FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — When Ben Powers was in fourth or fifth grade, he can't remember which, the lesson on toughness began from his father.
“He'd be telling me to crush their teeth in,” Powers said. “I'm serious.”
Powers relayed that story earlier this month after earning consensus All-American status as a senior on Oklahoma's offensive line.
Powers didn't have a Division I offer coming out of high school, but decided to aim higher than the Division II programs that were willing to give him a shot.
He went to junior college at Butler Community College in Kansas, and went from thinking he was going to redshirt to earning the starting right tackle spot in two weeks during preseason camp.