Two-time Celebration Bowl champion Brandon Parker was selected with the 65th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. The former North Carolina A&T tackle led the way up front for the A&T’s Celebration Bowl victories in 2015 and 2017. Aggies running backs earned Offensive MVP honors in both years, with current Chicago Bear Tarik Cohen running for 295 yards and 3 TD in the inaugural 2015 game and rising senior Marquell Cartwright going for 110 and 1 TD in 2017.
Parker earned MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year honors for three consecutive years from 2015-2017. He was also named to the STATS FCS All-America First Team in both 2016 and 2017.
Parker is the third Celebration Bowl champion to be selected in the NFL Draft. Cohen and current Arizona Cardinal WR Chad Williams (Grambling State) were both chosen in 2017. Cohen made an immediate impact in his rookie season with the Bears, logging 723 total yards (rushing + receiving) while also returning kicks.
