May is here, and the Philadelphia Eagles still have their foot on the gas pedal with the defending Super Bowl Champions' rookie minicamp set to take place this weekend. Eagles fans are excited to get a look at the incoming crop of first-year studs, whether they were selected with a draft pick or signed afterwards as an undrafted free agent.
Even though a lot of attention will be paid to the Eagles' early picks (Jihaad Campbell, Andrew Mukuba, etc.), fans shouldn't be surprised if a late-rounder or UDFA makes the most minicamp noise. That includes one rookie pass rusher who has some serious potential to dazzle Philadelphia fans as early as this weekend.
Eagles Rookie DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland Will Steal the Show at Minicamp
The Eagles added a handful of promising late-round rookies last week, and one potential show-stealer is none other than former Virginia Tech pass rusher Antwaun Powell-Ryland (Round 6, Pick 209).
Powell-Ryland is an exciting disruptor whose non-stop motor and quarterback-punishing abilities could make him an Eagles fan favorite sooner rather than later. The 23-year-old defender already showed a solid amount of potential during his three seasons at the University of Florida, however, his game truly reached a new level when he transferred to Virginia Tech before the 2023 campaign.
The fresh start paid off for Powell-Ryland, who set new career highs in solo tackles (23), tackles for lost yardage (15), sacks (9.5), and fumble recoveries (3) while also tallying a trio of forced fumbles in 13 outings with the Hokies. He successfully followed that up in 2024 with 29 solo tackles and 16.0 sacks (second-most in the ACC), as well as three forced fumbles with as many recoveries.
If that isn't impressive enough, he tallied Pro Football Focus grades of at least 78.6 for overall defense and 85.2 for pass rushing, respectively, in each of his campaigns at Virginia Tech.
Powell-Ryland stepping up after transferring to Virginia Tech proves that he's willing to take his performance to new heights when needed. He's going to need that type of drive and determination to separate himself from the pack throughout the Eagles' rookie minicamp, and there's little reason to doubt him so far.
An up-and-coming defensive end, Powell-Ryland couldn't have asked for a better first NFL team than the Eagles. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and defensive line coach Clint Hurtt are two of the league's best coaches at their respective roles, and it isn't unfathomable to imagine the duo developing Powell-Ryland into a key contributor one day.
Fortunately, Eagles fans won't have to wait long to see Powell-Ryland and the other incoming rookies in action. Philadelphia's rookie minicamp will officially begin on Friday, giving fans a highly anticipated look at the future.