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| Virginia Union’s Brian Smith is one of three Panthers who could end up on NFL rosters in 2013. (QCity Metro photo). |
These days, for an HBCU football program to get have one player getting professional looks is pretty good. So it’s a pretty big deal that Virginia Union, a private, Division II HBCU, has three players who will get a shot to make an NFL roster this season.
Defensive end Kentrell Harris signed with the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Harris told the Daytona-Beach News Journal he was contacted by at least a half dozen NFL teams.
The 6’4 defensive end started his collegiate career at Division I Bethune-Cookman as a safety. He recorded 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2012.
@hbcugameday @onnidan @hbcudigest #VUU‘s Kentrell Harris Signs with @raiders vuusports.com/news/2013/4/28…
– Chris Harris (@RTD_ChrisHarris) April 28, 2013
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Highlight Film here of #Raiders UDFA DE Kentrell Harris 6’4 270lbs runs a 4.6 40. youtu.be/ifft6RltOUA
–Tyler Hunt (@Raiderpedia) April 28, 2013
Harris’ teammate, defensive back Brian Smith, also got a call from an NFL team this week.The 6’0, 171 pound defensive back has been invited to New York Jets mini-camp.
#Jets have invited Virginia Union CB Brian Smith (@bsmith365) to rookie minicamp. #nyj
– Jake Steinberg (@Steiny31) April 29, 2013
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsRounding out the trio is defensive back Andre Kates, who has signed with the Baltimore Ravens, according to a press release on the Virginia Union athletic site. Kates transferred to VUU from Indiana after a social media controversy led to his suspension from the school. Kates led VUU with five interceptions in 2012.
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Super Bowl champion @ravens sign Virginia Union defensive back Andre Kates. #CIAA
– Neil Fuller (@NFullerPI) April 30, 2013
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Been Holding Out But It’s Official. I Am The Newest Member of The Baltimore Ravens!!!! Yesssiiirrrrrr
– Dre Kates (@DreKates7) April 30, 2013
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