Power Echols

Echols's father, Brian Echols, played college football at Michigan State. His mother, Astarlove Robinson-Russell, played college basketball at Western Michigan; she named him after the actor Powers Boothe.{{cite web|url=https://goheels.com/sports/football/roster/power-echols/25558|title=Power Echols|publisher=North Carolina Tar Heels|access-date=2025-01-03}} Echols began playing football at age six, originally as a running back. Before high school, his family moved from Arizona to Charlotte, North Carolina.{{cite news|url=https://247sports.com/college/north-carolina/longformarticle/power-echols-unc-linebacker-living-up-to-his-name-while-building-his-own-legacy-212949139/|title=Power Echols Living Up To His Name While Building His Own Legacy|last=Holloway|first=Jeremiah|date=2023-06-20|website=247Sports|access-date=2025-01-03}}

Echols attended Vance High School in Charlotte, where he played three seasons for the football team. He changed to defense for his freshman season when his high school coach offered him a starting position at linebacker, and his performance drew national attention including from North Carolina linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen.{{cite news|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school/article218793450.html|title=Why Vance High sophomore has the Power to become an all-time great at his school|last=Wertz Jr.|first=Langston|date=2018-09-22|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=2025-01-03}} He led Vance to the NCHSAA 4A state championship game as a sophomore before winning the state championship in his junior season in 2019, being named MVP of the championship game with 6.5 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a touchdown.{{cite news|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school/article238308548.html|title=Orange crushed. Vance High's defense smothers Leesville Road in 4AA final.|last=Wertz Jr.|first=Langston|date=2019-12-15|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=2024-01-03}} In those two seasons, he was named all-state and the Charlotte Observer Defensive Player of the Year.{{cite news|url=https://247sports.com/college/north-carolina/article/power-echols-commitment-north-carolina-tar-heels-football-four-star-linebacker-142595666/|title=Four-Star Linebacker Power Echols Commits to UNC|last=Callahan|first=Don|date=2020-01-25|website=247Sports|access-date=2025-01-03}} A four-star recruit, he committed to North Carolina over offers from Clemson and Penn State.{{cite news|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school/article239642653.html|title=UNC football gets commitment from Vance High linebacker Power Echols|last=Wertz Jr.|first=Langston|date=2020-01-25|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=2025-01-03}}

Echols appeared in all 13 games for the North Carolina Tar Heels in his true freshman season in 2021, recording 25 tackles and one interception. He became one of the team's captains and started all 14 games as a sophomore in 2022. Defensive coach Gene Chizik described him as a "tremendous leader on the sideline ... a calming force".{{cite news|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/article267150226.html|title=Determined to be Tar Heels great, LB Power Echols is 'calming force' on UNC defense|last=Brown|first=C.L.|date=2022-10-13|newspaper=The News & Observer|access-date=2025-01-03}} He finished his sophomore season with 103 tackles (including a team-high 70 solo tackles) with five going for a loss, two sacks, and one interception, earning an All-ACC honorable mention. His only interception of the season came during a 28–27 loss to Oregon in the 2022 Holiday Bowl, when the ball bounced off Cedric Gray's leg and Echols kept it up with his toe before securing it and running 35 yards.{{cite news|url=https://247sports.com/article/unc-lb-power-echols-snags-wild-kicked-interception-against-oregon-in-holiday-bowl-201524997/|title=UNC LB Power Echols snags wild kicked interception against Oregon in Holiday Bowl|last=Hughes|first=Grant|date=2022-12-28|website=247Sports|access-date=2025-01-03}}

Echols started all 13 games in his junior season in 2023. He had 102 tackles (including 60 solo) with 5.5 for loss, two forced fumbles, and one interception, earning third-team All-ACC honors. However, North Carolina's defense gave up the fifth-most points per game in the ACC.{{cite news|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/article290248079.html|title=Power Echols has always left a strong first impression. He aims to leave a lasting one at UNC|last=Wolcott|first=Nicky|date=2024-07-26|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=2025-01-03}} He recorded 11 tackles in a 30–10 loss to West Virginia in the 2023 Duke's Mayo Bowl. He took on further responsibility in his senior year in 2024, being asked to fill not just NFL draftee Cedric Gray's position on the field but his mentorship role in the locker room.{{cite news|url=https://keepingitheel.com/posts/power-echols-looks-to-lead-the-unc-football-program-s-linebacker-unit-in-2024|title=Power Echols looks to lead the UNC football program's linebacker unit in 2024|last=Delahanty|first=Nick|date=2024-08-13|website=Keeping It Heel|access-date=2025-01-03}}{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2024/08/sports-football-power-echols-feature-august-2024|title=Linebacker Power Echols steps in to lead the defense in the 2024 season|last=Duah-Mensah|first=Twumasi|date=2024-08-27|newspaper=The Daily Tar Heel|access-date=2025-01-03}} He started 12 games and recorded 76 tackles with 1.5 for loss, 0.5 sacks, and one interception, being named All-ACC honorable mention. He did not play in the 2024 Fenway Bowl in order to prepare for the NFL draft.{{cite news|url=https://northcarolina.rivals.com/news/on-eve-of-the-fenway-bowl-unc-s-roster-remains-in-flux|title=On Eve of the Fenway Bowl, UNC's Roster Remains In Flux|last=Jones|first=Andrew|date=2024-12-27|website=Rivals.com|access-date=2025-01-03}}

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 5

| height in = 11 3/8

| weight = 237

| dash = 4.73

| ten split = 1.59

| twenty split = 2.81

| shuttle = 4.46

| cone drill = 7.38

| vertical = 37.0

| broad ft = 9

| broad in = 7

| bench = 13

| arm span = 30 5/8

| hand span = 9 1/8

| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/power-echols/32004543-4854-8775-64b7-7d196329eedd |title=Power Echols Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=February 27, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1053068&DraftYear=2025 |title=Power Echols College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=February 27, 2025}}

}}

Echols signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent on May 8, 2025.{{cite web|title=Bears sign 10 undrafted free agents|url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-sign-10-undrafted-free-agents|website=ChicagoBears.com|date=May 8, 2025}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/power-echols/ Chicago Bears bio]
• [https://goheels.com/sports/football/roster/power-echols/25558 North Carolina Tar Heels bio]

{{Chicago Bears roster navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Echols, Power}}

Category:2003 births

Category:Living people

Category:Players of American football from Charlotte, North Carolina

Category:American football linebackers

Category:North Carolina Tar Heels football players

Category:Chicago Bears players