Latest news with #HBCUPlayeroftheYear
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Shedeur Sanders could break a glass ceiling
About a month after a dramatic slide in the NFL Draft, talk is growing that Shedeur Sanders could start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. The former HBCU Player of the Year at Jackson State and standout at Colorado has made headlines throughout mini-camp - and the buzz keeps building. Tony Rizzo of ESPN Cleveland discussed a recent report expressing hope that Sanders will be the Browns' starting quarterback. "Something tells me this is going to work out in a weird way," Rizzo said. "The Browns told you they liked Dillon Gabriel more when they drafted him in the third round. But maybe Shedeur can impress enough to change their minds." Sanders was picked by the Browns in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. That came after early talk of him being a top-five selection. His fall to Day Three became a major storyline and sparked debates on-air and online. 'Listen, in that building, there are people who believe that Shedeur can 100 percent be the starter of this football team,' Kimberly A. Martin said on ESPN's Get Up. 'You said it's up to the Browns to give him the chance. It's also up to Shedeur to do the work. People there say he's soaking up everything like a sponge." If Shedeur gets on the field - starter or not - he'll be breaking a barrier for HBCU quarterbacks. He spent two years under his father, Deion Sanders, at Jackson State. He won SWAC and FCS Freshman of the Year in 2021 and SWAC Player of the Year in 2022 before transferring to Colorado. No HBCU quarterback has taken an NFL snap since 2015. That year, former Alabama State star Tavaris Jackson subbed in for Russell Wilson with the Seahawks. Jackson was also the last HBCU quarterback drafted before Sanders. The post Shedeur Sanders could break a glass ceiling appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Miami Herald
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
HBCU Player of the Year signs with UFL
Despite a record-shattering collegiate career, Virginia Union star Jada Byers was not selected in the NFL Draft nor signed by any NFL teams. However, the HBCU standout is getting a professional opportunity-he is signing with the UFL's Memphis Showboats, according to a report from Steve Wyche of NFL Network. Byers, widely regarded as a generational talent at running back in HBCU football history, was named the 2024 Deacon Jones Award winner, an honor given to the top player in HBCU football. He also earned Black College Football Hall of Fame Player of the Year and CIAA Offensive Player of the Year accolades. The Virginia Union senior capped off his remarkable collegiate career as the school's all-time leading rusher. Nationally, he ranks second all-time in both CIAA and HBCU football history with 2,061 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns in the 2024 season alone. His legendary status was cemented with a record-breaking performance against Bowie State on October 26, where he rushed for 324 yards and six touchdowns, including a stunning 75-yard score. Though Byers was overlooked by the NFL, his signing with the UFL offers him a platform to showcase his talent and continue his football journey. His combination of vision, speed, and durability makes him a dangerous weapon out of the backfield, and the Memphis Showboats may have landed one of the biggest steals in alternative professional football. Byers' journey reflects the resilience often required of HBCU athletes striving for recognition at the professional level. With the UFL as his new stage, he'll look to prove that his name belongs among the best-regardless of league. The post HBCU Player of the Year signs with UFL appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
