Yahoo Sports Michigan DE Kwity Paye wears Black Panther suit for NFL draft
Kwity Paye entered the NFL in style, thanks to the help of a former NFL player.
The Michigan defensive end, considered one of the better defensive prospects in the draft, took in the draft wearing a suit dedicated to Marvel superhero Black Panther made by former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Adonis Jennings.
Chadwick Boseman, the actor who brought Black Panther to life and helped turn him into a global icon, died last August.
Kwity Paye (@OfficialKwity) told me earlier today that Chadwick Boseman being the first Black superhero meant the world to him, so his draft suit reflected that. Suit was made by former Packers player Adonis Jennings pic.twitter.com/tqZ7qLfnio
— Tyler R. Tynes (@TylerRickyTynes) April 29, 2021
Paye ended up going 21st overall to the Indianapolis Colts.
Jennings, who spent time in the AAF and XFL in addition to the Packers' roster, now works as a clothier for Harper & Jones in Dallas, according to CBS Philly. He knew well in advance that Paye's look would make a splash:
He says to keep an eye on Michigan defensive end Kwity Paye and Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley for attention-grabbing draft looks.
“It’s going to be a big surprise, especially for one of my clients,” Jennings said. “He’s going to stand out and people are going to go, ‘oh who made that, who made that?’ And it was this guy right here.”
A Black Panther suit wasn't the only way Paye stood out for the draft, either, as he is also selling a one-of-its-kind NFT to benefit his nonprofit, The Uniform Funding Foundation, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. It will reportedly be the first ever collegiate-licensed football NFT.
Paye was rated by Yahoo Sports' Eric Edholm as the No. 16 player in the draft, thanks to a high motor and tremendous athleticism that helped him post 16 tackles (four for loss) and two sacks in four games for Michigan in his senior season.
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