{"id":567926,"date":"2026-03-27T14:01:52","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T14:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/567926\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T14:01:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T14:01:52","slug":"from-ed-too-tall-jones-to-shedeur-shaders-mapping-hbcu-players-in-the-nfl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/567926\/","title":{"rendered":"From Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones to Shedeur Shaders: Mapping HBCU players in the NFL"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

HBCU players have a long history in the NFL, dating back to 1949<\/a> when Grambling\u2019s Paul \u201cTank\u201d Younger took the field for the Los Angeles Rams. Since then, 52 HBCUs have been represented in the league, per Pro Football Reference<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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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 \u201cToo Tall\u201d Jones.<\/p>\n

Grambling alums, meanwhile, include Hall of Fame defensive back Willie Brown and Hall of Fame wide receiver Charlie Joiner.<\/p>\n

Both schools will have two players on hand in Ashburn<\/a> \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

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Can’t see our graphics?\u00a0Click here to reload the page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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).<\/p>\n

In terms of standouts, 35 HBCU alumni from 17 different schools<\/a> have made the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State), Michael Strahan (Texas Southern), and Walter Payton (Jackson State).<\/p>\n

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More recently, 24 former HBCU players made initial 53-man rosters in 2025 per HBCU Gameday<\/a>. That slate included Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, both of whom played at Jackson State before transferring to Colorado.<\/p>\n

In last year\u2019s draft, offensive lineman Carson Vinson from Alabama A&M was the lone player drafted directly out of an HBCU<\/a> \u2014 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 \u2014 four \u2014 has occurred five times since 2010.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

1 \/ 32<\/p>\n

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

1. Las Vegas Raiders \u2013 Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

1. Las Vegas Raiders \u2013 Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

2. New York Jets \u2013 Arvell Reese, LB\/DE, Ohio State<\/p>\n

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3 \/ 32<\/p>\n

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

3. Arizona Cardinals \u2013 David Bailey, OLB\/DE, Texas Tech<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

4. Tennessee Titans \u2013 Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

5. New York Giants \u2013 Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

6. Cleveland Browns \u2013 Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

7. Washington Commanders \u2013 Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

8. New Orleans Saints \u2013 Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

9. Kansas City Chiefs \u2013 Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

10. Cincinnati Bengals \u2013 Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

11. Miami Dolphins \u2013 Francis Mauigoa, OT\/G, Miami (Fla.)<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

12. Dallas Cowboys \u2013 Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) \u2013 Makai Lemon, WR, USC<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

14. Baltimore Ravens \u2013 Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers \u2013 Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami (Fla.)<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

16. Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) \u2013 Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State<\/p>\n

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17 \/ 32<\/p>\n

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

17. Detroit Lions \u2013 Spencer Fano, OT\/G, Utah<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

18. Minnesota Vikings \u2013 Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

19. Carolina Panthers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

20. Dallas Cowboys \u2013 CJ Allen, LB, Georgia<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

21. Pittsburgh Steelers \u2013 Kadyn Proctor, OT\/G, Alabama<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

22. Los Angeles Chargers \u2013 T.J. Parker, DE\/OLB, Clemson<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

23. Philadelphia Eagles \u2013 Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

24. Cleveland Browns \u2013 Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

25. Chicago Bears \u2013 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

26. Buffalo Bills \u2013 Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M<\/p>\n

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NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

27. San Francisco 49ers \u2013 Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah<\/p>\n

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28 \/ 32<\/p>\n

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

28. Houston Texans \u2013 Blake Miller, OT, Clemson<\/p>\n

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29 \/ 32<\/p>\n

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Los Angeles Rams) \u2013 Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee<\/p>\n

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30 \/ 32<\/p>\n

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos) \u2013 Denzel Boston, WR, Washington<\/p>\n

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31 \/ 32<\/p>\n

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

31. New England Patriots \u2013 Zion Young, DE\/OLB, Missouri<\/p>\n

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32 \/ 32<\/p>\n

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection<\/p>\n

32. Seattle Seahawks \u2013 Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: HBCU players in NFL history, including Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The NFL is set to host its 2026 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Showcase starting March 28 in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":567927,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[559],"tags":[64,63,631,279356,232543,191577,279355,279354,53096,194824,1263,593,28780,230639,279353,1244,85,273754,1285],"class_list":["post-567926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-baltimore-ravens","tag-carson-vinson","tag-defensive-lineman","tag-grambling","tag-hbcu-gameday","tag-historically-black-colleges","tag-jackson-state","tag-james-stewart","tag-los-angeles-rams","tag-nfl","tag-pro-football-hall-of-fame","tag-pro-football-reference","tag-richard-dent","tag-shedeur-sanders","tag-sports","tag-tennessee-state","tag-travis-hunter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/567926","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=567926"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/567926\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/567927"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=567926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=567926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=567926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}