Which 2025 NFL Draft prospects stand out in this year's HBCU Legacy Bowl class?
There were 22 players representing 15 different HBCU schools on NFL rosters when training camp closed last season. However, none of those players heard their name called at the 2024 NFL Draft. Could the 2025 HBCU NFL Draft class break through?
The HBCU's annual NFL Draft combine took place earlier this week in New Orleans, showcasing some of the league's top talent for the fourth straight year. Here's a look at some of the top performers from this year's event, which concludes with Saturday's HBCU Legacy Bowl (4 p.m. ET, NFL Network):
GO DEEPER
2025 NFL Draft Big Board: Who are the top 100 prospects in this year's class?
The 6-foot-4, 192-pound Davis had a combined 67 catches for 921 yards and 10 touchdowns over the last two seasons, and he was arguably the best athlete at this year's HBCU combine. Davis turned in a 4.44-second 40-yard dash with an impressive 1.49-second 10-yard split. He also notched a 40 1/2-inch vertical.
An explosive, long athlete who can make plays in the air, Davis added more than 25 pounds of muscle during his time at NC Central.
North Carolina Central WR Joaquin Davis followed up his strong HBCU Combine showing with a solid first practice for the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl. Davis will play for Team Gaither (MEAC, CIAA) Saturday, 4 ET, on NFL Network. pic.twitter.com/JusiJxT23j
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) February 18, 2025
After rushing for nearly 700 yards in eight games last season, Mulligan (5-9, 198) delivered a 1,245-yard, 13-touchdown senior season for Jackson State. Mulligan's most impressive metric at the combine was the 1.51 10-split he had during his 4.58-second 40-yard dash.
An explosive athlete with immediate burst, Mulligan forced 58 missed tackles last year for the Tigers — and a total of 140 during his college career. Mulligan also played 19 games games over parts of three years at Wofford, rushing for 1,318 yards prior to transferring to Jackson State.
🪓🪵 Irv Mulligan 🔥 #GuardTheeYard #TheeILove pic.twitter.com/VlYjhXPnqP
— Jackson State Football (@gojsutigersfb) October 22, 2024
Despite his less-than-desirable height for the position, Bohler (5-11, 193) ran a 4.53 with a 1.54 10-split and a 38-inch vertical (10-5 broad jump), showing off plenty of explosion to go with his solid length (75-inch wingspan).
A competitive, well-rounded athlete who isn't afraid to hit, Bohler forced 13 incomplete passes in 2023. A two-time All-SWAC performer, Bohler was also on Bruce Feldman's 'Freaks List' back in August. He had a top squat of 560 pounds entering the season.
Advertisement
A Central Michigan transfer, the 6-5, 255-pound Stokes measured in with 33-inch arms (80.5-inch wingspan) and ran a 4.76 40 with a 1.60 10-yard split — that split number borders on elite for an edge. He added a 33 1/2-inch vertical and broad jump of 10 foot, 4 inches.
Stokes had 3 1/2 sacks and 13 tackles for loss this past season at Prairie View A&M, his only year as a full-time contributor in college. He spent time with Central Michigan before transferring to Prairie View.
GO DEEPER
NFL beat writer mock draft 2025: Giants, Raiders secure their futures at QB
Just 6-4, 287 Ivey nonetheless measured in with 35 5/8-inch arms, a near-86-inch wingspan and 10 1/2-inch hands — some of the most impressive measurements at the event.
Ivey obviously is too thin to play up front in the NFL right away, but he moves well (5.16 40 with a 1.70 10-split) and put up 19 reps of 225 pounds on the bench.
Mansfield (6-1, 281), but he ran a 4.94 40 (1.70 10-split) with a 32 1/2-inch vertical leap and 25 reps on the bench.
Mansfield had 18 pressures up the middle last year for NC Central and was a disruptive force inside throughout his career.
The 6-0, 189-pound Robiou (32-inch arms) recorded a 43-inch vertical jump to go along with a broad jump of 10 feet, 5 inches.
A do-it-all safety last year at Howard, Robiou also worked in the slot. His explosion is hard to ignore.
