For the Week of April 21 - 27, 2020 SC State's Taylor at head of HBCU Draft prospects By Lut Williams HBCU PLAYERS IN In a draft deep in offensive BCSP Editor LAST FIVE NFL DRAFTS linemen this year, Taylor is ranked At 6-8, 308 pounds with arms in most draft predictions around ™ that reach 36-plus inches and hands 2019 - 4 the top 20 at the position. He is that are 11-plus inches wide, former Tytus Howard, OT, State projected as high as 110th overall South Carolina State offensive HOUSTON - 1st Round, 23rd pick, 23rd which would land him in the fourth Darryl Johnson Jr., DE, NC A&T lineman Alex Taylor is hard to BUFFALO - 7th Round, 11th pick, 225th round. miss. Quinton Bell, DE, Prairie View A&M Most prognosticators have him And it's unlikely he'll be OAKLAND - 7th Round, 16th pick, 230th going off the draft boards between missed when the NFL conducts Joshua Miles, OT, Morgan State the fourth and sixth rounds. ARIZONA - 7th Round, 34th pick, 248th SC State Sports Photo its seven-round draft of eligible 2018 - 3 They like his length, agility players Thursday through Saturday , OLB, SC State and athletic ability. He ran very ALEX TAYLOR: Looks INDIANAPOLIS - 2nd Round, 4th pick, 36th to go between fourth (April 23-25). well at the Combine, posting a READY TO Originally planned to take Brandon Parker, OT, NC A&T time of 5.09 seconds in the 40-yard and sixth rounds of this OAKLAND - 3rd Round, 1st pick, 65th STRIKE! week's NFL Draft. place in Las Vegas, the NFL Trenton Cannon, RB, Virginia State dash and did 21 reps on the bench. his shifted that plan due to the NY JETS - 6th Round - 30th pick, 204th It's hard to find another black SC State Sports Photo HBCU NFC STUDS PROFILED; LYNCH OUT AT coronavirus pandemic and instead 2017 - 4 college player amongst the 255 that ALEX TAYLOR: Six-eight, 308-pound will hold it exclusively online. All Chad Williams, WR, Grambling State will be selected over the three days. South Carolina State offensive tackle CLARK ATLANTA; JC SMITH'S WILLIAMS TO HOF ARIZONA - 3rd Round, 34th pick, 98th was the only HBCU player at the 32 NFL teams will be operating Tarik Cohen, RB, North Carolina A&T Chris Rowland, the prolific NFL Combine or to play in the Senior from their homes. Commissioner CHICAGO - 4th Round, 12th pick, 119th 5-8, 180-pound /kick Grover Stewart, DT, Albany State returner from Tennessee State, is Bowl. Roger Goodell is set to announce picks from his home in New York. INDIANAPOLIS - 4th Round, 36th pick, 144th likely next on the HBCU prospect Jylan Ware, OT, Alabama State behind Rowland is former Morgan UNDER THE BANNER There's a good chance OAKLAND - 7th Round, 12th pick, 231st list. But he is way down what is State standout Manasseh Bailey. however that Taylor, a former 2016 - 3 thought to be one of the deepest Bailey, at 6-1, 195, hauled in 54 WHAT'S GOING ON IN AND AROUND BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS basketball player who transferred Javon Hargrave, DT, SC State wide receiver stables in years. At passes for 996 yards and 10 TDs from Appalachian State to South PITTSBURGH - 3rd Round, 25th pick, 89th least five wideouts are projected to LYNCH OUT AT CAU; PROGRAM CONTINUES Ryan Smith, DB, North Carolina Central last season for the Bears, earning a After just two years, George Lynch's contract as head Carolina State, may be the only TAMPA BAY - 4th Round, 10th pick, 108th go in the first round. third-team all-MEAC designation. men's basketball coach at Clark At- HBCU player in this year's draft. Temarrick Hemingway, TE, SC State Rowland is ranked 56th at He averaged 18.4 yards per catch lanta University will not be renewed. The 2019 all-Mid Eastern LA RAMS - 6th Round, 2nd pick, 177th the position in perhaps the most and 83.0 yards per game. He also Athletic Conference first teamer 2015 - 4 optimistic projection, 373rd Lynch compiled a 28-28 overall record Rodney Gunter, DT, Delaware State had one punt return TD. with back-to-back 12-7 marks in SIAC was the only HBCU player invited ARIZONA - 4th Round, 17th pick, 116th overall. North Carolina A&T wideout He was named Ohio Valley play. to the NFL Combine or play in this Tray Walker, DB, Texas Southern Elijah Bell finished