There have been 22 gamers representing 15 completely different HBCU faculties on NFL rosters when coaching camp closed final season. Nevertheless, none of these gamers heard their identify known as on the 2024 NFL Draft. May the 2025 HBCU NFL Draft class break by way of?
The HBCU’s annual NFL Draft mix occurred earlier this week in New Orleans, showcasing a few of the league’s prime expertise for the fourth straight 12 months. Right here’s a have a look at a few of the prime performers from this 12 months’s occasion, which concludes with Saturday’s HBCU Legacy Bowl (4 p.m. ET, NFL Community):
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Joaquin Davis, WR, North Carolina Central
The 6-foot-4, 192-pound Davis had a mixed 67 catches for 921 yards and 10 touchdowns during the last two seasons, and he was arguably the very best athlete at this 12 months’s HBCU mix. Davis turned in a 4.44-second 40-yard sprint with a powerful 1.49-second 10-yard cut up. He additionally notched a 40 1/2-inch vertical.
An explosive, lengthy athlete who could make performs within the air, Davis added greater than 25 kilos of muscle throughout his time at NC Central.
North Carolina Central WR Joaquin Davis adopted up his robust HBCU Mix displaying with a stable first observe for the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl. Davis will play for Workforce Gaither (MEAC, CIAA) Saturday, 4 ET, on NFL Community. pic.twitter.com/JusiJxT23j
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) February 18, 2025
Irv Mulligan, RB, Jackson State
After dashing for practically 700 yards in eight video games final season, Mulligan (5-9, 198) delivered a 1,245-yard, 13-touchdown senior season for Jackson State. Mulligan’s most spectacular metric on the mix was the 1.51 10-split he had throughout his 4.58-second 40-yard sprint.
An explosive athlete with instant burst, Mulligan compelled 58 missed tackles final 12 months for the Tigers — and a complete of 140 throughout his faculty profession. Mulligan additionally performed 19 video games video games over elements of three years at Wofford, dashing for 1,318 yards previous to transferring to Jackson State.
🪓🪵 Irv Mulligan 🔥 #GuardTheeYard #TheeILove pic.twitter.com/VlYjhXPnqP
— Jackson State Soccer (@gojsutigersfb) October 22, 2024
Kendall Bohler, CB, Florida A&M
Regardless of his less-than-desirable top for the place, Bohler (5-11, 193) ran a 4.53 with a 1.54 10-split and a 38-inch vertical (10-5 broad soar), displaying off loads of explosion to go together with his stable size (75-inch wingspan).
A aggressive, well-rounded athlete who isn’t afraid to hit, Bohler compelled 13 incomplete passes in 2023. A two-time All-SWAC performer, Bohler was additionally on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks Listing” again in August. He had a prime squat of 560 kilos getting into the season.
Fred Stokes Jr., Edge, Prairie View A&M
A Central Michigan switch, the 6-5, 255-pound Stokes measured in with 33-inch arms (80.5-inch wingspan) and ran a 4.76 40 with a 1.60 10-yard cut up — that cut up quantity borders on elite for an edge. He added a 33 1/2-inch vertical and broad soar of 10 foot, 4 inches.
Stokes had 3 1/2 sacks and 13 tackles for loss this previous season at Prairie View A&M, his solely 12 months as a full-time contributor in faculty. He hung out with Central Michigan earlier than transferring to Prairie View.
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Jason Ivey, OL, North Carolina A&T
Simply 6-4, 287 Ivey nonetheless measured in with 35 5/8-inch arms, a near-86-inch wingspan and 10 1/2-inch palms — a few of the most spectacular measurements on the occasion.
Ivey clearly is simply too skinny to play up entrance within the NFL straight away, however he strikes nicely (5.16 40 with a 1.70 10-split) and put up 19 reps of 225 kilos on the bench.
Quantez Mansfield, DL, North Carolina Central
Mansfield (6-1, 281), however he ran a 4.94 40 (1.70 10-split) with a 32 1/2-inch vertical leap and 25 reps on the bench.
Mansfield had 18 pressures up the center final 12 months for NC Central and was a disruptive drive inside all through his profession.
Xavier Robiou, DB, Howard
The 6-0, 189-pound Robiou (32-inch arms) recorded a 43-inch vertical soar to associate with a broad soar of 10 ft, 5 inches.
A do-it-all security final 12 months at Howard, Robiou additionally labored within the slot. His explosion is tough to disregard.
Different standouts: Tru Thompson, DT, Jackson State; Elijah Williams, DT, Morgan State; Jaden Sutton, RB, Delaware State; Jeremiah Pruitte, TE, Florida A&M; Terrance Hollon, LB, Howard; Robert McDaniel, DB, Jackson State
(High picture of Irv Mulligan: Charles A. Smith / Jackson State College through Getty Photographs)
