NFL 100: Top players of note from HBCU programs
Football teams from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) have been competing since Dec. 27, 1892, when Johnson C. Smith (then known as Biddle University) defeated Livingston College in Salisbury, North Carolina, 5-0.
The HBCU schools have a storied history and produced some of the greatest football players ever, many of whom are in the Hall of Fame and NFL record books. They come from conferences like the MEAC and SWAC and programs like Grambling, Jackson State, Tennessee State and Florida A&M.
Based on factors such as being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame or being all-pro and a Pro Bowler, making a team’s Hall of Fame and other research, we bring you the 100 greatest pro players ever produced by HBCU programs:
No. 1. Jerry Rice, Mississippi Valley State
Pos: WR. Years: 1985-2004. Teams: 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Seahawks
Arguably the greatest football player in the history of the NFL and the league’s greatest receiver. Three-time Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl and NFL MVP. Holds the NFL record for career receptions (1,549), career receiving yards (22,895), career receiving touchdowns (197). First-team all-pro 10 times.
2. Walter Payton, Jackson State Pos: RB. Years: 1975-87. Team: Bears. Finished as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 16,726 (ultimately broken by Emmitt Smith). Had 21,264 rush/pass yards. Hall of Fame. Super Bowl champ.
3. Deacon Jones, South Carolina State, Mississippi Valley State
Pos: DE. Years: 1961-74. Team: Los Angeles Rams.
Hall of Fame. Five-time all-pro.
4. Willie Lanier, Morgan State Pos: LB. Years: 1967-77. Team: Chiefs. Super Bowl champion. Hall of Fame. Had 27 interceptions, 18 fumble recoveries.
5. Buck Buchanan, Grambling Pos: DT. Years: 1963-75. Team: Chiefs. Super Bowl champion. Hall of Fame. Played in 182 games, including 166 in a row.
6. Mel Blount, Southern
Pos: CB. Years: 1970-83. Team: Steelers.
Four-time Super Bowl champion. Hall of Famer. Had 57 interceptions, 13 fumble recoveries.
7. Marion Motley, South Carolina State (transferred to Nevada)
Pos: FB. Years: 1946-53 (1955). Teams: Browns, Steelers (one season).
Hall of Fame. Averaged 5.6 yards rushing; played both ways (LB) when Cleveland was in the All-America Football Conference before joining NFL.
8. Willie Davis, Grambling
Pos: DE. Years: 1958-69. Teams: Browns, Packers.
Five-time NFL champion and twotime Super Bowl champion; 10 seasons with Packers; career 22 fumble recoveries.
9. Willie Brown, Grambling
Pos: CB. Years: 1963-78. Teams: Broncos, Raiders.
Hall of Fame; 54 interceptions.
10. Ken Houston, Prairie View A&M Pos: S. Years: 1967-80. Teams: Houston Oilers. Redskins.
Hall of Fame. Returned nine interceptions for TDs; 49 career picks.
11. Art Shell, Maryland State (now Maryland Eastern Shore).
Pos: OT. Years: 1968-82. Team: Oakland Raiders (Los Angeles 1982).
Two-time Super Bowl champion. Hall of Fame. Played 207 games. NFL 1970s all-decade team.
12. Lem Barney, Jackson State Pos: CB. Years: 1967-77. Team: Lions. Hall of Fame. Also punt-kickoff returner; 56 interceptions, 11 TDs; NFL defensive rookie of the year.
13. Roosevelt Brown, Morgan State Pos: OT. Years: 1953-65. Team: Giants.
Hall of Fame. Nine Pro Bowls.
14. Larry Little, Bethune-Cookman Pos: OG. Years: 1967-80. Teams: San Diego Chargers, Dolphins.
Two-time Super Bowl champion.
Hall of Fame.
15. Leroy Kelly, Morgan State Pos: RB. Years: 1964-73. Team: Browns.
Hall of Fame. Combined 12,330 yards; five-time all-NFL. Two NFL rushing titles.
16. Richard Dent, Tennessee State Pos: DT. Years: 1983-97. Teams: Bears, 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Eagles.
Super Bowl champion. Hall of Fame. Four Pro Bowls; 137.5 sacks (third all time when he retired), including 17.5 his second season. Super Bowl champ.