his career year's Senior Bowl. He's also the - 4th Round, 37th pick, 136th Conference Offensive Player of with school records for receptions The former UNC standout and Robert Myers, OG, Tennessee State only prospect from an HBCU that the Year last season after leading and touchdowns. Teams may give first round draft pick by the Los Ange- BALTIMORE - 5th Round, 40th pick, 176th has received a grade high enough the OVC in receptions (104) and the 6-1, 220-pounder, all-MEAC les Lakers spent 12 seasons in the NBA Anthony Morris, OT, Tennessee State Lynch to be in the draft. Only perhaps OAKLAND - 7th Round, 1st pick, 218th leading the FCS in receiving yards second teamer a look. with five different teams followed by one other FCS player and one other (1,437) and receiving yards per Rowland's teammate at TSU, serving as an assistant coach at SMU and with the G- NCAA Div. II player is ranked game (119.8). He was second in the defensive back Dajour Nesbeth is League's Grand Rapids Drive. ahead of him. player went off the boards was FCS in all-purpose yards with 2,110 deep on the secondary prospect list. The Black College Sports Page profiled Lynch That doesn't mean he'll be in 2012 when South Carolina and third in receptions per game Others on the prospect list and his HBCU Heroes charity two weeks ago that was the only HBCU player to go off State defensive back Christian (8.7). He was an OVC first teamer looking to sneak into the later rounds raising money to provide laptop computers for Clark At- the boards. Last year, three black Thompson was taken by Baltimore as a receiver and kick returner. He or land free agent contracts include lanta and other HBCU student-athletes struggling to com- college players were taken in in the fourth round. finished his career with 194 catches Mekhi Brown, an edge rusher plete their academic assignments online. the seventh and final round after Before that, you have to go all for 2,578 yards and 14 scores. He from Tennessee State, Lynch said despite his dismissal after just two years, offensive tackle Tyrus Howard of the way back to 1951 when running also had over 2,000 yards in his Tabyus Taylor of Virginia Union, that program will continue. Alabama State was taken in the back Alvin Hanley of Kentucky career returning punts and kickoffs running back Dawonya Tucker of "It didn't leave a sour taste in my mouth," Lynch told first round. State was taken by the Los Angeles with two TDs. Prairie View A&M and offensive Tolly Carr of HBCU Gameday in a wide-ranging inter- The only time in recent draft Rams in the 30th and final round as Another wideout/kick returner lineman Marcus Pettiford of N. C. view after the decision was made public. "Unfortunately, history that only one HBCU the only black college player drafted! on the prospect list but considerably A&T. the kids can't be responsible for what decisions adults make. "I'm always going to feel indebted to HBCUs and Clark Atlanta University," he said. "They gave me my first Best NFL HBCU studs from the AFC opportunity as a head coach. So, now no one can ever take After identifying the best HBCU player in history for all 16 AFC voted one of the 50 greatest Vikings in 2010. that from me because I've called my own timeout. I've run teams last week, the Black College Sports Page is sharing the best NFC South - my own program. So I'm always going to give back to HBCU player from all 16 NFC teams this week. Claude Humphrey, DE, Tennessee State - 1968-78 The Hall of Famer was the third overall draft pick out of Tennessee State in 1968. He Clark. I would directly give to the men's basketball pro- With the NFL Draft coming up this week on April 23-25, our stories was a first-team All-Pro five times and was selected to six Pro Bowls. Humphrey recorded 122 gram because they game me an opportunity to be a head are follow-ups to one on ESPN last week that focused on the "best small- career sacks. He was the 1968 Rookie of the Year. Known for a vicious head slap that enabled coach. college studs" that pegged some HBCU players. Here's our list: him to get by offensive linemen. Humphrey was drafted out of Tennessee State University in the first round of the 1968 NFL Draft