The 2024 HBCU Legacy Bowl is not only a curtain call to the collegiate careers of the top HBCU draft-eligible prospects but also a golden opportunity for them to make a lasting impression.
This game is the final chance for these players to give scouts a reason to put them on their clipboards with a big in-game performance.
Here are some of the players fans should keep an eye on.
Jyron Russell, QB, Edward Waters
In a season that saw Edward Waters finish with a 6-4 overall record, their best record since 2004, Jyron Russell put forth a credible argument for the SIAC Player of the Year award.
He finished the season with 2,768 passing yards, completing 59 percent of his passes and scoring 24 touchdowns with just nine interceptions.
Russell showed a flare for the dramatic, throwing the game-winning touchdown in three of Edward Waters’ wins.
This included a historic contest against Tuskegee in which he threw the game-winning touchdown as time expired for Edward Waters’ first-ever win over the Golden Tigers.
Ian Wheeler, RB, Howard
When evaluating an NFL prospect, versatility is always a plus, and Howard running back Ian Wheeler has that in spades.
Wheeler was the definition of an all-purpose back for the Bison. He produced 2,710 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns in his four years with the team.
His greatest impact came on special teams, leading the MEAC, averaging 29.1 kick return yards per game this past season.
Wheeler’s all-around playmaking ability will serve him well in his bid for a career at the professional level.
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Kamari Young, TE, Florida A&M
There is not exactly a deep field of tight ends taking part in this year’s HBCU Legacy Bowl, but Kamari Young stands out among the rest.
Young is 6’4 and 245 pounds and has a dynamic mix of size and athleticism that will lend to an advantage going forward.
The former Rattler finished his career with 63 receptions for 956 yards and scored six touchdowns. Last season, Young ranked second among all tight ends in the FCS, averaging 16.44 yards per reception.
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Corintheus Edmonds, WR, Fort Valley State
Corintheus Edmonds has made the most of the opportunities presented to him, using this process to creep up on some pro scouts’ radar.
Edmonds was a big-play receiver for Fort Valley State recording 65 receptions for 1,128 (17.4 yards per reception) and scored seven touchdowns in his two years with the team.
The Wildcats receiver’s performance in the HBCU Combine and HBCU Legacy Bowl practices has helped set him apart from opposing receivers.
His speed and pass-catching ability have caught the eye of scouts and could lead to further opportunities with a big game on Saturday.
Tairiq Stewart, OL, North Carolina A&T
There might not be a more physically imposing prospect in this year’s HBCU Legacy Bowl than North Carolina A&T offensive lineman Tairiq Stewart.
Standing 6’6 and weighing 300 pounds, Stewart was a driving force behind a North Carolina A&T offense that rushed for over 2,000 yards and surrendered just 15 sacks in 2022.
Even with the Aggies’ horrid 1-10 record this past year, NCAT’s big man did enough to warrant an all-conference selection.
If opposing defensive linemen want to have a star-making performance, they will most likely have to go through this brick wall of a man to do it.
Jae’Veyon Morton, DB, Morgan State
Transferring to Morgan State from Iowa State, Jae’Veyon Morton was a ballhawk, giving the Bears’ defense a secondary threat they had not seen in recent years.
In his three years at Morgan State, Morton recorded six interceptions, 24 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.
Despite being undersized at 5’9, Morton has carved out a niche as a turnover machine, which could be his ticket to an NFL roster spot.
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Patrick Godbolt, DL, South Carolina State
Patrick Godbolt is a dangerous mix of speed and intensity, making him a force to be reckoned with for opposing offenses.
Godbolt put himself on the map in the 2021 season, acting as a driving force behind South Carolina State’s Celebration Bowl.
He finished that year with 51 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two pass breakups. This included a Celebration Bowl performance in which he posted five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks, and a forced fumble.
Although he has slightly declined since then, missing several games over the past two seasons, he has restored his stock with an impressive HBCU combine.
This game will be yet another opportunity for Godbolt to show why he is a pro-level talent.
Colton Adams, LB, Alabama State
Colton Adams was an absolute tackling machine in his final two years with Alabama State, leading a defense that ranked among the top units in the country.
He recorded a monstrous 252 tackles, 29.0 tackles for loss, and 6.0 sacks in his last two collegiate seasons, anchoring the Hornets to the second-best scoring defense in the FCS.
Adams was so dominant that many thought he was robbed of the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year award in the last two seasons.
This offseason, however, the Hornets’ linebacker has not done much to stand out. This game will be his last big opportunity to put his skill set on display and separate himself from the pack.
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