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Hindustan Times
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
NFL Draft 2025: Top 10 HBCU players — From Robert McDaniel to Elijah Williams
The National Football League (NFL) pre-draft process is done and all the candidates with all their might have proved to the teams why they should be drafted in the upcoming draft. From last year's season to all-star showcases, pro days, and individual workouts, here are 10 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) prospects who have built the strongest cases to be drafted for the 2025 NFL Draft: Being the top HBCU prospect since last year, McDaniel is a three-level defender who can fit perfectly in multiple alignments on the field. Having an 8.84 Relative Athletic Score, he has become one of the most athletic defensive backs in this year's class. He is the most ready to help a team on defense and special teams as a rookie. Williams has played outside linebacker, defensive end, defensive tackle, and nose guard in several alignments. With a Relative Athletic Score of 8.27, standing tall at 6'2, and weighing 290+ lbs, He can be shifted on the defensive line. Standing tall at 6'7" and weighing 314 lbs, Vinson has been a High-End starter on the FCS level for multiple years. He had a solid performance at the Senior Bowl and capped it off with good testing at the NFL Combine and his pro day. Having an 8.07 Relative Athletic Score solidifies his stock as a Day Three prospect. Mulligan's pro day solidified him as a prospect that a team should sign as soon as the draft is complete. His relative athletic score of 6.46 is solid, which further complements his 4.53 forty-yard dash, along with a 36-inch vertical jump and a 10'9" broad jump. At 6'0 and weighing 235 lbs, Smith projects as a weakside linebacker in a linebacker class that is not very deep. He ran a 4.69 forty-yard dash, 35 on his vertical jump, 10'3" on the broad jump, and 25 reps on the bench press – all that led to a 6.17 Relative Athletic Score for him. For a player who may not have the ideal body type to be a true safety, and there were some questions about his athletic ability, Gallop's film and Pro Day testing certainly helped him after not testing at the HBCU Combine. He ended up with a 6.02 Relative Athletic Score at his pro day, which is average for a strong safety. He will be asked to play closer to the line of scrimmage due to his 5'11" and 212 lbs frame. After not performing in the HBCU Combine, Burgess performed well in the HBCU Legacy, and evaluators were highly anticipating his testing numbers. Luckily for Burgess, his film will keep him in the conversation to be a priority-free agent. Decius has the size, quickness, and overall agility to be a solid nickel and a core special-teams player on the next level. After the Legacy Bowl, he performed at his pro day and tested better, resulting in a 6.81 Relative Athletic Score that will translate to him playing in the nickel defense. Bohler had a 4.99 Relative Athletic Score after posting a 4.59 forty-yard dash, 1.55 10-yard split, a 10'11" broad jump, a 35" vertical jump, at a height of 5'11', weighing 194 lbs. A bit underwhelming, but his skill set can still translate to him playing in the nickel and being a special teamer on the next level.
Miami Herald
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU prospects eye opportunity in 2025 NFL Draft
Several HBCU football players will seek to begin their NFL journeys this weekend as the 2025 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Players from a myriad of colleges and universities hope to potentially hear their names called in the latter rounds of the draft on Saturday, despite the struggles for HBCU football players to secure selections in the league's annual event in recent years. The 2024 NFL draft marked the second time in four years – the 2021 NFL draft – that no players from HBCUs were selected during the event's seven rounds. In 2023, the New England Patriots selected former Jackson State cornerback Isaiah Bolden at No. 245 in the seventh round of the NFL draft. In the 2022 draft, four HBCU players were selected. They include Fayetteville State's Joshua Williams (Kansas City Chiefs, 4th round, No. 135), South Carolina State's Decobie Durant (Los Angeles Rams, 4th round, No. 142), Jackson State's James Houston IV (Detroit Lions, 6th round, No. 217) and Southern University's Ja'Tyre Carter (Chicago Bears, 7th round, No. 226). When adding in Tennessee State's Lachavious Simmons (7th round, No. 227) to the Bears, only eight players from the HBCU ranks have been selected in the last five NFL drafts. However, after this year's postseason bowl games and showcases like the HBCU Combine and the HBCU Legacy Bowl, here are 10 players to keep an eye on for the next three days, according to FCS Football Central draft analyst Gerald Huggins. Robert McDaniel, Jackson State, SafetyElijah Williams, Morgan State, Defensive LinemanCarson Vinson, Alabama A&M, Offensive LinemanIrv Mulligan, Jackson State, Running BackAaron Smith, South Carolina State, LinebackerKenny Gallop Jr., Howard, SafetyJames Burgess, Alabama State, CornerbackPhillip Webb, Jackson State, Defensive LinemanCarlvainsky Decius, Morgan State, Defensive BackKendall Bohler, Florida A&M, Defensive Back Some other signature names to watch for over the weekend include Virginia Union running back Jada Byers, Florida A&M tight end Jeremiah Pruitte, and Prairie View defensive end Fred Stokes Jr. Round 1 of the NFL draft will begin at 8 p.m. ET with the first 32 selections. Rounds 2 and 3 will take place on Friday, starting at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Rounds 4-7 beginning at noon ET on Saturday. The post HBCU prospects eye opportunity in 2025 NFL Draft appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Saints 'showed high interest' in Jackson State DB during the HBCU Combine
