With the 2021 college football regular season and conference championships behind us, many are awaiting the bowl games. Well wait no more as this Sunday, December 19th, we will witness the first HBCU Pigskin Showdown. This game features many under the radar draft-eligible talents from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).
A casual fan may not realize it, but the HBCU colleges have produced some great talent in recent years. The Saints’ starting left tackle and 3 time Pro-Bowler Terron Armstead played college ball at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. One of my absolute favorite players currently tearing up the NFL is Indianapolis Colts’ linebacker Darius Leonard who played for South Carolina State in college. Leonard won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2018. That’s just a few of the players making a statement on Sundays.
This weekend’s game is slated to be played in Alabama and host players from schools such as: Shaw University, Bowie State, Saint Augustine University, and the home of NFL legend Jerry Rice, Mississippi Valley State University. We will all be watching to see if we can find any more NFL Draft sleepers. Could the next Jerry Rice be playing in this weekends game?
Players to Watch
A few players stand out to me as legitimate candidates to make an NFL roster next year, and a few who have shown promise and extreme heart. We all know NFL teams will never turn away the opportunity to find a hidden gem. Heck, even Kurt Warner was found stocking shelves at his local Hy-Vee grocery store in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Stefan Touani, Bowie State, Center
Bowie State Center Stefan Touani
The 6’ 3”, 315 lb Grad student from Temple Hills, Maryland has looked good on the field for the Bowie State Bulldogs. Touani possesses one of the most important skills needed for a small school player to make a roster, versatility. He is listed at center, but you will see him play along the line and he has lined up at left tackle as well. He is physical and plays with a mean streak. This is one of my favorite characteristics for a lineman.
Stefan led the Bulldogs to a 12-2 record with his leadership and tenacity along the line. The Bulldogs pulled off the rare feat of rushing for more yards than they threw for. I will be watching Touani to see how he does against the other invitees on Sunday and hope he gets a chance to show his skills against even more talent, possibly in another bowl game of sorts soon. I would also like to see him at the NFL Combine.
Gary Bright, Saint Augustines, CB
Saint Augustine DB Gary Bright
Gary Bright plays DB for the Saint Augustine Falcons. You may not have heard his name much, but don’t write him off. This young man has heart and determination. I have had personal interactions with him and can tell you he wants it! Bright may be a bit undersized and need to add a bit of bulk. but he doesn’t lack heart.
The CB has quick reaction skills and can break on a pass with fluid hips. His straight line speed will probably test around the 4.48-4.49 range and he has lanky arms for his 6’ 0” frame. If he can show out on Sunday I could see a team taking a flyer on him as a seventh rounderm or an early add as an undrafted free agent.
Carl Matthews, Tuskegee, LB
Tuskegee LB Carl Matthews
The Golden Tigers star may be listed at LB, but has played safety as well. Once again, I like his chances to make a team due to his versatility. After playing DB early on, Matthews has added weight and manned the middle of the defense. He stands 6’ 1” and weighs 215 lbs. This year he had 92 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 FF, and 4 passes defended. Matthews has great instincts and I see some Kam Chancellor vibes when watching him. I loved his high school film as well.
With a strong showing on Sunday and a decent 40 time (reported 4.5 in high school) he could propel himself into the spotlight. If he can run a sub 4.5 I would target him in the NFL draft. I wouldn’t want to risk him signing elsewhere as an UDFA. As of this writing, this 27 teams had confirmed they would attend the Pigskin Showdown and I hope they all take a look at Carl Matthews.
Aakiel Greer, Saint Augustines, WR
Saint Augustine WR Aakiel Greer
Greer is another player who has stood out to me due to his efforts. He is a big bodied WR who can high point the ball and makes plays in the red zone. He reminds me a little of a player I liked last year, Damonte Coxie of Memphis. Both have the ability to block out defenders with their body and make the catch, but lack elite separation skills.
If Greer plays well this weekend, I would hope teams would look to bring a player of his high character in to compete for a roster spot as a depth piece. A lackluster offense this season made it hard for him to show off his skills. However, I saw him repeatedly bail out his QB with some nice plays on under thrown balls. With players like Drake London putting up big numbers this year for USC, it has shown us there is still room for big receivers in the NFL.
Final Thoughts
I’m excited for the young men competing in the first ever HBCU Pigskin Showdown. I hope fans take notice and we see this All-Star game stick around. I am saddened that it won’t be aired on any major sports channels, but you can find it on HBCUGO.TV. NFL scouts have began to gather in Alabama to find the next diamond in the rough. Could that diamond be on this list?
Report by Ken Noble
