From Ed 'too Tall' Jones To Shedeur Shaders: Mapping Hbcu Players In The Nfl

The NFL is set to host its 2026 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Showcase starting March 28 in Ashburn, Virginia. While the event is the first under that name, it mimics the previously-held HBCU Combine, which was initially held in 2022.

HBCU players have a long history in the NFL, dating back to 1949 when Grambling’s Paul “Tank” Younger took the field for the Los Angeles Rams. Since then, 52 HBCUs have been represented in the league, per Pro Football Reference.

No school has sent more players to the league than Tennessee State, which edges out Grambling 121 to 120. Famous former Tennessee State players include Richard Dent, a Hall of Famer and four-time Pro Bowl defensive end, and Ed “Too Tall” Jones.

Grambling alums, meanwhile, include Hall of Fame defensive back Willie Brown and Hall of Fame wide receiver Charlie Joiner.

Both schools will have two players on hand in Ashburn — defensive end James Stewart finished his college career with Tennessee State after stints with Memphis and Middle Tennessee while defensive lineman Bryce Cage spent the past two seasons with Grambling.

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Besides those two programs, which have a combined 31 HBCU national titles, other prolific schools include Jackson State (104 players), Florida A&M (83), and Southern (82).

In terms of standouts, 35 HBCU alumni from 17 different schools have made the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State), Michael Strahan (Texas Southern), and Walter Payton (Jackson State).

More recently, 24 former HBCU players made initial 53-man rosters in 2025 per HBCU Gameday. That slate included Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, both of whom played at Jackson State before transferring to Colorado.

In last year’s draft, offensive lineman Carson Vinson from Alabama A&M was the lone player drafted directly out of an HBCU — he went in the fifth round to the Baltimore Ravens. Since 2010, every year except two (2021 and 2024) has had at least one HBCU alum taken in the NFL draft. The most in a single draft — four — has occurred five times since 2010.

This year, top HBCU prospects include offensive tackle Bruno Onwuazor from Virginia State, linebacker Erick Hunter from Morgan State, and defensive end Ckelby Givens from Southern.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: HBCU players in NFL history, including Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter