The 2026 NFL Combine is quickly approaching with the list of participants having just been released to the public, zero of which being from historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs. Without the HBCU Combine taking place this year, most of these prospects will turn to the HBCU Legacy Bowl and to pro days as their sources of exposure. There is a lot of talent at the HBCU level that goes under the radar every year, and despite the lack of attention from the NFL Combine, I enjoy uncovering the hidden gems who get little publicity on a national stage during the draft process.
There are always a few prospects that fall under the radar who end up making rosters or practice squads. Just using last year as an example, we saw some players make the big stage during the draft process, notably Carson Vinson who attended the Senior Bowl and was drafted in the fourth round. We also see some players who do not get as much attention during draft season make an impact early in their career, such as 2025 undrafted free agent Elijah Williams who played in seven games and made a number of plays for the Vikings last season. Here are a few players we think have a shot to hear their name called in the draft this year, or earn their way on to a roster as a priority free agent signing:
Erick Hunter, LB, Morgan State
As we see it, Hunter is the top prospect coming out of an HBCU this offseason. The Morgan State product finished his career off with FCS All-America honors and his most productive season yet, piling together 102 tackles, 14 TFLs, 10 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 3 interceptions, His towering figure and length stand out as soon as you turn on the film, and he’s more than just a big body. He’s patient when reading his keys and rarely overcommits, and utilizes his explosiveness to fire down into the box when he identifies inside run plays. He also impacts the passing game with quick processing speed when covering his area in zone coverage, and blitzes off the edge with power and burst. Hunter was invited to the American Bowl and held his ground against a talented pool of players. He is not a finished product and he will need to add some mass to hold up in the trenches at the NFL level, but the tools are all there to be successful in the league.
Jarod Washington, CB, South Carolina State
The other prospect invited to a major all-star game outside of the HBCU Legacy Bowl is Jarod Washington out of South Carolina State. Washington, the MEAC defensive player of the year this past season, is an athletic specimen with a plethora of tools to be successful at the next level. He is patient with receivers at the line and can lock them up on their initial release. He’s an instinctual player who can bait quarterbacks into picks and breakups, and you’d be hard pressed to find many players in the country that can match his 21 pass breakups last season. He’s also not afraid to light up receivers to knock the ball out with force. Notably, Washington was also mentioned as the fastest player on the field during the third practice day of the East-West Shrine Bowl. Similarly to Hunter, if he can add some mass to his frame and tackle with more consistency, he can find his way on to an NFL roster.
Ckelby Givens, Edge, Southern
If you’re going to take a chance on a small-school player, the one with 71.5 career tackles-for-loss isn’t a bad place to start. Givens is a high effort player who is always sprinting to the ball, and has some enticing athletic features. His bendy half helps him explode off the ball and fire into linemen like a cannonball. He’s proven to be effective on slants and stunts, and finds ways to get to the quarterback. In their one game against an FBS opponent in 2025, Fresno State, he was constantly in the backfield causing havoc. His size, bend concerns, and anchor in the run game all leave question marks, but his violent nature and tenacious effort make him an enticing candidate for special teams early on who could develop into a solid pass rush specialist.
Marquis Gillis, RB, Delaware State
The lone offensive player on this list, Gillis enjoyed the best season of his career in 2025 and put his name on the map. He is an elusive runner with impressive burst as he hits the gap. He was able to make something out of nothing often, routinely turning 1-2 yard runs into 3-5 yard runs regularly by keeping his pads low and feet moving. Most notably, his breakaway speed at the second and third level and twitch to make defenders miss sets him apart from other top running backs in the HBCU landscape. While he has limited production as a receiver, he displays soft hands to haul in passes and rack up yards after the catch. He is a player I am eager to see at the HBCU Legacy Bowl.
Quincy Ivory, Linebacker/Edge, Jackson State
Ivory differs from others on this list as he only attended an HBCU for two seasons, one of which being at Mississippi Valley State his freshman season. Ivory spent the past two seasons at Florida where he saw limited reps, but he took full advantage of his time at Jackson State. Ivory played a mixture of edge and linebacker for Jackson State and showed flashes. He’s a solid athlete with a thick muscular body who can hold up in the trenches. He will run through linemen and tight ends to work into the backfield, and shows sufficient strength on contact. He squeezes into gaps to work into the backfield, and shows some twitch as a pass rusher to get around linemen. He’s also a high effort player in pursuit and makes many plays from behind. His tweener body type might make it difficult to find a natural fit at the next level, but he shows promise.