Ex-Lions DE Porcher named to Black College Hall of Fame

Atlanta — Lions great Robert Porcher was among six players selected Wednesday for induction into the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

Porcher, a first-round NFL draft pick by the Lions in 1992, is the only player in the history of South Carolina State to be drafted in the first round. Porcher, who had transferred from Tennessee State, had 15 sacks in his senior season and 24 tackles for loss.

Porcher played 13 seasons for the Lions and was a three-time All-Pro.

Gary “Big Hands” Johnson of Grambling State, Harold Jackson of Jackson State, longtime coach Billy Joe, Parnell “Paydirt” Dickinson of Mississippi Valley State, and Isiah Robertson of Southern University were also selected.

Inductees were chosen by a 12-member selection committee composed of journalists, historians, former NFL executives and previous inductees. The selections were announced Wednesday.

The induction ceremony will be held in February in Atlanta.

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Johnson played defensive line for Grambling from 1971-74 and went on to become a four-time Pro Bowl selection in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers.

Jackson led the Southwestern Athletic Conference in receptions and yards twice from 1964-67.

Dickinson played quarterback for Mississippi Valley State from 1972-75 and led the SWAC in total offense three times.

Robertson was a linebacker who went on to become a first-round draft pick and NFL defensive rookie of the year in 1971.

Joe won 243 games, second only to Eddie Robinson among coaches at black colleges. He had stints at Cheyney University, Central State University, Florida A&M and Miles College. He also played fullback for the Browns after starring at Central State.