Two MEAC/SWAC Challenge champions were selected in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft on Friday night. South Carolina State LB Darius Leonard, who led the Bulldogs to a 35-7 win over UAPB in 2015 while earning MVP honors, was chosen 36th overall by the Indianapolis Colts. One round later North Carolina A&T OT Brandon Parker heard his name called by the Oakland Raiders at 65th overall. Parker started as a freshman in A&T’s 2014 Challenge win over Alabama A&M and also led the Aggies to Celebration Bowl victories in 2015 and 2017.
Leonard and Parker are the 11th and 12th MEAC/SWAC Challenge alumni to be selected in the Draft throughout the event’s 13 year history.:
2006
Tarvaris Jackson (Alabama State)
2007
Justin Durant (Hampton)
Michael Coe (Alabama State)
2008
Kendall Langford (Hampton)
2010
Phillip Adams (South Carolina State)
2011
Johnny Culbreath (South Carolina State)
Curtis Holcomb (Florida A&M)
2016
Javon Hargrave (South Carolina State)
Temarrick Hemingway (South Carolina State)
2017
Tarik Cohen (North Carolina A&T)
2018
Darius Leonard (South Carolina State)
Brandon Parker (North Carolina A&T)