Other standouts: Tru Thompson, DT, Jackson State; Elijah Williams, DT, Morgan State; Jaden Sutton, RB, Delaware State; Jeremiah Pruitte, TE, Florida A&M Terrance Hollon, LB, Howard; Robert McDaniel, DB, Jackson State
(Top photo of Irv Mulligan: Charles A. Smith / Jackson State University via Getty Images)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
30 minutes ago
- New York Post
Packers releasing two-time Pro Bowler Jaire Alexander after contract dispute
The Green Bay Packers are releasing two-time Pro Bowler and two-time second-team All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander, according to reports Monday morning. The 28-year-old has played a combined 14 games across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, as he has struggled with injuries. Jaire Alexander has spent all seven of his NFL seasons with the Packers. AP Alexander signed a four-year, $22 million contract extension in 2022. He and Green Bay explored trade options this offseason before he was then asked to restructure his contract and take a pay cut ahead of the upcoming season. Alexander seemingly did not want to restructure his deal, and now came the decision to cut ties. Jaire Alexander was selected with the 18th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Getty Images Before his injuries, Alexander had been one of the league's premier defensive backs since he joined the Packers as a first-round pick in 2018. In 2020, he reached his first Pro Bowl and received his first second-team All-Pro nod. He earned the same honors in 2022 after an injury-plagued 2021 season.
USA Today
43 minutes ago
- USA Today
Broncos predicted to take a step back in 2025
Broncos predicted to take a step back in 2025 The Denver Broncos took a huge step forward last season, reaching the NFL playoffs with a 10-7 record while starting a rookie quarterback. Many fans and pundits now expect the club to take another leap in 2025. Not everyone is confident the team will continue progressing, though. Touchdown Wire's Jarrett Bailey recently released his 2025 record predictions for each team, and he has the Broncos taking a step backward this fall. Bailey has predicted Denver will go 8-9, finishing behind the Los Angeles Chargers (9-8) and Kansas City Chiefs (14-3), above only the Las Vegas Raiders (8-9) in the AFC West. "Denver's defense will be one of the best in the league, but the offense will take a step back with a lack of top weapons," Bailey wrote for Touchdown Wire. It will be fascinating to track how that prediction ages in 2025 as quarterback Bo Nix enters his second season. Sean Payton's squad averaged 25 points per game in 2024, which ranked 10th in the NFL. Bailey expects two fewer wins and worse offensive production this year. Time will tell. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
Forbes
44 minutes ago
- Forbes
Packers Will Release CB Jaire Alexander
The Green Bay Packers are expected to release cornerback Jaire Alexander today. The Jaire Alexander Experience is over in Green Bay. The Packers' gifted, quirky and oft-injured cornerback will be released today according to the NFL Network. Green Bay's mandatory minicamp runs June 10-12, and Alexander was expected to attend. In the last four seasons, Alexander — a first round draft pick in 2018 — missed 34 of a potential 68 games. He also couldn't finish four of the games he played in after sustaining injuries. Alexander was also suspended for one game after appointing himself a captain for a 2023 game at Carolina — a contest in which he bungled the coin toss call in a move that nearly cost the Packers a possession. The Packers and Alexander's camp discussed restructuring a contract that would have paid him $17.5 million this season. When the two sides couldn't find middle ground, though, the Packers decided to release Alexander. 'We're working together on finding the best solution for everybody,' Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said in March. 'Obviously we've invested a lot into Jaire, and I want to make sure if he's not going to be on our football team helping us win games that we get something back for that investment. We'll see where it goes, but, again, working with him weekly and we'll try to figure out what's best for Jaire and the Packers.' Alexander's last action in 2024 came on Nov. 17 and he finished the campaign on the injured reserve list with a knee injury. When Alexander was asked about his future after last season ended, he issued this doozy. 'I don't even know if I'll be here next year,' he said. Alexander also added: 'You don't want to hear what I've got to say. … I don't have anything good to say.' There was a time Alexander ranked among the top corners in football. In 2018, Alexander was named to the NFL's all-rookie team. In 2019, Alexander tied for fourth in the league with 17 passes defensed and had two interceptions. And as recently as 2020, Pro Football Focus ranked Alexander as the No. 1 cornerback in football. He also intercepted Tampa Bay's Tom Brady twice in the NFC Championship Game that year. Since then, though, it's been one injury after another for one of the NFL's most bombastic players. Alexander played just four games in 2021 due to a shoulder injury. In 2023, he missed 10 games — three with a back injury, six with a shoulder injury, and a 10th contest after he was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. Then in 2024, Alexander missed 10 games due to quadricep and groin injuries, as well as a torn posterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee. 'Obviously, he was trying to get his knee right, it wasn't getting right, and so, yeah, it's a tough deal for all of us,' Packers coach Matt LaFleur said at the end of last season. Without Alexander around, Green Bay's top three cornerbacks are Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs and Carrington Valentine.
