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By Jason Woullard
The Mid-Eastern Athletic (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic (SWAC) teams that have participated in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge to date have put a combined 429 players in the National Football League (NFL). Fourteen (14) are active and eleven (11) are NFL Hall of Famers.
Hampton University of the MEAC and Jackson State University (SWAC) will battle for conference supremacy in the 2008 MEAC/SWAC Challenge (Aug. 31, 2 pm ET, ESPN2). Having produced 108 NFL players (including four Hall of Famers), Grambling State tops the list, followed by Jackson State (89 pros, three 3 Hall of Famers) and Southern (73 pros, one Hall of Famer).
Here’s the complete breakdown:
|
School
|
No. of Pros
|
Active
|
Hall of Famers
|
|
Alabama State
|
21
|
4
|
0
|
|
Florida A&M
|
68
|
1
|
0
|
|
Grambling State
|
108
|
4
|
4
|
|
Hampton
|
23
|
3
|
0
|
|
Jackson State
|
89
|
1
|
3
|
|
South Carolina State
|
47
|
1
|
3
|
|
Southern
|
73
|
0
|
1
|
ALABAMA STATE
|
NAME
|
POSITION
|
HOMETOWN
|
Current Team
|
Previous
|
|
Earl Cochran
|
Defensive End
|
Birmingham, AL
|
Houston Texans (2006-present)
|
Green Bay Packers (2003)
|
|
Michael Coe
|
Cornerback
|
Louisville, KY
|
Indianapolis Colts (2007-present)
|
|
|
Tarvaris Jackson
|
Quarterback
|
Montgomery, AL
|
Minnesota Vikings (2006-present)
|
|
|
Chad Lucas
|
Wide Receiver
|
Auburn, AL
|
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2006-present)
|
Green Bay Packers (2005)
|
FLORIDA A&M
|
NAME
|
POSITION
|
HOMETOWN
|
Current Team
|
Previous
|
|
Quinn Gray
|
Quarterback
|
Fort Lauderdale, FL
|
Houston Texans
|
Jacksonville Jaguars (2003-present)
|
GRAMBLING STATE
|
NAME
|
POSITION
|
HOMETOWN
|
Current Team
|
Previous
|
|
Fakhir Brown
|
Cornerback
|
Detroit, MI
|
St. Louis Rams (2006-present)
|
New Orleans Saints (2002-05), San Diego Chargers (1999-2000)
|
|
Jason Hatcher
|
Defensive End
|
Alexandria, LA
|
Dallas Cowboys (2006-present)
|
|
|
Kalvin Pearson
|
Defensive Back
|
Town Creek, AL
|
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2005-present)
|
Cleveland Browns (2002)
|
|
Kenneth Pettway
|
Defensive End
|
Houston, TX
|
Jacksonville Jaguars (2006-present)
|
Houston Texans (2005)
|
HAMPTON
|
NAME
|
POSITION
|
HOMETOWN
|
Current Team
|
Previous
|
|
Darian Barnes
|
Fullback
|
Plainfield, NH
|
New York Jets (2007-present)
|
Miami Dolphins (2005-06), Dallas Cowboys (2004), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002-03)
|
|
Justin Durant
|
Linebacker
|
Florence, SC
|
Jacksonville Jaguars (2007-present)
|
|
|
Jerome Mathis
|
Wide Receiver
|
Petersburg, VA
|
Houston Texans (2005-present)
|
|
JACKSON STATE
|
NAME
|
POSITION
|
HOMETOWN
|
Current Team
|
Previous
|
|
Cletis Gordon
|
Cornerback
|
Amite, LA
|
San Diego Chargers (2006-present)
|
|
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
|
NAME
|
POSITION
|
HOMETOWN
|
Current Team
|
Previous
|
|
Chartric Darby
|
Defensive Tackle
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North, SC
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Detroit Lions (2008-present)
|
Seattle Seahawks (2005-07), Tampa Bay Bucs (2001-04)
|
GRAMBLING STATE
|
NAME
|
HOF Class
|
POSITION
|
HOMETOWN
|
TEAMS
|
|
Willie Brown
|
1984
|
Cornerback
|
Yazoo City, MS
|
Denver Broncos (1963-66)
Oakland Raiders (1967-78)
|
|
Buck Buchanan
|
1990
|
Defensive End
|
Gainesville, AL
|
Kansas City Chiefs (1963-75)
|
|
Willie Davis
|
1981
|
Defensive End
|
Lisbon, LA
|
Cleveland Browns (1958-59)
Green Bay Packers (1960-69)
|
|
Charlie Joiner
|
1996
|
Wide Receiver
|
Many, LA
|
Houston Oilers (1969-72)
Cincinnati Bengals (1972-75)
San Diego Chargers (1976-86)
|
JACKSON STATE
|
NAME
|
HOF Class
|
POSITION
|
HOMETOWN
|
TEAMS
|
|
Lem Barney
|
1991
|
Cornerback
|
Gulfport, MS
|
Detroit Lions (1967-77)
|
|
Walter Payton
|
1993
|
Running Back
|
Columbia, MS
|
Chicago Bears (1975-87)
|
|
Jackie Slater
|
2001
|
Tackle
|
Jackson, MS
|
Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams (1975-95)
|
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
|
NAME
|
HOF Class
|
POSITION
|
HOMETOWN
|
TEAMS
|
|
Harry Carson
|
2006
|
Linebacker
|
Florence, SC
|
New York Giants (1976-88)
|
|
Deacon Jones
|
1980
|
Defensive End
|
Eatonville, FL
|
Los Angeles Rams (1961-71)
San Diego (1972-73)
Washington Redskins (1974)
|
|
Marion Motley
|
2001
|
Fullback
|
Leesburg, GA
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Cleveland Browns (1946-53)
Pittsburgh Steelers (1955)
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SOUTHERN
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NAME
|
HOF
Class
|
POSITION
|
HOMETOWN
|
Current Team
|
|
Mel Blount
|
1989
|
Cornerback
|
Vidalia, GA
|
Pittsburgh Steelers (1970-83)
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MEAC/SWAC Challenge notes:
• Senior Jimmy Oliver threw three touchdown passes and lead Jackson State to a 42-31 comeback victory over Grambling State in 2007 SWAC championship game. Last year’s starting JSU quarterback was the 2005 and ’06 JUCO National Player of the Year.
• Hampton’s Jeremy Gilchrist finished the 2007 season ranked No. 1 in the NCAA in punt return yards.
• Alabama State’s Tarvaris Jackson participated in the first MEAC/SWAC Challenge in 2005. Although unable to get a win versus the Bulldogs of South Carolina State, Jackson was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. In only his rookie season, he became a key contributor to the team playing in four games (starting 2). In 2007 Jackson became the team’s full-time starting quarterback, and led the Vikings to eight wins (in 12 games as a starter).
• Also see Pipeline to the NFL? Big states, schools are key.
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