HBCU Legacy Bowl has numerous pro prospects to watch

Who stood out from Day 2 of @HBCULegacyBowl Practice?@wyche89 @BuckyBrooks

📺: HBCU Legacy Bowl – Saturday (4pm ET) on NFL Network pic.twitter.com/fcvj6oo6hN

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 17, 2022

The HBCU Legacy Bowl will take place for the first time this Saturday at 3 p.m. at Yulman Stadium. It will present an opportunity for talent from to predominately black universities and colleges to showcase themselves for pro scouts.

The players will be divided into two groups, team Gaither named in honor of longtime Florida A&M head coach Jake Gaither and team Robinson labeled after legendary Grambling coach Eddie Robinson.

Team Gaither, comprised of players from the MEAC and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, will be coached by South Carolina State’s Oliver “Buddy” Pough and Bowie State’s Damon Wilson.

Team Robinson players are from the SWAC and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association and coached by Florida A&M’s Willie Simmons and Albany State’s Gabe Giordina.

HBCU institutions have landed 34 former players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Every fan is familiar with Jerry Rice, Walter Payton, Mel Blount and Michael Strahan, but so many made a name for themselves with less fanfare.

Raiders cornerback Willie Brown and Dolphins offensive guard Larry Little were not drafted by an NFL team. Wide receivers Bob Hayes and Rayfield Wright both were seventh round selections. Hall of Fame running back Le Roy Kelly was an eighth round choice.

The HBCU Legacy Bowl will showcase players who may be the next to rise from relative obscurity to pro stardom.

Here are names to watch:

– QB/RB LaDarius Skelton (6-2, 226) Southern University

Arrived to Baton Rouge as a dual threat prospect from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He is versatile enough to play QB, RB or WR. He experienced an up-and-down career on the Bluffs but led the Jaguars to a pair of wins in the Bayou Classic.

– RB Isaiah Totten (5-9, 195) North Carolina Central Eagles

Possessing 4.54 speed but more quick than fast, he was very productive (2,418 rushing yards with 17 touchdowns averaging 4.9 yards per carry).

– RB Calil Wilkins (5-8, 210) Bowie State Bulldogs

Transfer from West Virginia State where he was named a conference freshman of the year in 2017. This season he was a Harlan Hill award candidate after rushing for 1,412 yards and 10 scores.

– DT Savion Williams (6-4, 290) Florida A&M Rattlers

Transfer from Tennessee tallied 6.5 sacks and a safety this season.

-OG/OC Jalen Powell (6-2, 305) Norfolk State

Rarely allowed a sack during his 34 starts.

-QB Geremy Hickbottom (6-4, 209) Tennessee State Tigers

Transferred from Grambling where he played in 11 contests. Good arm and athleticism.

-DT Antwan Owens (6-4, 290) Jackson State

Transfer from Georgia Tech is quick off the snap. He inked an NIL deal with a hair products business.

-DE Chris Myers (6’6, 265) Norfolk State Spartans

Transferred from Middle Tennessee after two seasons. His older brother was 5th round pick of the Ravens in 2015. He models his game after Washington’s Chase Young.

-WR Marquis McClain (6-3, 224, 4.55) Southern U.

This past season, the transfer from Auburn snared 29 passes for 413 yards and 4 touchdowns. Physically gifted, he is built like Adonis. He has big play potential.

– WR Ryan McDaniel (6-2, 215) North Carolina Central Eagles

Managed 52 catches for 678 yards 4 scores this past season. Transfer from Tulsa models his game after Arizona’s DeAndre Hopkins.

-RB Jah Maine-Martin (5’10, 215) North Carolina A&T Aggies

Had 522 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns this season but his breakout year in 2019 saw him racing for 1,246 yards and 20 scores. Coastal Carolina transfer has traits resembling Marshawn Lynch in style. He has eclipsed Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen’s school touchdown mark at NCA&T.

-DE Keyshawn James (6-2, 283) Fayetteville State Broncos

Transfer from Citadel was a tight end at 235 pounds but has accumulated 228 career tackles, 28 sacks and 11 forced fumbles since the position switch. This past season, he recorded 21 TFL and 10 sacks.

– LT Jay Jackson-Williams (6-4, 305) Florida A&M Rattlers

Florida State transfer played tight end and caught 17 TD passes in high school and also recorded 33 TFL and 22 sacks on defense.

-OLB Kailon Davis (6-2, 237) Arkansas Pine Bluff Lions

The product of East St. John High in Reserve, La., originally played at Arkansas State for seven games.

– DT Christian Clark (6-1, 364) Alabama State Hornets

An immoveable object in the middle, he was first team all-conference. Anyone need a 3-4 nose tackle?

– RB Ezra Gray (5-7, 174) Alabama State Hornets

He could be third day pick in NFL draft. He notched 1,875 career rushing yards with nine scores, highlighted by 195 yards against Jackson State this past season. Gray shows good hands with 41 career catches for 256 yards.

-WR Trey Gross (6-4, 210) Delaware State

Had 49 catches for 642 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. Against North Carolina Central, he had a season high of 12 grabs for 142 yards and four scores.

– LB Keonte Hampton (6-2, 220). A tackling machine with 484 career stops. Led the SWAC in tackles ( 57 stops) during spring ’21, including a 15 tackle performance against Grambling.

– CB Trey Giles (6-0, 190) Miles College.

Very physical and versatile, he plays with a chip on his shoulder like he has something to prove. Models his game after Mel Blount and Deion Sanders.

– DT James Fagan (6’6, 280) Hampton Pirates

In an interesting career, he walked on at Old Dominion and spent time in the Army National Guard. After playing o-line at ODU, he made move to defensive tackle where he has steadily improved.

– OT Keenan Forbes (6-3, 330) Florida A&M Rattlers

Made first team All-SWAC after a transfer from Washington State. Powerful run blocker.

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