The NFL is set to host its 2026 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Showcase starting March 28 in Ashburn, Virginia. While the event is the first under that name, it mimics the previously-held HBCU Combine, which was initially held in 2022.
HBCU players have a long history in the NFL, dating back to 1949 when Grambling’s Paul “Tank” Younger took the field for the Los Angeles Rams. Since then, 52 HBCUs have been represented in the league, per Pro Football Reference.
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No school has sent more players to the league than Tennessee State, which edges out Grambling 121 to 120. Famous former Tennessee State players include Richard Dent, a Hall of Famer and four-time Pro Bowl defensive end, and Ed “Too Tall” Jones.
Grambling alums, meanwhile, include Hall of Fame defensive back Willie Brown and Hall of Fame wide receiver Charlie Joiner.
Both schools will have two players on hand in Ashburn — defensive end James Stewart finished his college career with Tennessee State after stints with Memphis and Middle Tennessee while defensive lineman Bryce Cage spent the past two seasons with Grambling.
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Besides those two programs, which have a combined 31 HBCU national titles, other prolific schools include Jackson State (104 players), Florida A&M (83), and Southern (82).
In terms of standouts, 35 HBCU alumni from 17 different schools have made the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State), Michael Strahan (Texas Southern), and Walter Payton (Jackson State).
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More recently, 24 former HBCU players made initial 53-man rosters in 2025 per HBCU Gameday. That slate included Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, both of whom played at Jackson State before transferring to Colorado.
In last year’s draft, offensive lineman Carson Vinson from Alabama A&M was the lone player drafted directly out of an HBCU — he went in the fifth round to the Baltimore Ravens. Since 2010, every year except two (2021 and 2024) has had at least one HBCU alum taken in the NFL draft. The most in a single draft — four — has occurred five times since 2010.
This year, top HBCU prospects include offensive tackle Bruno Onwuazor from Virginia State, linebacker Erick Hunter from Morgan State, and defensive end Ckelby Givens from Southern.
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
2. New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
3. Arizona Cardinals – David Bailey, OLB/DE, Texas Tech
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
4. Tennessee Titans – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
5. New York Giants – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
6. Cleveland Browns – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
7. Washington Commanders – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
8. New Orleans Saints – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
9. Kansas City Chiefs – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
10. Cincinnati Bengals – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
11. Miami Dolphins – Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami (Fla.)
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
12. Dallas Cowboys – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
14. Baltimore Ravens – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami (Fla.)
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
16. Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
17. Detroit Lions – Spencer Fano, OT/G, Utah
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
18. Minnesota Vikings – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
19. Carolina Panthers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
20. Dallas Cowboys – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
22. Los Angeles Chargers – T.J. Parker, DE/OLB, Clemson
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
23. Philadelphia Eagles – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
24. Cleveland Browns – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
25. Chicago Bears – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
26. Buffalo Bills – Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
27. San Francisco 49ers – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
28. Houston Texans – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Los Angeles Rams) – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos) – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
31. New England Patriots – Zion Young, DE/OLB, Missouri
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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection
32. Seattle Seahawks – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: HBCU players in NFL history, including Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter