Pittman’s Pocket: Overlooking HBCU Talent | The NFL’s Missed Opportunity

It seems the NFL has been overlooking the incredible talent emerging from HBCU football programs.

Take, for example, a three-star recruit, who could be targeted by a variety of schools, from Power 5 to Group of Five and FCS programs. In 2019, Tytus Howard, a player who was unranked before the Deion Sanders era, was drafted by the Houston Texans. This highlights the potential that had been largely ignored by the NFL.

When Deion Sanders took the head coaching position at Jackson State in 2020, it seemed like it would revolutionize recruiting in the HBCU world. But did it? While Sanders’ hiring definitely elevated recruitment efforts at Jackson State, it didn’t fundamentally alter the NFL Combine, the HBCU Legacy Bowl, or the overall draft process.

We’ve seen standout players like Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders, Carson Vinson, and Bhayshul Tuten—former HBCU stars who were once rated 5-star, 4-star, and 3-star recruits—rise to prominence. Furthermore, Jackson State is currently home to two players who have been drafted by the NFL, both former 4-star recruits, with the possibility of adding two more under Coach Prime’s influence.

Despite the growing number of talented athletes coming out of HBCUs, many recruits are still ranked and highly sought after by major programs. So, what are NFL scouts missing? Over the last two years, there’s been an uptick in HBCU players transferring to D1 schools, likely due to the recognition they are finally receiving. Programs like Pittman’s are capitalizing on the HBCU True Freshman All-American selections, but the NFL still seems slow to recognize this rich talent pool.

To better reflect the potential of these athletes, the NFL needs to enhance its scouting efforts by considering the wealth of talent, coaches, and scouts at HBCUs. The time for the NFL to embrace and value HBCU football talent is now.