Powell returns to campus to earn degree after stint in NFL

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- When Chaz Powell's Penn State career concluded at the end of the 2011 season, he had aspirations of playing on Sundays.Powell knew that it would take a full commitment during the spring semester of 2012 to prepare for a shot at earning a place on an NFL roster. To best prepare for the draft, he devoted his full attention to training for the NFL Combine and his Pro Day workout.In doing so, Powell pursued his dream of being a professional football player.The York, Pennsylvania, native found his way to Oakland after the Raiders signed him as a free agent following the draft. He was released during the final days of August that year, and decided that he would shift his attention back to another lifelong dream.Powell worked with the Morgan Academic Center staff that works with the football program to complete paperwork to re-enroll at Penn State to finish his degree. The Susquehannock High School product needed just one class to complete a degree in criminal justice.But, on the day he submitted paperwork to finish the degree, Powell received a call from the Green Bay Packers. The organization invited Powell to a tryout. The Packers signed Powell, and for the next two years he played in Green Bay and with the New York Giants.During his stint in the NFL, Powell always had the final Penn State class necessary to graduate in the back of his mind. But the timing and career in the NFL did not grant him an opportunity to invest a full semester's worth of effort into earning his degree.In total, he spent three seasons with NFL organizations and then shifted attention to earning money to make ends meet back in his hometown of York."I came to Penn State to play for Coach (Joe) Paterno and attend school at a great university. He always preached to us that you need to go to class and get your degree because football is not going to last forever. And he was right," Powell said.Needing just four credits of STAT 200, Todd Kulka, Penn State assistant director, Football Academic Support Services and Academic Counselor, called Powell this past summer and asked if the fall semester was a time he could finish his degree.Working regular hours as a plumber in the York area, Powell committed to driving two hours from his home to the University Park campus for the STAT 200 class each Thursday from 6 to 9:30 p.m.Powell usually arrived on campus a bit early on Thursdays to complete homework assignments before participating in the class session. He would then get back in the car and drive home to York before waking up each Friday at 5 a.m. to begin his work day.For 16 weeks this fall, Powell made the 220-mile round trip commute and is on schedule to earn his criminal justice degree at the Penn State commencement ceremony this Saturday afternoon in the Bryce Jordan Center."I was gifted enough to play in the NFL for three years, with a couple practice squad opportunities here and there," Powell said. "But like Coach Paterno said, football didn't last forever. And I learned that having your college degree can take you anywhere in the world. It will mean a lot to me."He is on track to join 14 current football student-athletes intending to graduate this weekend. Penn State Football owns a graduation success rate of 81 percent, which is nine points higher than the Division I and FBS average.Powell has aspirations of working in law enforcement, but is on track to also become a registered plumber. With a degree in hand and his work towards becoming a licensed professional in the plumbing industry, he will have options, all thanks to countless hours of time and effort to become a Penn State graduate."My mom is really excited about it," Powell said. "It's going to be a big accomplishment for me and a big relief to have my degree in hand."Most Penn State fans will remember Powell as a versatile athlete with great speed. A four-year letter winner, he began his career as a receiver before shifting to the defensive backfield prior to his junior season in 2010. Powell was a dynamic kickoff returner for the Blue and White, becoming the first Penn State player to deliver a 100-yard return for a score in more than 35 years in the 2010 season opener. He owns schools records for career kickoff returns (73) and kickoff return yardage (1,866).But football is just a sliver of Powell's success story in Happy Valley. He realized a dream by spending time in the NFL, but his career lasted three seasons. With a degree in hand come Saturday, Powell will be a Penn State alum forever."Once you are given the opportunity to go out there and showcase what you can do, it just proves that anyone can do it, no matter if you are from a small town or not," Powell said. "There are so many alums in this world from Penn State, and it really felt like a family to me when I was here. I was only two hours from home, so my family got to come watch me play. Now, it will be a big relief off my shoulders and something that means a lot to me come Saturday."