Football at times is like a game of roulette. Often, you have to take gambles. There is no way around it for players making it to the next level, especially for HBCU athletes. To get to the next level, there are no opt-outs, bypassing, or sitting out. You must take every opportunity to showcase your skill set. This was the case for Davius Richard at this year’s HBCU Legacy Bowl.
Unfortunately for arguably the best player in HBCU football over the last two seasons combined, Davius Richard experienced a setback in his journey after scoring the only touchdown of the HBCU Legacy Bowl on Saturday. Richard kept the ball on an RPO and took it into the endzone himself.
HBCU players catapult their statuses at showcases
He would be tackled as he crossed the goal line and landed awkwardly. Silence filled the stadium as players from both teams knelt in prayer, hoping for a positive outcome. Richard made a gesture with his arm indicating that he was in pain. He didn’t get up. As medical staff attended to him, it was a sour ending to what had been an amazing week for Richard.
HBCU players have to seize every opportunity in front of NFL scouts to be evaluated. Less than 24 hours after being named the Co-HBCU Player of the Year by the Black College Football Hall of Fame Committee, an award he shared with FAMU quarterback Jeremy Moussa, he would not be able to finish the game. Not to shine a negative light on the well-organized and orchestrated Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl, but folks bought tickets while others tuned in to see Richard vs. Moussa.
It was later revealed that Richard dislocated his ankle. A critical injury for a mobile quarterback who rewrote the record books at NCCU, it was one of the weapons that set Richard apart from others. His dual-threat ability allowed him to take over games when it was required. That mobility caused havoc for Jackson State in the 2022 Cricket Celebration Bowl, leading the Eagles to their first Division-I national championship.
FCS players don’t have the luxuries of top FBS players
The top FBS players have the luxury of sitting out bowl games, skipping the NFL combine and in rare cases, some even skip their on-campus pro days. They contend that they’ve been playing on the biggest stage and have nothing to prove.
Unfortunately for Richard, though he had proven himself on the field for the last three years, he still had to do more. He still had to let the NFL scouts “look under the hood.” It’s an unfortunate part of the HBCU football player’s story…but, often it has had the opposite outcome and raised the profile of HBCU prospects to pursue their professional football dreams.