The Tide made the call, but it was too late.

While Tanner’s Ryan Powers was on an official visit to Arkansas last weekend, he got a call from Alabama secondary coach Chris Ball.

Powers had already made up his mind, however, and Wednesday he made it official.

The 6-foot-1, 197-pound running back-linebacker signed a national letter-of-intent with the Razorbacks in front of a crowd of teammates, classmates, teachers and family in the lobby of the Tanner High gymnasium.

“Alabama came my junior year and started talking to me,” Powers said. “During the season, they kept telling me I was a good player, but they never offered me a scholarship.

“Last weekend, they offered me a scholarship while I was at Arkansas. I was thinking they were coming in last minute, and I was already set on Arkansas.”

Also on Wednesday, another Tanner running back-linebacker Curtis Garth signed with another Arkansas school — The University of Arkansas-Monticello.

“I’ve been looking for this the whole five years I’ve been playing,” Garth said. “I’ve talked to Monticello about a week.

“They offered me the best scholarship.”

Despite being injured for three games, Powers rushed for 647 yards and nine touchdowns for the Rattlers. He averaged 8.7 yards per carry.

Garth had over 1,201 yards as a runner and receiver for the Rattlers.

“Ever since Reshard (Langford) had a good year and signed with Vandy, some of the kids have realized they could play ball other places,” Tanner head coach LaRon White said. “They work hard and have the whole time I’ve been here.

“This motivates you. I remember seeing guys come back, and you start to expect it.”