J’Mari Taylor and Ian Wheeler entered the NFL preseason needing more than encouraging practice reports. Both HBCU-connected running backs needed game production that would force their teams to extend the evaluation. Taylor delivered Jacksonville’s decisive touchdown, while Wheeler supplied Buffalo with its most efficient rushing performance. Their openings were narrow, but neither player treated the opportunity that way.
This HBCU NFL tracker counts anyone who spent part of his college career at an HBCU, even if he later transferred. That definition includes Taylor, who moved from North Carolina Central to Virginia, along with Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, Bhayshul Tuten and several others who finished elsewhere. Our review identified 31 HBCU-connected players in NFL camps entering the opening preseason weekend.
That context matters after the 2026 NFL Draft ended without an HBCU player being selected. Preseason production cannot guarantee a roster spot, especially for players working deep in rotations. However, it can earn more snaps, expand special-teams roles and give coaches useful film before the next round of decisions.
J’Mari Taylor and Ian Wheeler pushed their stock upward
Taylor produced the weekend’s strongest performance among HBCU-connected players. The former North Carolina Central running back carried 22 times for 78 yards in Jacksonville’s 24-20 victory over New Orleans. He added a two-point conversion before scoring the winning two-yard touchdown with 4:55 remaining, according to the Jaguars’ official game report.
The production came after Taylor developed from an NCCU walk-on into an All-MEAC runner. He rushed for 1,146 yards during his final season in Durham, becoming the program’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2005, before later transferring to Virginia. One preseason game does not settle Jacksonville’s backfield, but 22 carries showed the Jaguars were willing to give him an extended evaluation.
Wheeler also strengthened his case inside Buffalo’s crowded running back room. The former Howard standout rushed seven times for 41 yards and scored on a six-yard run during the Bills’ 29-14 victory over Carolina. Buffalo’s official recap confirmed Wheeler averaged nearly six yards per carry.
His performance continued a comeback that has already included an ACL injury, a return to the UFL and another NFL opportunity. HBCU Gameday previously examined why Wheeler’s Buffalo camp would come down to details, including protections and special teams. The touchdown helped his argument, but those less visible responsibilities will continue shaping Buffalo’s decision.
Xavier Smith showed value beyond the receiving numbers
Xavier Smith gave the Los Angeles Rams production in two phases. The former Florida A&M receiver caught all four of his targets for 26 yards, then returned three punts for 52 yards. His 40-yard return created the type of field-position swing that can separate players competing for reserve receiver roles.
Smith’s receiving total was modest, but his efficiency and return ability gave the Rams more than one reason to keep evaluating him. He has already built his professional identity around special teams after arriving from FAMU as an undrafted free agent. Week 1 reinforced that profile without proving his roster position is secure.
Two other former HBCU pass rushers also created measurable pressure for Dallas. Jackson State alumnus James Houston recorded three tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit. Florida A&M alumnus Isaiah Land added two tackles and a 14-yard fourth-down sack near the goal line, giving both players useful film in a competitive defensive rotation.
Houston nearly added another sack, but an accepted offensive holding penalty erased the play from the official statistics. Land’s sack ended Seattle’s possession on fourth down, increasing its situational value. Neither performance should be inflated into a roster guarantee, but both players converted limited snaps into plays evaluators can measure.
HBCU defenders created value on defense and special teams
Antonio Hamilton Sr. supplied one of the weekend’s most complete defensive lines. The South Carolina State alumnus made four defensive tackles, including one for loss, broke up a pass and added another tackle on kickoff coverage for Washington. Combining the defensive and special-teams stops produces five total tackles, but separating them gives a more accurate picture of his performance.
Former North Carolina Central defensive back Brandon Codrington also generated a special-teams turnover for Houston. Codrington punched the ball loose during kickoff coverage, allowing the Texans to recover. His return ability remains important, but a forced fumble on coverage film showed another path toward game-day value.
Minnesota defensive lineman Elijah Williams recorded a sack after reaching the NFL from Morgan State. According to a report using Pro Football Focus data, Williams generated two pressures on seven pass-rush snaps and earned a 90.1 pass-rush grade. The sack is official; the pressure total and grade should remain attributed to PFF rather than presented as NFL box-score statistics.
Morgan State alumnus Erick Hunter received one of the largest rookie workloads among the HBCU-connected defenders. The Detroit linebacker played 43 defensive snaps, added 12 more on special teams and finished with four tackles. HBCU Gameday previously followed Hunter’s path to Detroit as an undrafted free agent, and his Week 1 workload suggested the Lions wanted an extended evaluation.
Shedeur Sanders needs a cleaner second showing
Shedeur Sanders experienced a more difficult opening with Cleveland. The former Jackson State and Colorado quarterback completed 6 of 11 passes for 79 yards and threw one interception during a 34-10 loss to Chicago. He did not lead a scoring drive while working primarily with reserve personnel.
Sanders’ interception and stalled possessions made his performance a step backward within this stock-watch format. However, preseason quarterback comparisons require context because protection, receivers and play-calling can change dramatically between units. His roster position appears secure, but his next opportunity must produce cleaner decisions and more sustained offense.
Other HBCU-connected players remained in the evaluation without a headline performance. KhaDarel Hodge caught a 15-yard pass for San Francisco, while Carolina linebacker Claudin Cherelus recorded three tackles. Dallas safety Markquese Bell made two defensive tackles and one special-teams stop, and San Francisco edge rusher Quinton Bell contributed two tackles, a quarterback hit and a batted pass.
Veterans and younger players who produced limited statistics should not automatically be labeled as falling. Offensive linemen such as Carson Vinson, Corey Bullock, Ja’Tyre Carter, Tytus Howard, Torricelli Simpkins III, Kion Smith and Trent Scott are evaluated through assignments that rarely reach a traditional box score. The same caution applies to players who were inactive, held out or used only briefly.
Week 1 created opportunities, not final answers
Taylor and Wheeler earned the clearest upward movement because they turned substantial rushing opportunities into production. Smith strengthened his case through return value, while Houston, Land, Hamilton, Codrington, Williams and Hunter added defensive or special-teams evidence. Sanders left Cleveland needing a stronger response, although one reserve-unit appearance should not become a final verdict.
The opening weekend did not resolve the future of every HBCU-connected player in an NFL camp. It established who gave coaches a reason to look again. For players fighting from the bottom of a depth chart, that is the first victory preseason football can offer.