Powell grew up in Lakeland, Florida, where he was an all-state football player at Lake Gibson High School.

In his senior season of 2010, Powell earned All-Big East and Phil Steele All-American honors and set a school record at Louisville with 1,405 single-season rushing yards, while helping Louisville win the 2010 Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl.

Powell attended and played football for Lake Gibson High School in Lakeland, Florida.

[2] A second-team all-state honoree, he received offers from Michigan State and Southern Miss and chose to attend Louisville.

He was part of a shared backfield that included Anthony Allen, Brock Bolen, George Striping, and Sergio Spencer.

He, Darius Ashley, and Vic Anderson dominated the share of carries for the Cardinals.

[30] He was named to the All-Big East Conference first-team[31] and Phil Steele All-American fourth team after rushing for 1,405 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games for the Cardinals.

[42] On November 18, 2012, Powell ran for 42 yards on 11 carries and a season-high two touchdowns against the St. Louis Rams, his first multiple-touchdown game of his career.

[46][47] On December 9, 2012, Powell ran for a season-high 78 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

[57] Powell also threw a pass to tight end Jeff Cumberland for 30 yards.

[61] On March 14, 2015, Powell signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the New York Jets.

[66] On September 25, 2016, Powell caught 6 passes for 41 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs.

[69] On November 13, 2016, Powell caught seven passes for 52 yards and a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams.

[76] During Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Powell rushed for 163 yards, including one for a 75-yard touchdown, as the Jets won 23–20 in overtime.

[82] In the 2019 season, Powell appeared in 13 games, of which he started one, and recorded 59 carries for 229 rushing yards.

[84] Powell became a free agent in 2020; he expressed a desire to stay with the team through the end of his NFL career.

[86] After being unsigned in 2020 and 2021, Powell signed a one-day contract on April 26, 2022, to retire with the Jets.

[89] Powell currently is an assistant football coach at St. Xavier High School in Louisville, KY.[90]