Tag: HBCU Legacy Bowl

HBCU Combine underway in New Orleans ahead of HBCU Legacy Bowl

#Chiefs scouts are in New Orleans today to check out the 47 players participating in the 2023 HBCU Combine.

The NFL world has scouts in New Orleans at the Saints team facilities on Monday for the 2023 HBCU (Historically Black College and Universities) Combine. Scouts from all 32 NFL teams are attending the second annual HBCU Combine on Monday, Feb. 20. This comes in coordination with and ahead of the HBCU Legacy Bowl on Saturday, Feb. 25 — an All-Star game supported by Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ 15 and the Mahomies foundation.

Brett Veach selected an HBCU player in the 2022 NFL draft, adding Fayetteville State CB Joshua Williams in the fourth round. Williams contributed all season long, catching a key interception against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game. Could the team again turn to HBCUs to find a contributor in the 2023 NFL draft?

The HBCU Combine is just like the NFL Scouting Combine, but on a smaller scale. Players will participate in the same on-field drills and timed events as they would if they were in Indianapolis later this month.

Here is a look at the 2023 HBCU Combine roster:

Player Position College
Isaiah Cox WR Alabama A&M
Skyler Perry QB Arkansas – Pine Bluff
Kemari Averett TE Bethune Cookman
Joshua Pryor OLB/DE Bowie State
Dion Golatt, Jr. QB Bowie State
Raymond Boone S Bowie State
Devin McCoy TE/WR Clark Atlanta
Jerrish Hasley WR Delaware St.
Brooks Parker LB Delaware St.
Tyler King RB Edward Waters University
Brandon Barnes-Brown S Fayetteville St.
Xavier Smith WR Florida A&M
Chris Faddoul P Florida A&M
A.J. Davis RB Florida A&M
Jose Romo-Martinez K Florida A&M
Emmanuel Wilson RB Fort Valley State
Rey Estes CB Grambling
Ali Shockey WR Hampton
KeShaun Moore OLB Hampton
Antoine Murray WR Howard
De’Jahn Warren CB Jackson State
Andrew Farmer EDGE Lane
Larry Harrington QB Langston
Markell Scott RB Langston
Devin Dourisseau LB Langston
Ronnie Thomas EDGE Mississippi Valley St.
Jacory Rankin WR Mississippi Valley St.
Alfonso Graham RB Morgan State
Zach Leslie WR North Carolina A&T
Dacquari Wilson C North Carolina A&T
Jermaine McDaniel DE North Carolina A&T
Ricky Lee T North Carolina A&T
Jalen Fowler QB North Carolina A&T
Robert Mitchell OL North Carolina Central
Kevin Victorian DE Prairie View
Jordan Lewis OLB Southern
Corione Harris CB Southern
Jason Dumas DT Southern
Brian Williams T Southern
Camron Peterson DT Southern
JJ Holloman WR Tennessee State
Robert Lacey OL Tennessee State
Drake Centers T Texas Southern
Tarik Cooper MLB Texas Southern
Derrick Tucker S Texas Southern
Darius Hagans RB Virginia State
Darian Bryant G Virginia Union

You can watch coverage of the 2023 HBCU Combine throughout the day on NFL Network.

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Jameis Winston, Terron Armstead selected as honorary captains for HBCU Legacy Bowl

New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston and former Saints left tackle Terron Armstead have been chosen as honorary captains for the 2023 HBCU Legacy Bowl:

This is cool to see. The HBCU Legacy Bowl announced Thursday that it has selected New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston and former Saints left tackle Terron Armstead as honorary captains for the 2023 college all-star game, which highlights draft prospects hailing from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Armstead starred at Arkansas Pine-Bluff in college, and Winston has often advocated for HBCU recognition throughout his career in pro football.

The HBCU Legacy Bowl is a big opportunity for aspiring pros to audition in front of scouts not just from the NFL, but spring leagues like the XFL and USFL as well as the CFL and other pro leagues. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 25 at Tulane’s Yulman Stadium; NFL Network will broadcast the game.

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Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is proud to see HBCU players drafted into the NFL

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes took time after OTAs to discuss his excitement about more HBCU players drafted into the NFL. | from @EdEastonJr

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The visibility of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) athletics continues to take positive steps and get the appropriate attention that has been overdue in recent years. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been a very public supporter of HBCU sports and its need for more acknowledgment in the mainstream sports world.

One of Mahomes’ new teammates is rookie cornerback Joshua Williams, one of only four HBCU players drafted this past April. The former league MVP took time after training to discuss his excitement about the addition of more HBCU players into the NFL during Thursday’s press conference following OTAs.

“Yeah, I mean, it was super exciting for me,” Mahomes said. “When you look back, they didn’t have a player drafted last year. And then now to have four guys going. You just wanted to shed light on these guys. They’re guys that are super talented, they’re playing in a competitive division and you want to give them that platform. I think the HBCU bowl game gave them that, and you saw that they got on that platform, they made plays happen. They had the combine as well. And then you got four guys getting drafted and more in camps. And so I think just kind of giving them that light and then letting them go do what they’ve been doing. And they’ve been doing it for a long time. So we give them that platform, and they made the most of it.”

