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Imagine what the HBCU could be if every African-American high school recruit did what Travis Hunter did?

HBCU Travis Hunter
Imagine if all the top African American football prospects in the country actually chose HBCU schools over Power 5 schools?

The highest rated football recruit in the country from Suwanee, Georgia made a splash yesterday and it made me happy.

Travis Hunter the number 1 cornerback in the country and the highest rated player in the country according to 24/7 decided to select Jackson State over his hometown Georgia Bulldogs and Florida State Seminoles. It was a wild moment.

Hunter made a decision I respect. It was not the pretty decision, I mean for the past 40 years, everyone wants to pick the big schools, the Alabama’s, USC Trojans, Georgia’s and UCLA’s of the world. Hunter chose an HBCU! Do you know how powerful of a statement that is?

He chose a culture that if you have never experienced you would never understand. There is something different about HBCU football. I am a white man, and let me tell you, that experience of going to the Classic to watch Bethune-Cookman against FAMU was probably one of the best experiences I have ever felt at a football game. It is not just a game, it is war. For several hours, these fans hate one another, The bands go hard. They are dragging the other team, they all do it while staying classy. They have a great time. The teams have to take a penalty after halftime because the bands are so electric they usually run over the time. I mean the fans go hard, they have a great time, they eat, they tailgate like no other and let me tell you it is a great experience.

There are just as many people in the parking lot eating and drinking as in the stadium. Deion Sanders is putting light into what was once one of the most powerful movements in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s for football. When you look at the Hall of Fame, you notice a ton of HBCU players in the Hall of Fame. Do you know why that is? Because the PWI (Predominantly white institution’s) did not allow black players into their schools. Yes, that actually happened. You had teams like Grambling State that were dominating, you had quarterbacks like Steve McNair who was in the Heisman race at Alcorn State. Black Colleges were different.

HBCU players represent only a small portion of the total football population, yet nearly 10% of all players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame attended HBCUs (34 out of 354 members). Super Bowl rings, Pro Bowls and all-time records are attributed to these athletes; and their performance on and off the field set the standard for generations to come.

Did you know that there were only 12 players that were not African-American in the top 100 prospects in the country this year for high school? Now imagine if they all chose to play football at an HBCU. There are 104 colleges in the United States that are identified by the US Department of Education as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Not all of them have football programs, but imagine if they did and the players decided to play in only HBCU football programs.

What would happen? Do you know what would happen? The programs would blossom into the biggest programs in the country. They would make MILLIONS from television, from advertising, from media. They would get the attention of the LSU’s and Alabama’s.

I have been saying this for years, I just wish the kids would listen. I want to see a change. Why does it have to stop with Travis Hunter? Why do people go to Alabama anyways? Is it truly the coaching, or is it the history of the program? Or is it because they say it gives you the best chance to make it to the NFL? I really want to know, because the top player in the country didn’t make a decision for himself. People can trash him and get mad, and the reason you are getting mad is because he didn’t go to your school. FINALLY, the HBCU won.

FINALLY, the HBCU’s are seeing that you TOO CAN BE A BIG SCHOOL! The HBCU’s are growing and they are finally starting to invest in their programs, and not just the band. Invest in football and I am telling you these programs will bring you out of red really quick! Coach Prime says it best BELIEVE!

Damond Talbot

NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com

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