In a class of their own
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) – In 1981, John's Island native Charlie Brown was asleep during the NFL Draft.
He started to wake up when teams started to call. He really woke up when Joe Gibbs and assistant Charley Taylor and the Redskins took him in the eighth round.
'Just so happens he's the one that discovered me at South Carolina State.' said Brown. 'A lot of people don't know that. And also he had an opportunity to coach me as well. So, I was pretty fortunate to live out my boyhood dream idolizing the great Charley Taylor.'
A two time Pro Bowl wide receiver with the Redskins, Charlie helped Washington win Super Bowl 17 with the fun bunch.
Brown wasn't the only member of South Carolina State's draft class in 1981 to make it to the league.
Five bulldogs were drafted, Georgetown's Robert Geathers Sr. went in the third round. Three more alums were given free agent deals including Wadmalaw Island's Leroy Robinson.
'I think it's the best draft class probably in HBCU history if not in the top two or three. But definitely we are the best in the MEAC and South Carolina State school history.' Charlie said.
And SCSU has produced a lot of pro talent.
Along with cornerback William Judson, guard Edwin Bailey, and linebacker Angelo King, the class appeared in four Super Bowls, three NFC Championships, three AFC Championships and two Pro Bowls.
But one number sticks out to brown, 44.
'Dan it's been 44 years, that's a long time where nobody has given us publicity. And it's not about great teams at South Carolina State. It's about the 1981 draft class. And I want people to recognize us and honor us.'
Like he did on the gridiron, Charlie is going to fight to be recognized across the state and along the east coast.
'And we all have had the same experience and I think people need to know what our experience was like. It wasn't easy. It was a tough road, it was a tough battle but it was a lot of fun and we got it done.'
It took a lot for Johns Island native Charlie Brown and his Bulldogs teammates to make it to the league.
Like he did on draft night, Brown feels its time for others to wake up.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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