Mahomes served as an honorary captain at this year’s inaugural HBCU Legacy Bowl and his foundation agreed to a multi-year partnership with the event. The postseason all-star game features approximately 100 of the top draft-eligible prospects from HBCUs.

The Chiefs added a talented player in Williams from Fayetteville State, an HBCU, further showing the franchise is in sync with their star quarterback. As time goes on, expect the numbers of HBCU talent in the NFL to grow as these players have even more opportunities to showcase their talents.

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Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes explains inspiration for supporting HBCU Legacy Bowl

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes spoke with Steve Wyche and Charles Davis at the HBCU Legacy Bowl about what inspired him to support the new all-star game.

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is taking in the inaugural HBCU Legacy Bowl at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Mahomes was brought in for the game as an honorary guest. His foundation became one of the biggest supporters of the all-star game when it was announced back in March of 2021. Not only did Mahomes get a chance to meet with the players ahead of the game, but he also was a coin toss captain alongside Doug Williams and James “Shack” Harris.

During the opening quarter of the game, Mahomes spoke with NFL Network broadcasters, Steve Wyche and Charles Davis. They spoke about Mahomes’ inspiration for getting involved with the HBCU Legacy Bowl.

“Yeah, it was a no-brainer for me whenever I got the opportunity through my foundation to help sponsor this game,” Mahomes said. “I know a lot of players that have been at HBCUs and haven’t got the opportunity that I got coming out of college. So I wanted to make sure we shine a light on these guys. There are a bunch of these guys that can play in the league.”

While Mahomes never attended an HBCU himself, many players that he grew up with down in East Texas ended up at HBCUs. One of his old teammates from Texas Tech, who transferred to Texas Southern, was a big inspiration when Mahomes chose to support the game.

“I grew up in Tyler, Texas, which isn’t too far from a couple of the HBCUs down there in Louisiana,” Mahomes said. “For me, I have a buddy that I played with in college whose name is Jonathan Giles who is actually coming out now out of Texas Southern. I know the talent that he has. Just to have the opportunity like today to showcase that talent on a national stage. I think that will help a ton.”

Mahomes also recognized the importance of paying homage to those great players who came before him. HBCUs make up nearly a tenth of all NFL Hall of Famers. Now, he hopes this game will help provide a better opportunity for HBCU players to earn an opportunity to play in the NFL.

“Yeah, you want to make the NFL and this world a better place as you leave it,” Mahomes said. “To be able to show the guys the way — it doesn’t matter where you come from — once you’re in the NFL, you’re in the NFL and you can make the plays. There is so much history of HBCUs having great, Hall of Fame NFL players. I want them to have that belief every single day and I think this will be a great step in that way that we can get these HBCUs with NFL players every year like we know they can.”

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5 college all-star games Broncos can scout before the NFL draft

The East-West Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl are among five college all-star games to watch before the 2022 NFL draft.

Denver Broncos general manager George Paton is a scout at heart, and he scouted five quarterback prospects in person last fall.

Paton and his staff will have many more opportunities to scout the top prospects at college pro days and the NFL combine later this spring. Before any of that, though, there are five college all-star bowl games on deck for the Broncos to get an early start on their scouting.

Hula Bowl: Jan. 15 at 12 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
NFLPA Collegiate Bowl: Jan. 29 at 6 pm ET (NFL Network)
East-West Shrine Bowl: Feb. 3 at 8 pm ET (NFL Network)
Reese’s Senior Bowl: Feb. 5 at 2:30 pm ET (NFL Network)
HBCU Legacy Bowl: Feb. 19 at 4 pm ET (NFL Network)

In addition to airing live on the above networks, all five college all-star games will also be available to stream on fuboTV (free 7-day trial).

The Broncos currently own 11 picks in the 2022 NFL draft, including ninth overall in the first round and five selections in the first three rounds.

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Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ foundation pledges multi-year commitment to HBCU Legacy Bowl

The inaugural HBCU Legacy Bowl is set to take place in February of 2022.

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes continues to collaborate and support the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

Mahomes and his foundation backed their Road to Equality event just this past season, but now they’ll turn their attention and support their newest venture, the HBCU Legacy Bowl. This recently announced postseason college football All-Star game will give the best players and coaches from Historically Black Colleges and Universities an opportunity for exposure with NFL teams and within the greater sport. It’ll provide a unique opportunity for HBCU players to stand out in the pre-draft process.

Mahomes’ foundation and the Black College Football Hall of Fame recently announced their collaboration. 15 and the Mahomies will pledge a multi-year commitment to the game.

The NFL, The Pro Football Hall of Fame and Tulane University are among the founding partners to support the HBCU Legacy Bowl. With more support from organizations like 15 and the Mahomies, this All-Star game looks to become an annual occurrence like the Senior Bowl or East-West Shrine Bowl.

The inaugural HBCU Legacy Bowl is set to take place the Saturday following Super Bowl LVI in February of 2022 at Tulane University’s Yulman Stadium. The game will also be broadcast live on NFL Network.

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