The New Orleans Saints have quite a long list of prospects that they have met with during the offseason process, and that list continues to grow as more reports come out and more players meet with them in recent days. Last month the HBCU combine was held at the Saints' Ochsner Sports Performance Center, and at that event, the team met with Jackson State defensive back Robert McDaniel, which Justin Melo of The Draft Network reported in an interview with the young defender. "I met with more than 16 teams," McDaniel told Melo. "I had great meetings with the Ravens, Packers, Saints, Commanders, and Cardinals. Those are some of the teams that come to mind." McDaniel had an exceptional performance at the HBCU combine as well, posting a 4.55-second 40-yard dash, 38.5-inch vertical jump, and 10-foot-8 broad jump. He has also been decently productive at both Alcorn State and Jackson State, with last season being far and away his best season. In 2024 he posted 48 total tackles (30 solo & 18 assisted), 4 pass deflections, 3.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 interceptions. With the Saints having a need at cornerback in the short term, and at safety down the road, bringing in a prospect with proven production and a career that has only improved season by season is a good bet to make. At the moment McDaniel is expected to be a mid-to-late day three pick or priority undrafted free agent, so bringing him in would be exceptional value in that range. This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints 'showed high interest' in Jackson State DB at the HBCU Combine
USA Today
21-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Saints 'showed high interest' in Jackson State DB during the HBCU Combine
Saints 'showed high interest' in Jackson State DB during the HBCU Combine The New Orleans Saints have quite a long list of prospects that they have met with during the offseason process, and that list continues to grow as more reports come out and more players meet with them in recent days. Last month the HBCU combine was held at the Saints' Ochsner Sports Performance Center, and at that event, the team met with Jackson State defensive back Robert McDaniel, which Justin Melo of The Draft Network reported in an interview with the young defender. "I met with more than 16 teams," McDaniel told Melo. "I had great meetings with the Ravens, Packers, Saints, Commanders, and Cardinals. Those are some of the teams that come to mind." McDaniel had an exceptional performance at the HBCU combine as well, posting a 4.55-second 40-yard dash, 38.5-inch vertical jump, and 10-foot-8 broad jump. He has also been decently productive at both Alcorn State and Jackson State, with last season being far and away his best season. In 2024 he posted 48 total tackles (30 solo & 18 assisted), 4 pass deflections, 3.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 interceptions. With the Saints having a need at cornerback in the short term, and at safety down the road, bringing in a prospect with proven production and a career that has only improved season by season is a good bet to make. At the moment McDaniel is expected to be a mid-to-late day three pick or priority undrafted free agent, so bringing him in would be exceptional value in that range.
USA Today
25-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alontae Taylor reflects on advising prospects at the HBCU Legacy Bowl
Alontae Taylor spent time with the athletes at the HBCU Legacy Bowl over the course of the week and reflected on his experience with New Orleans Saints team reporter Erin Summers. The Saints defensive back is in the position these prospects are aiming to be in, so he's more than qualified to give them advice. Prior to the practices for the all star game, the players went through the HBCU Combine. Alabama A&M offensive tackle Carson Vinson was the only HBCU player invited to the NFL Scouting Combine this year. This event allowed more HBCU players to go through the process in front of all 32 teams. This is where Taylor was able to give his advice. 'Being able to talk to them earlier in the week with Marcus and pick their brain and just teach them things that I've already been through that can help them in their combine experience.' Taylor understands the value of the game, as well as the combine, for these players. 'It's very important for them because they're getting an opportunity.' Every player in this game is competing for the chance to be drafted. The top players are looking to be drafted in the mid-to-late round rounds at best. Some of those players are fighting to be considered as an undrafted free agent option. That's part of what comes with being a small school prospect. Taylor was correct to point out 'there's a lot of great athletes in HBCUs that don't get the exposure,' and the Legacy Bowl lets them 'broadcast their talents in front of all 32 teams.'