with the third overall choice by the Falcons. If the sack "And, as far as HBCUs throughout the country, those stat had been kept back then, he’d be considered one of the greatest pass rushers of all time. NFC East - Dallas Cowboys kids deserve an opportunity themselves. We ask the same , OT, Fort Valley State - 1967-79 Fred Lane, RB, Lane - 1997-99 thing that Division One programs across the country ask was voted to the six straight seasons (1971–1976), was a three-time first signed as an undrafted free agent by the Panthers before the 1997 NFL season. He had team all-Pro (1971-73), two-time champion (VI, XII), a member of the 1970s of those guys. We ask them to be students first, and then a remarkable rookie season, setting several franchise records, rushing for 809 yards and 7 all-Decade team, was the NFLPA Offensive Lineman of the Year (1972) and was elected to we ask them to be student-athletes, to come to practice, TDs as a rookie, 717 yards and 5 TDs in his second year, many of which still stand. Though the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. For he started only about half his games, he give one hundred percent and win basketball games. So thirteen seasons, Wright played more than An expanded list of HBCU studs from the NFC is on the led Carolina in rushing attempts, yards, they're doing it with less resources than most Division 200 games, started at right tackle in six and touchdowns in 1997 and 1998. During NFC Championship games, and played in BCSP Xtra!! at Onnidan.com, the online home of the Black One programs or bigger conferences. Those guys deserve his three years with the Panthers, he five Super Bowls. He anchored the line for an opportunity for more. So every year, I'll find a way to College Sports Page. An expanded list of AFC HBCU studs accumulated 2,001 rushing yards (the most an offense that finished in the top ten in in franchise history at the time) and 13 give back." scoring all ten seasons of the 1970s, while was on the BCSP Xtra!! on Onnidan last week. touchdowns. helping pave the way for the first five 1,000- Assistant coach Bo Bivens has been tabbed as the in- Saints yard rushers in Cowboys’ history. terim head coach. No word on if or when a search will Terron Armstead, OT, Arkansas-Pine Bluff - 2013-Present Drafted by the Saints in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Armstead has started 72 take place. Roosevelt “Rosey” Brown, OT, Morgan State - 1953-65 games and has been selected twice to the Pro Bowl (2018-2019), was twice a second team All- lots of good choices here, especially with (Texas Southern) and Phil Hear the full interview online here: https://www.you- Pro. At the 2013 NFL Combine, Armstead ran a remarkably fast 4.71 second 40-yard dash, Simms (Moorehead State) in the mix. But Brown has more Pro Bowl (nine) and All-Pro (six) tube.com/watch?time_continue=621&v=gOFtChpRTHA which is the fastest 40 yard dash time of any offensive lineman at the combine since it first selections than any Giant not named . Not bad for an offensive tackle selected began in 1982. &feature=emb_logo in the 27th round as the 321st overall pick out of Morgan State. Brown played his entire 13- year career with the Giants, won an NFL championship in 1956 and earned a spot in the Pro Doug Williams, QB, Grambling State - 1978-82 Football Hall of Fame. HOF NOD TO JC SMITH'S WILLIAMS: Most know Williams as the who was named MVP when the Redskins Eagles defeated the Broncos in Super Bowl XXII. But Williams was a star before that in Tampa NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. Track & Field and , WR, Southern - 1971-83 Bay. It took just two seasons for the 17th overall draft pick to lead the Bucs to their first Cross Country Coaches Association Four (4) Pro Bowls, NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, NFL Man of the Year (1980), Phil- playoff appearance when they reached the 1979 NFC Championship Game. They made the adelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team, Hall of Fame, elected to Pro (USTFCCCA) has announced that postseason three out of five of Williams’ seasons. But then-owner Hugh Culverhouse did not Football Hall of Fame in 2020. Carmichael