After four Black college football players were selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, there was reason to believe that 2023 would yield more of the same success.
Several HBCU players at different positions seemingly had the skills and accolades to fill most any need a team was looking for.
Unfortunately, only one HBCU player, Jackson State’s Isaiah Bolden, was among the 259 players who heard the names called during the 2023 NFL Draft.
Steve Wyche, a Howard University alum and NFL Network reporter, was disappointed that there weren’t more players selected.
‘The proof is in the pudding’
“It is very frustrating more than anything, seeing that for players were drafted and three were impact players – James Houston (Jackson State) led the Detroit Lions in sacks, Joshua Williams (Fayetteville State, Kansas City Chiefs) was a big part of the Super Bowl winner and Decobie Durant (South Carolina State, Los Angeles Rams) when he was healthy, was an excellent slot cornerback,” Wyche told HBCU Sports in a phone interview.
“The proof was in the pudding. You would think building on that momentum, NFL teams would say ‘There’s talent at HBCUs.'”
Though only one HBCU player was drafted, several more who were forecasted to be late-round picks signed undrafted free-agent deals. Florida A&M linebacker Isaiah Land signed with the Dallas Cowboys, while Arkansas Pine-Bluff offensive lineman Mark Evans II and South Carolina State wide receiver Shaquan Davis signed with the New Orleans Saints.
‘A step back’
Lane College defensive end Andrew Farmer signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, Florida A&M wide receiver Xavier Smith signed with the Rams and Jackson State linebacker Aubrey Miller signed with the Miami Dolphins.
The (scouts and talent evaluators) clearly saw the talent was there, it’s almost as if their thinking was, ‘Let’s go get them as UDFAs because they’re not going to have any options,’” Wyche said, adding that after the later rounds, “It’s better to be a UDFA because you can pick your landing spot, especially with a team that’s short on a position.
It’s not always the best scenario, as being drafted does carry some prestige. (Only one HBCU player selected) is a step back.”
It was tough sledding for all lower-level players as only 11 sub-FBS players were drafted over the weekend and Wyche feels that didn’t help the cause for draft-eligible HBCU players either.
“Look how many teams drafted multiple players from the same school – Michigan, Georgia, Alabama,” Wyche explains. “That was a little bit different than in previous years, but it seemed like it happened a lot in this draft and you have to say to yourself, are they judging HBCU/FCS kids by their competition? It’s hard to tell what they’re evaluating. Isaiah Land is a really good edge rusher, but there were a lot of great edge rushers in this draft, and that hurt him. Still, seeing what James Houston did last year after not playing until Thanksgiving and finishing with eight sacks that can translate.”
While solutions aren’t easy to come by, Wyche suggested that HBCU school media teams can do potential prospects favors by promoting the players who appear to be draft ready.
“They’ve gotta push it out there,” he says. “Shaq Leonard (SC State/Indianapolis Colts) had 19 tackles against Clemson, and that really made him stand out. When HBCUs play those Power 5 schools, it’s important to leave something on tape that’s positive when a couple of players stand out, especially if they’re draft caliber. That video is the scouts will pound the table for.”
