Garrett Powell Joins NSU Riverhawks

Tim Hudson

It’s looking to be a great year,” says Tribal member Garrett Powell, of the upcoming football season at Tahlequah, Oklahoma-based Northeastern State University where he’s recently signed.

The Delaware Tribe of Indians wide receiver and punter says he’s happy with his recent change into the NSU Riverhawks uniform.

Upon graduating from Bartlesville High in 2013, Powell initially signed with Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, where he played wide receiver and punter.

Eventually he entered the NCAA Division II ranks by playing at Pittsburg State in southeast Kansas. Shortly thereafter he transferred to Northeastern State where he will finish out his college career.

“The biggest thing with my college career is seeing now that the moves and everything else happens for a reason,” Powell told the Tulsa World, “… I’ve met some awesome people that I will be close with forever.”

In his junior year he racked up 57 catches for 728 yards and five touchdowns, so for Powell the next year looks very promising.

Basically we played our first game last week,” he said of the Sept. 4 contest. The Riverhawks fell short in that game 14-38
against Pittsburg State University.

“We made some mistakes and didn’t come out on top,” he said.

“But I’m optimistic about our chances this season. I’m really excited and they have a lot of new faces on the team. As a senior it’s fun to see the kids come in and to show them how to win.”

He says that compared to his team last year, the Riverhawks crew “is a lot more close knit.”

As to his native heritage Powell says that it’s something he’s always stayed close to.

“I’m always talking to my grandma and asking about the history and heritage. I’m proud to be Delaware I think that’s pretty
big,” he said of his grandmother Verna Sue Atherton, and adding that Tahlequah has a large Cherokee population.

“To be a native being in Tahlequah obviously it’s neat to see so much native culture there and it’s always good to to be a little different, that I’m Delaware,” he said.

“I’m always proud of my heritage and it makes me feel good that I am native.”

Tim Hudson
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