(Glendale, AZ) The Arizona Rattlers have landed QB Ramone Atkins in a trade with the Tucson Sugar Skulls in exchange for QB Drew Powell.
Atkins was the 2022 IFL Offensive Rookie of the Year with the Duke City Gladiators and was Tucson’s starting QB in 2023, leading them to the third seed in the West.
Atkins was a steady force for the Skulls in 2023, starting in all 16 games and finishing tied for third in completion percentage at 65.1. In 2023, he totaled 37 touchdowns (11 interceptions) and accumulated 1,984 total passing yards. The dual-threat QB also ran for 691 rushing yards (5th in IFL) and 21 rushing touchdowns.
In just 14 games for the Gladiators in 2022, Atkins was fourth in the league with 2,169 passing yards and led the IFL in passing yards per game at 159.4. He finished tied for second in the league with 50 passing touchdowns and had just 10 interceptions on the season.
The 6’2″ quarterback played collegiately at New Mexico Highlands University.
Last season, Powell appeared in just 12 games for the Rattlers, but he still managed to finish at or near the top of almost every passing and rushing category. He was second in passing completion percentage (66.9), fourth in passing yards per game (177.3), sixth in passing touchdowns (45), and sixth in passing yards (2,128). He also finished with 575 rushing yards on the season (5.7 per carry) and had 27 rushing touchdowns which was good for sixth in the IFL.
Drew Powell played his four seasons for the Arizona Rattlers from 2019-2023. The three-time MVP signed with Arizona mid-season in 2019 and helped guide the Rattlers to four playoff wins, and two United Bowl appearances (2019, 2021). Powell has shown year after year that he is the ultimate dual threat at quarterback with his ability to dominate games on the ground and in the passing game.
Powell is the Rattlers’ all-time leader in rushing touchdowns, breaking the franchise’s record last June.
Before his time in Arizona, Powell was a member of the Iowa Barnstormers where he took home his first MVP award in 2018. His second and third MVP awards came with the Rattlers in back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022.
Powell attended Livingstone College and is originally from Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Press Release courtesy of the Arizona Rattlers/Tucson Sugar Skulls – Brandon Dueñas
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