Nunnie on the Sideline
By Nunnie Robinson
WG Sports Editor
The ’26 NFL Draft concluded with no HBCU players selected. The anomaly in this trend, however, is that for the third time, a player with HBCU ties was drafted. The reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks selected former Arkansas-Pine Bluff cornerback Andre Fuller in the seventh round, 236th overall from Toledo. He joins Karon Prunty (North Carolina A&T) and Kevin Coleman, Jr. (Jackson State) on the list of players that previously played for an HBCU to be taken in this year’s draft.
Ashton Grable, a FAMU All-American, signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills, hoping to join his brother Tylan, a second-year offensive lineman in Buffalo. Former Rattler defensive end Anthony Dunn, who transferred to Toledo, is headed to the Kansas City Chiefs’ rookie minicamp. Another former Rattler, linebacker Johnny Chaney Jr., who subsequently played at Colorado and FIU, earned a rookie minicamp invite from the New Orleans Saints.
The Detroit Lions signed Morgan State linebacker Erick Hunter, and Jackson State quarterback JaCobian Morgan signed with the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats. What am I insinuating, you may be pondering? The degradation of HBCU football is in full effect. Prior to integration, the best Black college football players attended HBCUs. Today, they attend Alabama, Florida, Clemson, or other FBS programs with superior financial resources, making it extremely difficult, virtually impossible for HBCUs to compete for elite talent due to inferior facilities and assets.
However, that reality won’t alter my belief that our great athletes should seriously consider attending MEAC, SWAC, CIAA, and SIAC institutions because of their rich historical significance and cultural impact.
No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza, a Miami native and Columbus High graduate, wasn’t recruited by the Hurricanes, casting aspersions on their recruiting integrity or methods. Not highly rated out of high school, the Heisman-level attributes he displayed at Indiana – accuracy, toughness, intelligence, and guile – developed gradually at Cal before blossoming with the more talented Hoosiers. An undefeated season, national championship, and Heisman Trophy made him the obvious first pick in the draft, especially for the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Ohio State Buckeyes had four players drafted in the top 10, prompting questions about how such a talent-laden team lost the championship. Miami was second with three, followed by Indiana, Notre Dame, Oregon, LSU, and Clemson with two each.
The surprise pick was Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the 13th pick, despite many experts projecting him as a second-round or late first-round selection.
In an unusual twist, Notre Dame had two running backs chosen in the first round: Jeremiah Love by Arizona and Jadarian Price by Seattle.
Overall, Ohio State led with 11 total selections, followed by Alabama and Texas A&M with 10 each. Clemson, Miami, and Texas Tech were next with nine apiece.
Sports, as we often say, just keeps on giving. Up next: the Kentucky Derby and major track and field meets, including the Penn Relays and the Prefontaine Classic.