Robert Porcher Honored Former Detroit Lions defensive end Robert Porcher was honored on Saturday night, February 25th, with induction into the Black College Football Hall of Fame. Porcher was one of six inductees in the 2017 class. Those six were part of 25 finalists who had been determined earlier by the BCF HOF Selection Committee. Along with Porcher, other inductees were Parnell Dickinson, Harold Jackson, Gary Johnson, Isiah Robertson and Coach Billy Joe. Inductees were players who played their college ball at historically black colleges and universities. All five of the players were named college All-Americans and three of them (including Porcher) were first-round NFL draft picks. The induction ceremony took place at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia. College Years After just a year of high school football, Porcher headed to Tennessee State where he ended up playing just one season after a redshirt year. Coaching changes prompted Porcher to move to South Carolina State, where after a stellar college career picked up honors such as being named the NCAA Division I-AA Defensive Player of the year as well as being named an All-American. Porcher was snatched up by the Detroit Lions with the 26th pick in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft, making him the highest drafted South Carolina State player in their history. In fact, to this day he is the only player taken in round one. The school has had three players taken in round two, but only Porcher made the first round. 12 Year NFL Career In his twelve-year NFL career, all with the Lions, Porcher went on to be named All-Pro three-times (1997, 1999, and 2001) and was named to the Pro Bowl in each of those years as well. He ranks as the Lions all-time leader in quarterback sacks with a career total of 95.5 with his highest single-season total of 15.0 coming in the 1999 season. But it’s off the field where Porcher may be remembered the best. Active in the Detroit area community, he has a foundation for cancer research that raises thousands of dollars for the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. Because of Robert’s community involvement, the Lions named their award for off-the-field community involvement the “Robert Porcher Man of the Year” award. The award is given annually to the current player who does the most to assist in the Detroit area community. Porcher feels extremely honored to be inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame. “This is so exciting and I am so humbled," Porcher said. "This means a lot to me. I’m honored to be in this Hall with guys like Coach Jeffries, Deacon Jones, Claude Humphrey and Ed (Too Tall) Jones — guys that I idolized." Porcher continues to be involved in the Downtown Detroit area with several business interests including eateries such as the Breakfast House and Grill, Sweet Georgia Browns and Seldom Blues. “Detroit will always be home," Porcher said. "I love the city and everything that’s happening. They’re hardworking people and I’m a part of that fabric."
0 Comments
|
AuthorThere are many voices that contribute to this blog. All have a passion for professional football. Archives
September 2017
Categories |