Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

8/23/2010 at 7:33pm

Image by Chris Bahn

Arkansas forward Marshawn Powell is rolling around on the same medical scooter that Razorbacks quarterback Ryan Mallett used while rehabbing from a broken foot. Powell is out six weeks with a broken foot.

Marshawn Powell stands about 6-feet, 8-inches tall. He averaged 14.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game and was named as an All-Southeastern Conference freshman.

So blending in on campus can be a challenge for Powell.

And thanks to a broken foot, Powell is drawing even more attention to himself on campus in Fayetteville. Powell is in a boot for the next six weeks and has to utilize a medial scooter to get around campus.

It’s the same scooter that Razorbacks quarterback Ryan Mallett used while recovering from a pair of foot surgeries in the offseason. Decals put on the device by Mallett, including a sticker with the word “Grind” — a motto of the football team — are still visible.

Thankfully, the scooter keeps the use of crutches to a minimum, Powell said while with the team at a community service stop at the Boys and Girls Club in Fayetteville. Riding the scooter and not having to deal with crutches up and down the hills on campus makes the rehab process less taxing.

“Whoever invented it should get a whole lot of money.” Powell said. “It makes it a whole lot easier.”

Apparently, it’s also making Powell a hit with others. A number of players and one assistant coach at the community service stop asked for turns riding the scooter, which is also outfitted with a bell.

Teammates said Powell has been having fun with his situation. It’s not ideal, but the sophomore seems to be making the most of it, teammates said.

“He’s doing fine. He’s bragging about the bell on it,” junior guard Rotnei Clarke said. As if on cue, Powell could be heard across the gym ringing the bell when Clarke made mention of it.

Powell injured his foot at a recreation center in his hometown of Newport News, Va. He landed awkwardly on an opponent’s foot and initially just “tied my shoe real tight and tried to run down the court.”

“I couldn’t put pressure on it,” Powell said. “That’s when I knew something was wrong.”

Missing preseason work is nothing new for Powell. He was out last year with a broken hand and didn’t get a chance to practice until the season officially began.

Powell, of course, didn’t have much difficult last year despite missing the preseason. Coach John Pelphrey said he thought Powell would be OK.

“You hope he has a comfort level,” Pelphrey said. “He has been there before. You hope he has tremendous confidence.”

Powell should be cleared for workouts in six weeks. He’ll get a chance to do some upper body lifting when the team reports for individual workouts on Wednesday.

In the meantime, Powell will be using the scooter to get around. And he’s more than ready to pass it on to the next person who needs it just like Mallett passed it down to him.

“Anybody can have it,” Powell said. “Y’all want it? You can take it.”

Tagged: Ryan Mallett's Foot, John Pelphrey, Arkansas Razorbacks, Marshawn Powell