong.
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