led the league in both receptions (79) and receiving Danielle Williams of Johnson C. see Williams’ value -- he was the only African-American starting at quarterback and also the yards (1,116) in his first season as a starter. He ended up making four Pro Bowls and setting lowest paid at the position, making $120,000 a year -- and he left for the USFL. But because Smith University, will be enshrined a league record with a catch in 127 consecutive games. Carmichael retired as the franchise’s his contributions to the organization were so significant, he was named to the Buccaneers into the USTFCCCA NCAA Division all-time leader in career catches (590), yards (8,985), and receiving touchdowns (79), and still Ring of Honor in 2015. holds each of those records today. II Track & Field Athlete Hall of Fame. NFC West - Washington Redskins Simply put: Williams transcended , DB, Southern - 1991-2000 , S, Prairie View A&M - 1973-80 williams was an eight-time Pro Bowler, four-time first team All-Pro, one time second the NCAA Division II level. Pro Football Hall of Fame (1986); named to 12 consecutive Pro Bowls from 1968-1979, team All-Pro, elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. Drafted in the third round (59th Williams Between 2013 and 2014, Williams including seven with Redskins. All-league free safety player for twelve consecutive years: On overall) of the 1991 NFL Draft, he had an exceptional rookie season, tying the NFC lead for the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl from 1970 through 1979. He was selected All-Pro three times. In won nine NCAA titles (eight individual, one relay), 13 interceptions. In 1994, he led the NFL in interceptions with 9. By 1997, Williams had already 1999, he was ranked number 61 on The Sporting News’ list of the 100 Greatest Football Play- CIAA championships (11 individual, two relay), earned notched four Pro Bowl appearances and had established himself as the Cardinals’ top corner- ers. Houston intercepted 49 passes, recovered 21 fumbles, gained 1,498 return yards (on inter- back. Had 46 interceptions while with Cards including a high on nine in 1994. 13 All-America honors and was named either USTF- ception, fumble, blocked field goal, kickoff, and punt returns), and scored 12 touchdowns. CCCA National Women's Indoor Track or Outdoor Track NFC North - David “Deacon” Jones, DE, SC State/Mississippi Valley State - 1961-71 , RB, Jackson State - 1975-87 Athlete of the Year three times. Jones won consensus All-Pro honors five straight years from 1965 through 1969 and The Bears drafted Payton out of Jackson State in the first round (No. 4 overall) of the That doesn't even count the mark she left on the was second-team All-Pro in 1964, 1970, and 1972. He was also in seven straight Pro Bowls, 1975 NFL draft. Payton is one of the greatest players in NFL history. The league’s all-time lead- from 1964 to 1970, and was selected to an eighth after the 1972 season with the San Diego NCAA DII record book, which includes three divisional ing rusher (16,726) at the time of his retirement, Payton was named first-team All-Pro seven Chargers. He was voted the team’s Outstanding Defensive Lineman by the Los Angeles Rams all-time bests and a slew of other marks that reside in the times, voted to nine Pro Bowls and helped Chicago win Super Bowl XX, the only Super Bowl Alumni in 1962, ‘64, ‘65, and ‘66. Jones was considered by many to revolutionize the position victory in franchise history. Payton was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. top-10 annals of history. of . He was credited with coining the phrase “sacking the quarterback”. Pro Detroit Lions Williams turned in arguably the greatest two-day per- Football Weekly reported he accumulated 173½ sacks over his career, which would be third , CB, Jackson State - 1967-77 on the all-time sack list. (Jones would have ranked first all-time at the time of his retirement, formance in NCAA DII history at the 2013 NCAA Divi- seven-time Pro Bowl selections, 1967 Defensive Rookie of the year, two-time first team and since has been surpassed by two fellow Hall of Famers and .) sion II Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Pueblo, All-Pro. Barney