The NFL Draft has come and gone, but the process is far from over.
Four HBCU players heard their names called in the 2022 NFL Draft, but several others will be fielding calls from NFL teams as undrafted free agents. Some will get deals while others will get invites to training camp.
Fayetteville State’s Joshua Williams was the first HBCU player picked off the board, as he was taken by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round (135th overall). Seven picks later, the Los Angeles Rams collected Decobie Durant from South Carolina State – the reigning MEAC Defensive Player of The Year. Jackson State edge rusher James Houston IV went in the sixth round, being picked 217th overall by the Detroit Lions. Finally, Southern University offensive lineman Ja’Tyre Carter went to the Chicago Bears in the seventh round to round out the HBCU selections.
While the four picks were an improvement over a 2021 NFL Draft that saw no HBCU players selected, there were plenty other productive prospects that did not hear their names called. Some of those names include Florida A&M safety Markquese Bell, Alabama A&M quarterback Aqeel Glass, Norfolk State defensive lineman De’Shaan Davis, North Carolina A&T running back Jah-Maine Martin, Virginia State defensive back Will Adams and many others who will likely get free agent deals or rookie camp invitations.
Check back in to the HBCU Gameday track to see where they end up!
S Markquese Bell (FAMU) – Signed UDFA deal with Dallas Cowboys
WR Jequez Ezzard (Howard) – Signed UDFA deal with Washington Commanders
DL Savion Williams (FAMU) – Signed UDFA deal with New York Jets
QB Felix Harper (Alcorn State) – Cleveland Browns
WR Daylen Baldwin (Michigan/Jackson State) – New York Giants
WR Ron Hunt (NC A&T) – New York Jets
DB Joshua Flowers (Winston-Salem State) – Signed UDFA deal with Jacksonville Jaguars
S CJ Holmes (Jackson State) – New Orleans Saints*
DB Will Adams (Virginia State) – Atlanta Falcons*
DL De’Shaan Dixon (Norfolk State) – Signed UDFA deal with Jacksonville Jaguars
WR Shemar Bridges (Fort Valley State) – Baltimore Ravens
DT Christian Clark (Alabama State) – Kansas City Chiefs
LB Caleb Carter (Southern) – Indianapolis Colts*
QB Aqeel Glass (Alabama A&M) – Tampa Bay Bucs*
RB Jah-Maine Martin (North Carolina A&T)– Indianapolis Colts*
DB Juwan Taylor (Alcorn State) – New York Jets*
DB Al Young (Jackson State) – Signed UDFA deal with NY Giants
DB Zafir Kelly (South Carolina State) – Green Bay Packers*
WR Marquis McClain (Southern) – New York Jets*
DL Keenan Forbes (Florida A&M) – Seattle Seahawks*
TE Kyland Richey (Jackson State)– New Orleans Saints*
WR Keith Corbin III (Jackson State)–Signed UDFA deal with Buffalo Bills
LB Stephen Davis Jr. (NC A&T) – Washington Commanders*
DB Najee Reams (NC A&T) – Detroit Lions*
DB Bralon Robinson (Alcorn State) – Tampa Bay Bucs*
WR Dee Anderson (Alabama A&M)– New Orleans Saints*
WR Trey Gross (Delaware State) – Washington Commanders*
*minicamp invite