With players able to earn big money at high-profile universities, the number of legitimate small-school NFL Draft prospects has been dwindling rapidly over the last five years.
And no group has been hit harder than HBCUs. Former Alabama A&M OT Carson Vinson (a fifth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens) was the only HBCU prospect invited to the 2025 combine, and just three HBCU players were in Indianapolis in 2024. This year, there weren’t any HBCU players invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, which opens this weekend in Indianapolis.
That harsh reality doesn’t mean these programs lack talent, however. With the 2026 HBCU Legacy Bowl kicking off Saturday (4 p.m. ET, NFL Network) in New Orleans, here’s a look at a few of the top prospects at this year’s event:
Ckelby Givens, edge, Southern
The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Givens has been one of the FCS’ most consistent pass rushers over the last four years, and he earned first-team All-SWAC honors as a sophomore, junior and senior. Givens ranked fifth among FCS edge rushers last season in both tackles for loss (18.5) and sacks (9.5); he finished his career with 32 combined sacks and a whopping 162 pressures.
A compact, lean player with good length and a great first step, Givens probably would have to be a subpackage player at the NFL level. However, his ability to be disruptive off the edge is legit. I’d be surprised if he’s not in an NFL camp this spring or summer.
Erick Hunter, LB, Morgan State
One of the best linebackers in the MEAC since his sophomore year (2022), the 6-4, 220-pound Hunter was the league’s leading tackler (102) last season and added 14 tackles for loss, four sacks and four forced fumbles. Hunter’s size and length make for a unique build inside — he’s long and quick enough to be a serious problem off the edge at times, but he’s also been able to get to basically anything between the tackles in the run game.
A former prep basketball standout, Hunter is light but moves well. He finished his career with 298 tackles, 48 pressures and 12 sacks as one of the FCS’ most active linebackers.
Calvin McMillian, OL, Prairie View A&M
A sturdy, lean and powerful college tackle, McMillian earned first-team All-SWAC honors in his lone season at Prairie View A&M after spending time at Memphis and Southern Miss. He blends solid length (6 feet, 5 inches) with an explosive 312-pound frame.
He’s played both tackle spots in college, and though his weight could be better, he’s a legit athlete with great balance, good bend and solid recovery. An experienced player who banked experience playing against FBS competition, McMillian is definitely a name to watch.
Walker Harris, QB, North Carolina Central
The 2025 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, Harris set program records this season with 3,214 yards passing and 24 touchdowns, against nine picks. The 6-1, 195-pound left-hander threw for a combined 42 touchdowns over his final two seasons at NCCU.
Harris is not big, but he delivers a catchable ball with confidence over the middle of the field. He’s also a capable athlete, so he can escape the rush and make off-platform throws while maintaining credibility as a scrambler.
Travaunta Abner, TE, Alabama A&M
Abner began his career as a skinny 6-3 tight end but now checks in at 249 pounds. He’s still just as explosive as he was at 220 pounds, though — he had 35 catches for 380 yards and three touchdowns in his lone season at Alabama A&M after posting a combined 45 catches for 692 yards and six touchdowns in two years at Miles (Ala.) College.
Abner is a work in progress as a blocker and has to prove he can get open consistently against premium talent at his current weight, but he’s a very interesting prospect coming off a productive college career.
Deontre Morris, S, Alabama State
Morris (6-0, 185) finished his career with a combined 11 interceptions over five years at three different schools (Kennesaw State, Georgia Southern and Alabama State). He was one of the FCS’ most productive defensive backs throughout his career, posting five interceptions during his sophomore year at Kennesaw and another three this past season.
Morris played a bit of everything on the back end, at every stop, spending more time as a deep safety and occasional slot early before picking up more work as a box defender over the last two seasons. A willing tackler and savvy pass defender, Morris has production that will be hard for scouts to ignore.
Others to watch: Cameron Peters, QB, Prairie View A&M; Chris Mosley, RB, North Carolina Central; JJ Evans, WR, Norfolk State; Markel Linzer, DB, Grambling State; Jelani Vassell, DB, North Carolina Central; Reid Pulliam, LB, Jackson State; DreSean Kendrick, WR, Norfolk State