17. Jackie Slater, Jackson State Pos: OT. Years: 1976-95. Team: Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams
Hall of Fame. Played 259 games; seven Pro Bowls; blocked for 24 quarterbacks and 37 running backs.
18. Emmitt Thomas, Bishop
Pos: CB. Years: 1966-78. Team: Chiefs.
Hall of Fame. 58 interceptions (fifthbest all time when he retired), including 12 in 1974; 937 interception return yards. Longtime NFL assistant.
19. Harry Carson, South Carolina State
Pos: LB. Years: 1976-88. Team: Giants.
Hall of Fame. Nine Pro Bowls; 14 fumble recoveries; 20 tackles in a 1982 Monday Night Football game versus Green Bay. Super Bowl champ.
20. Robert Brazile, Jackson State Pos: LB. Years: 1975-84. Team: Houston Oilers.
Hall of Fame. Seven Pro Bowls, 1970s’ all-decade team.
21. Len Ford, Morgan State (then
Michigan)
Pos: DE. Years: 1950-58. Teams: Browns, Packers (1958).
Hall of Fame. According to the Hall, Cleveland in effect created the first 4-3 defense to take advantage of Ford’s ability to rush the passer.
22. Rayfield Wright, Fort Valley
State
Pos: OT. Years: 1967-79. Team: Cowboys.
Two-time Super Bowl champion. Hall of Fame. Six consecutive Pro Bowls.
23. Michael Strahan, Texas Southern
Pos: DE. Years: 1993-2007. Team: Giants.
Hall of Fame. Had 141.5 career sacks, including 22.5 in 2001 when he was NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
24. Shannon Sharpe, Savannah State
Pos: TE. Years: 1990-2003. Teams: Broncos, Baltimore Ravens.
Three-time Super Bowl champion. Hall of Fame. Had 815 receptions for 10,060 yards and 62 TDs. Played in 204 regular-season games.
25. John Stallworth, Alabama A&M Pos: WR. Years: 1974-87. Team: Steelers.
Four-time Super Bowl champion. Hall of Fame. Had 537 catches for 8,723 yards and 63 TDs – all team records at the time of his retirement.
26. Aeneas Williams, Southern Pos: DB. Years: 1991-2004. Teams: Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams.
Hall of Fame. Had 55 interceptions; made eight Pro Bowls. NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Played mostly CB but also made Pro Bowl once as safety.
27. Bob Hayes, Florida A&M Pos: WR. Years: 1965-75. Teams: Cowboys, 49ers (one season).
Super Bowl champion. Hall of Fame. Had 76 TDs, 7,414 yards. Also won gold medal in 100-meter dash at 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
28. Claude Humphrey, Tennessee
State
Pos: DE. Years: 1968-81. Teams: Falcons, Eagles.
Hall of Fame. Had 122 sacks, made six Pro Bowls, played in 171 games.
29. Elvin Bethea, North Carolina A&T
Pos: DE. Years: 1968-83. Team: Houston Oilers.
Hall of Fame. Eight Pro Bowls. Played in 210 games.
30. Donnie Shell, South Carolina
State
Pos: DB. Years: 1974-87. Team: Steelers.
Four-time Super Bowl champion. Had 51 interceptions, 19 fumble recoveries; played 201 games. Five Pro Bowls.
31. Charlie Joiner, Grambling Pos: WR. Years: 1969-86. Teams: Houston Oilers, Bengals, San Diego Chargers.
Hall of Fame. Had 750 catches, 12,416 yards, 65 TDs, 20 100-yard receiving games. At the time of his retirement his 18 seasons were longer than any other receiver in history.
32. L.C. Greenwood, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Pos: DE. Years: 1969-81. Team: Steelers.
Four-time Super Bowl champion. Six-time Pro Bowler; 170 games
33. Lemar Parrish, Lincoln (Mo.) Pos: CB. Years: 1970-82. Teams: Bengals, Redskins, Bills.
Eight-time Pro Bowler and threetime first-team all-pro. Had 47 interceptions, 176 games.
34. Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Tennessee State
Pos: DE. Years: 1974-89. Team: Cowboys.
Super Bowl champion; stood 6-9; played in 224 games. Three-time Pro Bowler.
35. Ben Coates, Livingstone Pos: TE. Years: 1991-2000. Teams: Patriots, Ravens (one season).
Super Bowl champion. Had 499 receptions for 5,555 yards and 50 touchdowns.
