NFL to hold new draft prospect showcase for HBCU football players

The NFL is expanding the spotlight on HBCU and international talent.

The league announced participants for the 2026 HBCU Showcase and International Player Pathway (IPP) Pro Day, a three-day evaluation event set for March 28–30 in Ashburn, Virginia.

Held in partnership with the Black College Football Hall of Fame and NFL International, the showcase and pro day will bring top draft-eligible HBCU prospects and global athletes in front of scouts and executives from across the league, according to the NFL website.

The on-field workouts are scheduled for March 30 at the Washington Commanders’ BigBear.ai Performance Center at Commanders Park, with offensive prospects beginning at 8 a.m. ET and defensive players and specialists following at 10:45 a.m.

Which HBCU players are invited to the NFL showcase?

Among the HBCU invitees are quarterback William Atkins (South Carolina State), offensive tackle Charles Davis and tackle Ashton Grable (both Florida A&M), edge rusher Quincy Ivory (Jackson State), defensive lineman Bryce Cage (Grambling), and wide receiver Jordan Smith (South Carolina State), part of a list that spans the MEAC, SWAC, SIAC, CIAA and independent HBCU programs.

In all, 47 HBCU players were selected for the showcase, ranging from skill positions like running backs Kevon King (Norfolk State) and Jacorian Sewell (Alcorn State) to linemen such as Korion Sharpe (North Carolina A&T) and James Stewart (Tennessee State).

All NFL clubs are expected to attend in full, giving HBCU prospects and IPP players a crucial stage to improve their draft stock or earn free-agent opportunities.

Why does the pro day matter?

The league’s partnership with the Black College Football Hall of Fame is designed to deepen its pipeline from HBCUs to the NFL, building on recent efforts that include the HBCU Combine and Legacy Bowl tie-ins.

The 2026 NFL HBCU Showcase offers critical exposure for HBCU players just weeks before the April draft.

Invite-only selection signals elite status among draft-eligible HBCU talent, letting standouts perform for executives and scouts.

Players can boost draft stock, secure priority free-agent invites, or land rookie contracts—key for HBCU athletes often overlooked versus Power 4 competition.

Morgan State’s Erick Hunter, a MEAC star with 298 career tackles, called it a “premier stage” toward the NFL after earning All-American nods.

2026 HBCU Showcase Participants