The release of the 2026 NFL Combine invite list has ignited strong reactions across the HBCU football community after it was revealed that no players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities were selected to participate in this year’s event in Indianapolis.
Rasheeda Liberty, founder and lead agent at Lady Lib Sports, called the absence of HBCU representation “a reflection of systemic issues” that continue to affect how NFL teams evaluate talent outside of major programs.
“HBCUs are full of talented players coached by some of the best in the business, as demonstrated by the players currently in the league,” Liberty said in a statement shared on social media. “The issue of discovering talent is systemic. Teams will need to properly invest and require their designated scouts to actually make multiple visits to schools, speak with coaches and actually view games in person versus behind the desk in April late in the draft process. There has to be an intentional effort to discover the talent from all 32.”
Liberty’s comments followed her earlier post noting the contradiction between the lack of combine invitations and the consistent presence of HBCU alumni on NFL rosters each season. “Not one HBCU player invited,” she wrote. “However, they continue to be in the NFL each year. There is definitely a systemic gap in how the talent at HBCUs are evaluated.”
NFL Combine numbers show importance of HBCU-centered scouting events
Not one HBCU player invited. However, they continue to be in the NFL each year. There is definitely a systemic gap in how the talent at HBCUs are evaluated. 💯 https://t.co/ktnLBWGzWF
— Rasheeda Liberty (Lady Lib Sports) (@ladylib1922) February 11, 2026
The combine, long considered the premier pre-draft showcase for college football players, annually draws elite prospects from across Division I football. Although the event typically includes a handful of FCS representatives, the complete absence of HBCU participants this year has renewed scrutiny over the league’s scouting approach.
Last year, Alabama A&M offensive lineman Carson Vinson was the only HBCU player at the NFL Combine. He was eventually selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
In 2024, three HBCU football players were invited to the pre-draft scouting event.
Gerald J. Huggins II, an HBCU scouting advocate, echoed Liberty’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of alternative opportunities such as the HBCU Legacy Bowl and HBCU Combine.
“This is why the HBCU showcase is important,” Huggins posted. “For the HBCU players that were overlooked for the NFL Combine, the showcase gives them a chance to perform in front of all 32 teams plus other NFL and CFL personnel.”
In recent draft classes, several HBCU standouts—such as Fayetteville State’s Josh Williams and South Carolina State’s Cobie Durant—have proven that small-school talent can make an impact at the next level. Liberty and others argue that stories like theirs should serve as reminders of the depth of ability spread across HBCU programs.
“The talent is there,” Liberty added, “but discovery must be intentional.”
