Powell back to tote ball for Redblacks
The Ottawa Redblacks are getting another important part of their offence back.
The Redblacks announced Monday that running back William Powell, who could have become a free agent next month, will return for the 2018 CFL season.
“He does a lot of the things that people see in terms of stats and yardage, but he also does things like protecting the quarterback,” said Redblacks GM Marcel Desjardins. “He’s a great person to have in the locker-room, a quiet type of leader. He brings a lot of other aspects to our organization other than just his ability as a football player.”
After recovering from an injury that wiped out his 2016 season, Powell, who has been with the Redblacks since 2015, had a career year for Ottawa, rushing for 1,026 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games.
“It’s a credit to him for persevering,” said Desjardins. “Obviously (in 2016) with the Achilles injury, even the beginning of (2017), he was nicked up a bit and had to miss some games here and there. The coaches managed him well. There were games where he may have wanted to play and the coach said, ‘Let’s be smart about this. We have a good backup in Mossis Madu. Let’s give you a chance to rest properly.’”
There are several other potential free agents the Redblacks are working on to bring back. It’s expected running back Ed Ilnicki, a U Sports Hec Crighton Trophy winner in 2017, will be signed soon. As for others, Desjardins said: “There’s not a lot of movement, whether it’s Madu, whether it’s (Juron) Criner, whether it’s Diontae (Spencer) who still has some (NFL) workouts, whether it’s Jonathan Rose, Jake Harty or Alex Mateas ... on and on and on ... there’s still a ways to go. But I only control one side of the equation.”