36. Ken Riley, Florida A&M
Pos: DB. Years: 1969-83. Team: Bengals.
37. Everson Walls, Grambling Pos: DB. Years: 1981-93. Teams: Cowboys, Giants, Browns.
38. Raymond Chester, Morgan State Pos: TE. Years: 1970-81. Teams: Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Colts.
39. Steve McNair, Alcorn State Pos: QB. Years: 1995-2007. Teams: Houston Oilers, Titans, Ravens.
40. Otis Taylor, Prairie View A&M Pos: WR. Years: 1965-75. Team: Chiefs.
41. Winston Hill, Texas Southern Pos: OL. Years: 1963-77. Teams: Jets, Los Angeles Rams (one season).
42. Tank Younger, Grambling Pos:.RB. Years: 1949-58. Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Steelers (one season).
43. Willie Galimore, Florida A&M Pos: RB. Years: 1957-63. Team: Bears.
44. Doug Williams, Grambling Pos: QB. Years: 1978-89. Teams: Bucs, Redskins.
45. Harold Carmichael, Southern Pos: WR. Years: 1971-84. Teams: Eagles, Cowboys (one season).
46. Harold Jackson, Jackson State Pos: WR. Years: 1968-83. Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Eagles, Patriots, Vikings, Seahawks.
47. Johnny Sample, Maryland State Pos: DB. Years: 1958-68. Teams: Baltimore Colts, Steelers, Redskins, Jets.
48. Emerson Boozer, Maryland State
Pos: RB. Years: 1966-75. Team: Jets.
49. Robert Mathis, Alabama A&M Pos: DE. Years: 2003-16. Team: Indianapolis Colts.
50. Erik Williams, Central State Pos: OT. Years: 1991-2001. Teams: Cowboys, Ravens (one season).
51. Donald Driver, Alcorn State Pos: WR. Years: 1999-2012. Team: Packers.
52. Isiah Robertson, Southern Pos: LB. Years: 1971-82. Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Bills.
53. Roger Brown, Maryland State Pos: DT. Years: 1960-69. Teams: Lions, Los Angeles Rams.
54. Nate Newton, Florida A&M Pos: G. Years: 1986-99. Teams: Cowboys, Panthers (one season).
55. Robert Porcher, South Carolina State
Pos: DL. Years: 1992-2003. Team: Lions.
56. Jimmy Smith, Jackson State Pos: WR. Years: 1992-2005. Teams: Cowboys (one season), Jaguars.
57. John Gilliam, South Carolina State
Pos: WR. Years: 1967-77. Teams: Saints, St. Louis Cardinals, Vikings, Falcons, Bears.
58. Jethro Pugh, Elizabeth City State Pos: DL. Years: 1965-78. Team: Cowboys.
59. John Taylor, Delaware State Pos: WR. Years: 1987-95. Team: 49ers.
60. Sammy White, Grambling Pos: WR. Years: 1976-85. Team: Vikings.
61. Hugh Douglas, Central State Pos: DE. Years: 1995-2004. Teams: Jets, Eagles, Jaguars.
62. Ernie “Big Cat” Ladd, Grambling Pos: DT. Years: 1961-67. Teams: San Diego Chargers, Houston Oilers, Chiefs.
63. Jimmie Giles, Alcorn State Pos: TE. Years: 1977-89. Teams: Houston Oilers, Bucs, Lions, Eagles.
64. Gary “Big Hands” Johnson, Grambling
Pos: DL. Years: 1975-85. Teams: San Diego Chargers, 49ers.
65. Doug Wilkerson, North Carolina Central
Pos: OG. Years: 1970-84. Teams: Houston Oilers (one season), San Diego Chargers.
66. Leon Gray, Jackson State Pos: OT. Years: 1973-83. Teams: Patriots, Houston Oilers, Saints.
67. Greg Lloyd, Fort Valley State Pos: LB. Years: 1988-98. Teams: Steelers, Panther (one season).
68. Albert Lewis, Grambling Pos: CB. Years: 1983-98. Teams: Chiefs, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders.
69. Antoine Bethea, Howard Pos: DB. Years: 2006-18. Teams: Indianapolis Colts, 49ers, Arizona Cardinals.
70. Rashean Mathis, BethuneCookman
Pos: CB. Years: 2003-15. Teams: Jaguars, Lions.
