FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Former Northwest and Kentucky cornerback Brandin Echols became the latest former Ranger to hear his name called in the NFL Draft, as the Southaven native was taken in the sixth round with the 200th overall pick by the New York Jets on Saturday.

Echols is the third Northwest football alumnus to be taken in the NFL Draft in as many years, joining quarterback Gardner Minshew (Washington State; Jacksonville) in 2019 and offensive lineman Damien Lewis (LSU; Seattle) last year.

Echols spent two seasons with the Rangers from 2017-18 and was part of a strong secondary unit, posting 83 total tackles, 17 pass breakups and nine interceptions. He earned first team All-MACJC and All-Region 23 honors, and was later named second team NJCAA All-American in 2018. 

Northwest finished with a combined 16-5 record in his two seasons, a run that included the 2017 MACJC North Division title, a division runner-up finish in 2018 and a trip to the 2017 Graphic Edge Bowl in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Echols joined several of his defensive back teammates in moving on to the Division I level, a list that includes former teammates Joshua Norwood (West Virginia), Marlon Character, Jr. (Louisville), Jerrick Reed II (New Mexico), Devin Rockette (South Alabama), Malik Sanders (UMass/Mississippi State) and Chris Stamps (Middle Tennessee).

While at Kentucky, Echols totaled 101 career tackles with the Wildcats, along with 11 passes defended, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, two forced fumbles and a sack. In 2020, he played in all 10 of Kentucky's games, tallying 47 total tackles, two tackles-for-loss and two pass breakups, while helping the Wildcats to a 23-21 victory against NC State in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

Echols was named to the Reese's Senior Bowl Top 250 prior to the start of the 2020 season and was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Hula Bowl all-star showcases.

Echols is the first Northwest player to be drafted by the Jets and the becomes the fifth former Ranger to spend a stint with the franchise, including Myles White (2016-17), Tarow Barney (2016), Donald Hawkins (2016) and Roy Hart (1992).