Four players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities were selected in the NFL draft Saturday after not having a player selected last year and only one in 2020.
In the fourth round, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Fayetteville State cornerback Joshua Williams with the 135th overall pick, and the Los Angeles Rams selected S.C. State cornerback Decobie Durant with the 142nd overall pick.
Jackson State linebacker James Houston IV was selected by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round (217th overall) and Southern offensive tackle Ja’Tyre Carter was drafted by the Bears in the seventh round (226th overall).
Last year, Jackson State Head Football coach Deion Sanders, among other HBCU coaches, voiced their frustrations with the lack of players drafted in the 2021 NFL Draft.
“And we have the Audacity to Hate on one another while our kids are being NEGLECTED & REJECTED. I witnessed a multitude of kids that we played against that were more than qualified to be drafted.,” Sanders said in a post via Instagram. “My prayers are that This won’t EVER happen again. Get yo knife out my back and fight with me not against me!”
In January, the NFL hosted its first HBCU combine, giving players a chance to work out for and meet with scouts from every team in hopes of getting into the league.
Williams, Durant, Carter and Florida A&M safety Markquese Bell were the only HBCU players who were invited and participated in the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.
Bell, who was not drafted, was signed by the Dallas Cowboys, joining a list of other HBCU players to sign with a team as an undrafted rookie free agent.
I am so thrilled to see that four HBCU players were drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, a significant increase from the previous year! This shows that these talented athletes are getting the recognition and opportunities they deserve, and it is a step towards greater representation and diversity in the league. Congratulations to these players and their respective teams! – Alex Cool
Parents,Coaches, and community people especially those of us living near HBCUs please keep your eyes open about stuff like this, This is unacceptable and should never happen again. Jalon you and I are Eagles and it will take all of us to stay woke about stuff like this. Also let’s make sure that our Career Department peeps make sure that these young men have a degree that will allow them to have some skills to fall back on even if it means an extra year in school. LJ Steele,MA