| No. 81 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Wide receiver | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | (1962-01-17)January 17, 1962 (age 63) Mobile, Alabama, U.S. | ||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school | Mattie T. Blount (AL) | ||||||
| College | Alabama State | ||||||
| NFL draft | 1985: 7th round, 178th overall pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Karl Alonzo Powe (born January 17, 1962) is an American former professionalfootballwide receiver in theNational Football League (NFL) for theDallas Cowboys. He playedcollege football atAlabama State University.
Powe attendedMattie T. Blount High School, where helettered in football,basketball,track andbaseball. He accepted a football scholarship fromAlabama State University.
Although he was considered the fastest player on the team, he spent most of his career as a backupwide receiver, because he chose to compete intrack instead of participating in spring football practice. He practiced the100 and200 metres.
As a sophomore in 1982, he led the team in receiving with 16 catches for 319 yards and 2touchdowns, including a 61-yardtouchdown reception and a 53-yard catch. As a junior in 1983, he posted 8 receptions for 184 yards and 2touchdowns (62 yards and 48 yards).[1]
As a senior, he registered 16 receptions for 314 yards and 2touchdowns, while leading theSouthwestern Athletic Conference in kickoff returns with 11 for 300 yards and a 27.3 average. In three seasons he recorded 40 receptions for 817 yards and 6touchdowns, averaging 20.5 yards per catch.
Powe was selected by theDallas Cowboys in the seventh round (178th overall) of the1985 NFL draft, because of his speed and athletic ability.[2] He made the team as a backupwide receiver after having a notable camp.[3] On December 15, he had a critical 28-yard reception on a third-and-15 situation in the fourth quarter against theNew York Giants, which proved to be the winningtouchdown drive that clinched the division-title.[4]
He started the season finale against theSan Francisco 49ers in place ofTony Hill, posting 7 receptions for 127 yards. He finished the season with 14 receptions for 237 yards and a 16.9-yard average. He was seen as a promising player, as his 14 catches were the most by a Cowboys rookie receiver sinceDrew Pearson's 22 in1973.[5]
On September 9,1986, he was placed on theinjured reserve list, after suffering nerve damage in his neck during the season opener against theNew York Giants.[6]
On September 1,1987, he was placed on theinjured reserve list with a sprained shoulder.[7][8] After the players went on a strike on the third week of the1987 season, those contests were canceled (reducing the 16-game season to 15) and theNFL decided that the games would be played with replacement players. On October 7, he crossed the picket line and joined the replacement team. It was later reported that Powe was told by the Cowboys to resign from theNFL Players Association in order to receive physical therapy. He was cut on October 20, at the end of the strike, after not being able to fully recover from his previous injuries.[9] He never played during the season.
On April 23,1988, he was signed as afree agent by theGreen Bay Packers. He was released before the start of the season, after leavingtraining camp on July 19.
After his retirement, Powe became theoffensive coordinator atMattie T. Blount High School inEight Mile, Alabama.[10]