The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) will be well-represented in a pair of postseason all-star football contests over the next two weekends in the month of January. Anthony Philyaw (Howard) and Justin Evans (South Carolina State) will play in the seventh annual NFLPA Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 20, while Darius Leonard (South Carolina State) and Brandon Parker (North Carolina A&T State) will participate in the Reese’s Senior Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 27.
The NFLPA Bowl kicks off on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 4 p.m. with live coverage on FS1. This year’s contest moves to the historic Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., which has been the site of five Super Bowls and numerous major college football games.
Founded in 2012, the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl gives prospective players the best opportunity to showcase their talents to potential employers and fans. Nearly 200 scouts, player personnel staff, general managers and head coaches from all 32 NFL teams are expected be in attendance to watch live practices, conduct player interviews and review tape.
The contest has been a professional launching pad for several players across the nation over the past few years, as 2016 MEAC Player of the Year Tarik Cohen of North Carolina A&T State was a participant in last year’s game. Cohen, the 2017 NFC North Rookie of the Year, used the experience to catapult his draft stock; he was picked up in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.
Howard running back Anthony Philyaw returns to his home state looking to impress the scouts in attendance. A 2017 All-MEAC First Team running back, Philyaw rushed for 789 yards and nine touchdowns this past season while leading Howard to its best record in several seasons. He will be joined by S.C. State offensive lineman Justin Evans on the National roster, as Evans is coming off a 2017 campaign which saw him earn All-MEAC Third Team honors. Both players will have the opportunity to play under former NFL head coach and renowned offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who will lead the National Team.
The 2018 Reese's Senior Bowl will be nationally televised by NFL Network on Saturday Jan. 27 at 1:30 p.m. from Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. The 68th annual Senior Bowl is the nation's most unique football game and football's premier senior showcase event. It annually features the country's best senior collegiate football players and top NFL draft prospects on teams representing the North and South that are coached by the entire coaching staffs of two National Football League teams.
While the contest carries a lot of weight, the practices leading up to the game holds even more weight as SC State’s Darius Leonard and North Carolina A&T State’s Brandon Parker will be under the watchful eye of Houston Texans and South Team head coach Bill O’ Brien and its coaching staff throughout the week. Practices on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will be televised live by NFL Network and the Wednesday and Thursday practices will also be covered live by ESPN on ESPNU. The NFL Network will produce hour-long recap shows each evening as well.
Leonard, a two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, continues SC State’s tradition of defensive talent as he’s coming off a season which saw him amass 113 tackles and eight sacks. North Carolina A&T State’s Parker made history as the first player to be named MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year for three consecutive seasons. Under his protection, the Aggies won a pair of Celebration Bowls as he finished the season without allowing a sack as N.C. A&T finished the regular season with eight games over 400-plus yards of offense.