had 56 interceptions for 1,077 yards and seven interceptions returned for touchdowns. He also returned 143 punts for 1,312 yards and three touchdowns as well as 50 Colorado, where she helped lead the Golden Bulls to their , WR, Mississippi Valley State - 1985-2000 kickoff returns for 1,274 yards, including a 98-yard return for a touchdown. Selected to the second consecutive runner-up finish in the team standings. The 16th overall pick in the 1985 NFL draft, Rice is not only one of the greatest small- Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992. Barney was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second school players in league history but also one of the best players in league history regardless of The future IAAF world champion scored 30½ points round, 34th overall pick, of the 1967 NFL Draft. As a rookie in 1967, Barney appeared in all 14 position. In 16 seasons with the Niners, Rice had 1,281 receptions for 19,247 yards and 176 thanks to event titles in the 100, 200 and 4×100 relay, as games as a starting and led the NFL with 10 interceptions, 232 interception return touchdowns, winning three Super Bowls. Rice, who earned 10 first-team All-Pro nods and yards and three interceptions returned for touchdowns. well as a runner-up finish in the 100 Hurdles. She set cur- 13 Pro Bowl selections, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. He posted a Green Bay Packers rent divisional records in the 200 (22.62) and 4×100 relay record 12 1,000-yard receiving seasons with the Niners, 11 straight and had two others with Willie Davis, DE, Grambling State - 1960-69 Oakland. He still holds NFL records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. Jerry (44.05), clocked the second fastest performance in divi- Davis was a five-time champion, including winning the first two Super Bowls under Rice had 103 receptions for 1,682 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior at Mississippi Valley sional history in the 100H (12.89) and notched the fifth . Individually, Davis was a six-time All-Pro, and was elected to the Pro State in 1984. He had one Super Bowl MVP award but could have had two others. In 1999, Football Hall of Fame in 1981. For 10 seasons, Davis anchored the Packers’ defensive line, fastest performance in the 100 (11.24). Rice was ranked number two on the Sporting News’ list of the 100 Greatest Football Players, playing 138 consecutive regular-season games and part of 162 regular-season games for his Williams is the third athlete from Johnson C. Smith in- behind only , and was 35 places ahead of the next-highest-ranked player then NFL career. Davis played in an era when neither tackles nor sacks were official statistics but active, . In 2000, Rice won the ESPY Award for Pro Football Player of the Dec- ducted into the USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Track & the Professional Football Researchers Association, reports that Davis had in excess of 100 ade for the 1990s. On November 4, 2010, he was ranked number one on The Top 100: NFL’s Field Athlete Hall of Fame in the past four years, joining sacks during his 10-year Green Bay career (1960–69), “possibly more than 120,” including a Greatest Players. minimum of 40 over the 1963–65 seasons alone. Leford Green (Class of 2017) and her sister Shermaine Seattle Seahawks Minnesota Vikings Williams (Class of 2018). Rufus Porter, LB, Southern - 1988-94 Sammy White, WR, Grambling State - (1976-85) Porter was a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1989. Named to the Seahawks 35th This is the 25th class to be inducted into the USTF- white won the 1976 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award after catching 51 balls Anniversary Team. He posted 41 sacks and three interceptions in his career. CCCA NCAA Division II Track & Field Athlete Hall of for 906 yards and 10 touchdowns. White played his entire career with Minnesota and amassed Fame, which began in 1996. 393 catches for 6,400 yards and 50 touchdowns. White ranks fourth all time in touchdowns and fifth in yards receiving. White was a great route-runner and had great hands. He was

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