Dream Bowl and HBCU Spirit of America Bowl: Week 2 Studs and Standouts

Last season, NFL Draft Diamonds gave readers & fans a taste of two all-star events that are on the rise to help small school NFL prospects (FCS, D-II, D-III, NAIA) showcase their talents & gain exposure among NFL & CFL scouts. The Dream Bowl and The HBCU Spirit of America Bowl are those two all-star games that are doing just that. Past players that have participated in both games, and have gone on to the NFL include OL JylanWare (2017 7^th Round Pick-Oakland Raiders), Tremon Smith (2018 6th round pick – Kansas City Chiefs), RB De’LanceTurner (2018 Undrafted Free Agent-Baltimore Ravens), and WR Chester Rogers (2016 Undrafted Free Agent-Indianapolis Colts). Week 1 of the college football season has come & gone, and these three players stood out to me the most. Here are three skill players that you might see in either game in 2020. Brandon Davis our All-Star Scout broke down the film from week 2 and found a few players that really shined. Check it out!

Most college teams are finishing up week 2 of the 2019 season, but some teams at the lower levels (D-II, D-III, NAIA) just finished their first games. As the season progresses towards another week, here is a list of players that impressed me this past weekend. Some of them you might see at the 2020 Dream Bowl, or the 2020 HBCU Spirit of America Bowl in Virginia come January…

Tracy Thompkins, DB, Mississippi Valley State: The 5090 180 lbs. DB from Miami, FL had a stellar game for the Delta Devils despite the team losing 20-23 to the Lamar Cardinals in overtime. Thompkins racked up a team-leading 15 tackles (13 solo, 2 assisted). A DB that can get double-digit tackles in two games (12 tackles last week vs. Tennessee State) is definitely eye–popping. His performance also earned him Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) defensive player of the week, and it earned him my attention for the rest of the season.

KeShawn Williams, HB, Arkansas Pine Bluff: The hometown tailback rushed for 172 yards on 21 carries in the Golden Lions’ 52-34 win against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs. Williams is off to a good start this year after redshirting last season. If he keeps up this pace, he will have NFL scouts keeping an eye on him in due time.

Antoine Wilder, LB, North Carolina A&T: Despite the Aggies falling to Duke on Saturday 13-45, the 5100 red-shirt senior from Atlanta, GA recorded 14 tackles, 0.5 TFL, and a pass breakup. This former South Carolina Gamecock might be undersized to be a full-time LB at the next level, but I would not be surprised if teams would want to take a look at him possibly as a strong safety after a stat line like his.

Alex Taylor, OL, South Carolina State: The former Appalachian State Mountaineer from Moncks Corner, SC helped contribute to 390 total yards of offense in the Bulldogs’ win over Lane College with 5 pancake blocks, 0 penalties, and shutting down pass rushers for 0 sacks. Combine that stat line with his size at 6090 and 310 lbs., NFL & CFL teams should be drooling. He is certainly on my radar for the rest of the season, and for a possible sighting at the HBCU Spirit of America Bowl.

James Gillespie, WR, Widener: The Huntingdon Valley, PA native had an eye-popping performance in Widener’s 38-28 win against Rowan on Saturday. 13 catches for 158 yards and 3 touchdowns to go along with 45 yards on kick returns is not to scoff at no matter what level you play at. Gillespie has pro size at 6020 and 195 lbs., and he should start having the eyes of pro scouts on him soon if he keeps up this level of play.

Damarquis Price, WR, FDU-Florham: Price should draw pro scouts’ eyes immediately at his size at 6060. In the Devils’ 56-48 win over the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, he recorded 10 catches for 223 yards and 3 touchdowns. The South Plainfield, NJ native has the frame to add more weight to him, but a game like that has my full attention on him for the rest of the season. A Dream Bowl invite could be in his future.