71. Rich “Tombstone” Jackson,
Southern
Pos: DE/LB. Years: 1966-72. Teams: Oakland Raiders, Broncos, Browns.
72. Nick Collins, Bethune-Cookman Pos: S. Years: 2005-11. Team: Packers.
73. Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson, Langston
Pos: LB. Years: 1975-80. Teams: Cowboys, Houston Oilers (seven games), San Diego Chargers (one game).
74. Ken Burrough, Texas Southern Pos: WR. Years: 1970-81. Teams: Saints, Houston Oilers.
75. Coy Bacon, Jackson State Pos: DL. Years: 1968-81. Teams: Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, Bengals, Redskins.
76. Clem Daniels, Prairie View A&M Pos: RB. Years: 1960-68. Teams: Dallas Texans, Oakland Raiders, 49ers.
77. Jake Reed, Grambling
Pos: WR. Years: 1991-2002. Teams: Vikings, Saints (two seasons).
78. Jimmie Lee Hunt, Prairie View A&M
Pos: DL. Years: 1960-71. Team: Boston Patriots.
79. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State
Pos: CB. Years: 2008-18. Teams: Arizona Cardinals, Eagles, Oakland Raiders.
80. Herbert Scott, Virginia Union Pos: G. Years: 1975-84. Team: Cowboys.
81. Yancey Thigpen, Winston-Salem State
Pos: WR. Years: 1991-2000. Teams: San Diego Chargers, Steelers, Tennessee.
82. Rich Caster, Jackson State Pos: TE. Years: 1970-82. Teams: Jets, Houston Oilers, Saints, Redskins.
83. Henry Lawrence, Florida A&M Pos: OL. Years: 1974-86. Team: Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders.
84. Howard Ballard, Alabama A&M Pos: OT. Years: 1987-98. Teams: Bills, Seahawks.
85. Jacoby Jones, Lane
Pos: WR. Years: 2007-15. Teams: Houston Texans, Ravens, Steelers, San Diego Chargers.
86. Justin Durant, Hampton Pos: LB. Years: 2007-17. Teams: Jaguars, Lions, Cowboys, Falcons.
87. Speedy Duncan, Jackson State Pos: DB. Years: 1964-74. Teams: San Diego Chargers, Redskins.
88. Verlon Biggs, Jackson State Pos: DE. Years: 1965-74. Teams: Jets, Redskins.
89. Jim Kearney, Prairie View A&M Pos: S. Years: 1965-76. Teams: Lions, Chiefs, Saints.
90. Carl Hairston, Maryland State Pos: DL. Years: 1976-90. Teams: Eagles, Browns, Phoenix Cardinals.
91. Robert James, Fisk
Pos: DB. Years: 1969-74. Team: Bills.
92. Mack Lee Hill, Southern Pos: RB. Years: 1964-65. Team: Chiefs.
93. Ashley Ambrose, Mississippi
Valley State
Pos: DB. Years: 1992-2004. Teams: Indianapolis Colts, Bengals, Saints, Falcons.
94. James “Shack” Harris, Grambling
Pos: QB. Years: 1969-81. Teams: Bills, Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers.
95. Tarik Cohen, North Carolina A&T Pos: RB. Year: 2017. Team: Bears.
96. Larry Brooks, Virginia State Pos: DT. Years: 1972-82. Team: Los Angeles Rams.
97. Terron Armstead, Arkansas Pine Bluff
Pos: OT. Year: 2013. Team: Saints.
98. Julius Adams, Texas Southern Pos: DL. Years: 1971-87. Team: Patriots.
99. James Hunter, Grambling Pos: DB. Years: 1976-82. Team: Lions.
100. Homer Jones, Texas Southern Pos: WR. Years: 1964-70. Teams: Giants, Browns.
Donal Ware is a national radio personality who has interviewed some of the top names in sports and entertainment and is the founder of BOXTOROW. The radio program can be heard on SiriusXM and radio stations across the country. A graduated of Morgan State University, he has a great passion for HBCU sports.
Discussion about this ranking can be heard on BOXTOROW this Saturday at 9 a.m. ET/8 a.m. CT/6 a.m. PT on SiriusXM Channel 142.