GREENSBORO (December 13, 2017) – The North Carolina A&T fifth-year left tackle Brandon Parker (6-7, 309, Kannapolis, N.C.) transformed himself from a 260-pound offensive lineman benching 245 pounds into an NFL prospect and one of the best players in college football.
He proved that by being named a first-team Football Championship Subdivision Associated Press All-American. Parker is only the fourth first-team AP All-American in school history joining defensive end Chris McNeil (1997), return specialist Curtis Deloatch (2001) and running back Tarik Cohen (2016). NFL careers followed for Deloatch and Cohen.
Parker is now N.C. A&T's first two-time AP All-American after being named second-team AP All-American last season.
Senior Khris Gardin (5-7, 185, Morganton, N.C.) earned third-team All-American honors as an all-purpose player. Redshirt freshman defensive back Mac McCain (5-11, 174, Greensboro, N.C.) also earned third-team AP All-American honors. The Aggies have had 16 different players pick up AP All-Americans in school history. Three in one season is one shy of the school record of four set in 1993 when defensive back Curtis Burgins (third team), running back James White (honorable mention), offensive lineman Ronald Edwards (honorable mention) and linebacker Leevary Covington (honorable mention) were named.
Going into Saturday's Celebration Bowl game on Dec. 16 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Parker has played 656 snaps with 48 knockdown blocks and an 84 percent average grade. The Aggies offense has produced 4,725 yards. He was recently named offensive lineman of the year by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for the third consecutive season. He is also four-time All-MEAC performer including three first-team recognitions. He was named the conference's offensive lineman of the week seven times in 2017.
Despite being an offensive lineman, he was placed on the Walter Payton Watch List by STATS FCS for best offensive player in FCS. He was also placed on the Deacon Jones Award Watch List by the Black College Football Hall of Fame. Parker is a part of a senior class going for its 40th win on Saturday. He set to make his 48th straight start in the black college national championship game against the Grambling Tigers at noon on ABC.
