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What can the MEAC/SWAC Challenge do for a player? For former Hampton star Justin Durant, it’s all about putting MEAC standouts front and center
By Donald Hunt
When former Hampton University star Justin Durant got word that the Pirates were slated to play Grambling State in the second annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge in 2006, no pep talk or pre-game speeches were needed to motivate him.
“It was always a rivalry,” Durant says. “Everybody wanted to know who the best was of the two Division I black college conferences—the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) or the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Everybody knows Grambling State has one of the best black college football programs in the country. It was one of the biggest games of the season.”
Hampton defeated Grambling State in overtime, 27-26, and the game still stands as one of the best in the event’s five-year history. Part of the allure, Durant believes, is the contrast in playing styles for both conferences. MEAC teams tend to grind it out while SWAC schools like the long ball.
“When I was at Hampton, we had two 1,000-yard rushers [Alonzo Coleman and Kevin Beverly],” Durant says. “[Grambling State] had five wideouts every play. The SWAC was capable of scoring 40 to 50 points a game. When we played Grambling, we had to play real good defense because they could score.”
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Durant established himself as one of Jacksonville's best tacklers.
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Durant, a three-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, was a second-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2007 NFL draft. A starter at middle linebacker throughout his career, Durant ranks second in school history, with 353 total tackles, 185 of which were solo. He also registered 10 sacks, three fumble recoveries and four interceptions.
The three-time Black College All-American attributes most of his exploits to Joe Taylor, Hampton’s former coach, who is now at Florida A&M. “Coach Taylor is a legend,” Durant says without hesitation. “He taught me a lot, and not just football. He taught me about character, being a man, and handling yourself on and off the field. He had a big impact on my career. We had some good teams under him and won a lot of games. It was great playing for him.”
Durant, a 6-1, 232-pounder, is entering his third season with the Jaguars. As a rookie, he started eight games, and established himself as one of Jacksonville’s best defensive players (with 70 tackles, 50 solo).
As one of two MEAC players with the Jaguars—veteran DB Rashean Mathis, who played at Bethune-Cookman, is the other—Durant is on a crusade to let the sports world know that there’s immense talent in the MEAC.
“I think over the past six years, you’ve seen some solid players come from the MEAC,” Durant says. “Look at Rashean; he’s set the bar kind of high for black college players. He went to the Pro Bowl a couple years ago.”
Next to carry the torch with Durant is another Hampton Pirate: DT Kendall Langford.
“Kendall started as a rookie last year with the Miami Dolphins,” he says. “We’re all trying to put the MEAC on the map. We’ve had a lot of great players over the years, and the MEAC/SWAC Challenge has really shown it.”
Donald Hunt is a columnist for The Philadelphia Tribune. You can reach him at dhunt37261@aol.com.
Photos Courtesy AP
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