Hart County senior Peyton Powell was recently named to the National Football Foundation (NFF) Team of Distinction in recognition of his many accomplishments on the field and in the classroom.
Before receiving this honor, Powell and four other student-athletes from the area were nominated by the NFF’s University of Georgia Chapter. Each athlete received an award and partial college scholarship from the Frances Wood Wilson Foundation, which supports charitable, religious and educational activities within the state of Georgia.
During the award ceremony, held Monday, April 19 in honor of the five nominees, Powell had the chance to meet legendary sports broadcaster Verne Lundquist before finding out that he had been chosen to represent the UGA Chapter on the NFF’s Team of Distinction.
There are only 65 chapters nationally.
The NFF promotes scholar-athletes who have excelled academically, demonstrated their talents on the field and worked for the greater good within their community.
Powell’s resume is filled to the brim with accomplishments. He was an offensive lineman at Hart County High School where he started for all four years, and in his sophomore year, he was a member of the 3A Elite 8 team in its run for a state title.
In his last two years of school, Powell went All-Region First Team, Special Teams MVP, Offensive Lineman MVP, Team Captain and Farm Bureau Player of the Week.
Powell is also a four-year member of the Hart County baseball team and a two-year member of the wrestling team.
Powell’s academic honors include membership in the National Honors Society and Leadership Hart, a 3.9 grade point average, and an academic award for AP macroeconomics. In addition to his AP coursework, Powell is also dual enrolled with Athens Technical College and Toccoa Falls College and plans to attend South Georgia State College this coming fall.
Powell is a member of Sardis Baptist Church and serves as a camp counselor for Camp Sardis. He also belongs to the Key Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes at HCHS.
Powell was not available for an interview with The Hartwell Sun by press time due to his obligations to the Hart County baseball team.