Hundreds of elite college football stars are currently in Las Vegas with hopes of reaching new heights through the NFL.
With the 2022 NFL Draft underway, many fans are keeping a particularly close eye on whether any teams will end up recruiting athletes from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
Ultimately, a total of 32 athletes were recruited in the first round. However, none of them hailed from an HBCU.
The next 3 days will be life changing for HBCU’s ! Athletes will realize you can go to the @nfl from HBCU’s. We will have up to 8 players drafted prayerfully. It’s been to long but not to late. Let’s go @nfl let’s advance equality to the overlooked & the underfunded. #CoachPrime
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) April 28, 2022
Despite the fact that no HBCU athletes were picked in the first round, a number of athletes from these prestigious colleges have been identified as top-tier players to watch.
Some of these HBCU-based student-athletes include Aqeel Glass from Alabama A&M, Jah-Maine Martin from North Carolina A&T, and James Houston from Jackson State University.
Alabama A&M QB Aqeel Glass is Cookin#HBCU #NFLDRAFT pic.twitter.com/Ui8Gps1xvw
— Cut Day Sports (@cutdaysports) January 29, 2022
This should come as no surprise to anybody who ever tried to tackle him, but Jah-Maine Martin is hella strong. pic.twitter.com/sRGKFAOoRt
— BlueDeathValley.com (@BlueDeathValley) March 30, 2022
Jackson State LB/DE James Houston IV With the Bone Crushing Hit (@nflnetwork) #HBCU #ShrineBowl pic.twitter.com/QmLglXL89x
— Cut Day Sports (@cutdaysports) February 4, 2022
While the 2022 draft isn’t yet complete, the first-round results continue the NFL’s alarming record of disregarding HBCU student-athletes.
As Blavity previously reported, none of the 259 picks from the 2021 NFL draft hailed from an HBCU — prompting Deion Sanders, head football coach at Jackson State, to call out the organization.
“We have the Audacity to Hate on one another while our kids are being NEGLECTED & REJECTED,” Sanders wrote on Instagram. “I witnessed a multitude of kids that we played against that were more than qualified to be drafted. My prayers are that This won’t EVER happen again. Get yo knife out my back and fight with me not against me!”
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Since then, Sanders has been a staunch advocate for HBCU athletes getting into the NFL.
In fact, just last month, he called out an array of NFL teams for not attending Jackson State’s Pro Day, as Blavity previously reported.
It’s also worth adding that only 12 HBCU student-athletes have been drafted into the NFL in the past 5 years.
While no HBCU stars were drafted in the first round, Sanders was sure to send a touching shoutout to Lewis Cine — a Georgia State player who was drafted to the Minnesota Vikings.
“He flat out earned EVERYTHING he has and gonna receive,” Sanders tweeted of Cine. “Great young man that has a bright bright future ahead of him.”
God bless @LewisCine he flat out earned EVERYTHING he has and gonna receive. Great young man that has a bright bright future ahead of him. Be frugal my brother but take care of you. #CoachPrime
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) April 29, 2022
The NFL draft will continue on throughout Apr. 30.
As the highly anticipated recruitment process continues, people continue to be hopeful that HBCU athletes will be selected.
Good luck to all the HBCU NFL draft prospect in the 2022 NFL draft. Whatever opportunity you get embrace it like you life depends on it. But also remember football is just a spring board to the rest of your life. #2022NFLDraft
— Akil Blount (@iamakilblount47) April 28, 2022
Good luck to all the HBCU athletes involved in the 2022 NFL draft!
