NFL: Draft HBCU players

It was another disappointing draft for HBCU football.

It seems like we have this conversation every year. Once upon a time, HBCUs were the place to find talent. But that hasn’t been the case lately. Sure, Tytus Howard from Alabama State was selected in the first round by the Texans last year and went on to have an all-rookie season. He was the first first-round draft choice since Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was selected by the Cardinals in 2008. Still last year, only four total players were drafted. The other three players, North Carolina A&T defensive end Darryl Johnson, Jr. of North Carolina A&T, offensive lineman Joshua Miles of Morgan State, and Prairie View A&M defensive end Quinton Bell were all seventh-round selections. All four players made opening day rosters. Of last year’s 30 players who made opening day rosters, 14 of those players were free agents. To put that in perspective, just 21 HBCU players have been drafted since 2011.

Paul “Tank” Younger was the first player from an HBCU to play in the NFL, going undrafted ironically in 1949 and went on to be named All-Pro three times and be named to the Pro Bowl four times. Willie Brown of Grambling went undrafted in 1963 but went on to make nine Pro Bowls/All-Star Games, win two Super Bowls, and finish his career with 54 interceptions during his 16-year career. Willie Davis was a player drafted in the 15th round by the Browns in 1956. All he went on to do was to be named All-Pro five times, win five championships, and be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Too far back? Antoine Bethea was selected in the 6th round of the 2006 draft by the Colts. He became a starter at safety from Day 1, has started 200 of 209 games in a 14-year career, has been named to three Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl with the Colts his rookie season. He’s looking forward to a 15th season in 2020.

Left tackle Terron Armstead from Arkansas-Pine Bluff was selected in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Saints. He has turned into one of the best and highest-paid tackles in the game, protecting Drew Brees’ blindside. He has been named to back-to-back Pro Bowls. Javon Hargrave from South Carolina State was taken in the third round by the Steelers in 2016. In the offseason, he signed as a free agent with the Eagles and is now the highest-paid nose tackle in football. Running back/punt returner Tarik Cohen of North Carolina A&T, selected in the fourth round by the Bears in 2017, was named All-Pro in 2018 and is one of the most electrifying players in the league. Then there’s linebacker Darius Leonard from South Carolina State, second-round pick by the Colts in 2018 who was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and has been named All-Pro in his first two years in the league.

We know HBCU players can play. The 30 (33 when Donnie Shell, Harold Carmichael, and Winston-Hill are officially inducted) that are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame tells us so.

– Donal Ware
boxtorow.com

This article originally published in the May 4, 2020 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.