In the 2023 NFL Draft, there was just one player from a historically black college or university that was selected.
That was cornerback Isaiah Bolden of Jackson State, who was picked in the 7th round by the New England Patriots. This was a regression from last year, in which the 2022 draft saw just two Southwestern Athletic Conference players drafted.
It continues to be a trend that legendary NFL alum Doug Williams took issue with. Williams, who founded the HBCU Legacy Bowl, spoke his mind on the matter.
“I’m stunned. There has to be a lack of representation in the draft rooms for this to happen. Do we have anyone fighting for these young men?”, Williams asked.
“The young men did what they had to do at the HBCU Combine and Bowl game. I was angry earlier. It’s shocking.”
Deion Sanders had already spoken his peace about the situation as he wasn’t too thrilled about the lack of players taken from HBCUs.
Williams played college football at Grambling State University, where he became one of the most successful quarterbacks in the history of the program. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft and went on to have a successful career in the league.
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Williams became the first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl in 1988 as a member of the then-Washington Redskins.
After retiring from football, Williams became involved in coaching and front office work, serving as the head coach at Grambling State and as an executive with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins.
In 2010, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding career as a player.
