ORANGEBURG, S.C. — South Carolina State resumed preseason practice Monday morning and head coach Buddy Pough was there to make sure his team is still bringing it to every workout.
Pough was still smiling after his weekend trip to Canton, Ohio for the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. That's where he saw his former S.C. State teammate, Donnie Shell, take his place among those who are considered the greatest players and coaches in NFL history. Shell is now the fifth member of the "Steel Curtain" defense to enter the Hall of Fame, along with Joe Greene, Mel Blount, Jack Ham, and Jack Lambert. Shell won four Super Bowls with the Steelers.
But while Pough was still in Canton, reports came out which said former S.C. State linebacker Darius Leonard and the Colts had agreed to a five-year, $99.25 million dollar contract extension, making him the NFL's highest paid inside linebacker. A two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, Leonard was a second-round pick by the Colts in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has earned All-Pro honors in each of his first three seasons in the league.
That means the two biggest NFL stories this weekend had an S.C. State angle with Shell and Leonard who are two of the biggest stars in the history of the program.
So, when Pough and his staff go on the road recruiting, they can mention the former hard-hitting safety who is a part of Steel City lore or the athletic linebacker from Lake View who has become one of the premier defensive players in the NFL.