This draft cycle, we’ve seen a lot of prospects return to school for a variety of reasons. Prospects at HBCUs were no different. There were a bevy of talented players who returned to their respective programs and some who are just not draft eligible as of yet.
While that may be the case, it doesn’t dismiss the fact that there is still a ton of talent hailing from the HBCU ranks this draft season. In fact, it may be one of the better ones at certain positions in quite some time. For example, I think there are some excellent return specialists and defensive backs in the 2024 draft class to keep an eye on. We’ll have more on the full depth of the small-college/HBCU class at a later date.
But for now, we’ll keep this list of prospects to a more manageable number, as we take a look at my top 10 HBCU prospects for the 2024 NFL Draft.
At the Hula Bowl, Heyward (6-foot, 194 pounds) got better as the week went on, showing he adjusted to the step up in competition. As is the case with Mikey Victor, some teams may see him as a future safety. I see him as someone who’s versatile enough to match up vs. bigger WRs and some athletic tight ends, which is a valuable asset in its own right. Coming off a standout week at the HBCU Legacy Bowl, the former Benedict Tiger was one of many who made themselves some money that week.
9. WIllie Drew, CB, Virginia State
Drew (5-foot-11, 191 pounds) was one of my favorite HBCU prospects in the class. He started off the season with a bang in Virginia State’s upset win over Norfolk State. Drew made his way to the Reese’s Senior Bowl and had an up-and-down week, but still competed well. I still believe in his tape, what was shown at times down in Mobile, and the type of athlete he is. He’ll have a chance to be a Day 3 pick for sure.
Toles (6-foot-1, 207 pounds) has excellent ball skills and instincts. He will find a way to be around the ball by the end of the play. His…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-draft-ranking-the-top-10-hbcu-prospects-including-the-hbcu-legacy-bowl-offensive-mvp/
Author : Emory Hunt
Publish date : 2024-02-26 17:39:32
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.