HBCU Combine: Hidden Gem for NFL’s Future Stars

When you hear Jerry Rice, Walter Payton, Steve McNair, Michael Strahan, and Doug Williams, you may automatically link them to being some of the greatest players in NFL history. While that is true, they are also products of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) whose athletes are often overshadowed by college powerhouses like the University of Alabama, University of Florida, and Louisiana State University.

This usually means HBCU athletes are not afforded the same opportunities to showcase their talent and skills in front of professional football scouts and coaches on major platforms such as the NFL Scouting Combine. That will change later this month with the NFL’s first HBCU Combine at the Miami Dolphins’ Baptist Health Training Facility in Miami Gardens, FL.

The event is apart of the NFL’s Combine Series featuring the Regional Combine Invitational and HBCU Combine from March 27-29. Both Combines will provide an evaluation opportunity and exposure for Draft-eligible athletes with no remaining eligibility who were not invited to the National Invitational Combine. Invitees include athletes from Jackson State, Southern University, North Carolina A&T, Tennessee State, Florida A&M, and many more.

Format for the HBCU Combine:
Friday, March 27: Measurements and Club Interview
Sunday, March 29: On-Field Workouts

The HBCU Combine will uncover hidden gems that will likely exceed expectations in the NFL. In fact, nearly ten percent of all players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame – including Harold Carmichael and Donnie Shell attended HBCUs. In 2019, there were 32 players from HBCU programs on NFL rosters.

The Combine is the newest initiative by the NFL to further its relationship with HBCUs. In May 2017, the NFL launched a multi-pronged effort called Strength of HBCUs, Impacting Pro Football Since 1948 in partnership with two preeminent HBCU athletic conferences – the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Southwestern Athletic Conference. The initiative has since expanded to also include the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

The partnership celebrates and honors the historical impact of HBCUs and their players on the game, and provides career opportunities in the game of football. The NFL’s partnership with HBCUs has three main goals: to celebrate history, increase opportunities, and provide access.

“The NFL’s partnership with HBCUs has deep roots in football’s history,” said Troy Vincent, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations. “We’re working together to honor the rich history and provide opportunities to students and administrators from these great institutions.”

The full invitation list for the HBCU Combine is below: