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Jordan Reid
Multiple Authors
The 2026 college football season is on deck, and HBCU play begins with the annual Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff on Saturday featuring Alabama A&M and Howard. The game will be played at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta at 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN App).
The NFL has made considerable efforts to generate more exposure and continue a pipeline for players from historically Black colleges and universities. Predraft events such as the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl have helped athletes at those institutions gain professional opportunities. After zero HBCU players were drafted in 2024, Alabama A&M offensive tackle Carson Vinson was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft by the Ravens. But zero HBCU players were drafted this past April.
What about the 2027 NFL draft class? Will we see some HBCU players get picked next April? This summer, I spoke to numerous coaches, scouts and evaluators and matched their scouting notes to my own to compile my annual watch list. Here are my top 10 draft-eligible HBCU prospects, including players from both the FCS and Division II ranks. (This list doesn’t include recent transfers who didn’t play at an HBCU school last season.)
1. Eric Zachery, CB, Prairie View A&M
HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 185 pounds | Class: Junior
Zachery broke out in his second year as a starter last season, turning not just into one of the best HBCU players but also a top player in the entire FCS. A true press man corner, he has easy movement skills to turn and run with matchups. He also has the length to disrupt passing lanes, finishing with two interceptions and eight pass breakups in 2025.
Zachery is a very young prospect, turning 20 years old later this month. But he’s the leader of one of the stingiest defenses in the FCS, which allowed only 17 points per game last season en route to Prairie View A&M’s first SWAC championship since 2009.
2. Kam Sallis, S, Jackson State
HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 222 pounds | Class: senior
Sallis is the type of safety who forces ball carriers to bite down on their mouthpiece when he comes into contact with them. After starting his collegiate career at Kansas State from 2023 to 2024, he totaled 53 tackles and two interceptions in a breakout season with the Tigers in 2025.
Sallis entered the transfer portal this past January, but he opted to return to Jackson State and was named the SWAC’s preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Consistency in coverage is the next step for Sallis’ development, as he’s already outstanding in run support.
HT: 6-foot-4 | WT: 323 pounds | Class: Redshirt senior
Baker was a big part of turning the Hornets into one of the most explosive offenses in the country last season. Primarily playing right tackle, he’s a stoutly-built blocker who can generate movement at the point of attack. His strong base also helps him anchor in pass protection, and he allowed only two sacks last season.
Baker plays too high, but his strength level and awareness are why he’s the top-ranked offensive lineman on this list. He is once again expected to start at right tackle, but he could slide inside to guard or even center for an NFL team.
HT: 6-foot | WT: 205 pounds | Class: Redshirt senior
The orchestrator of the potent Hornets’ attack, Body seems to make everything right when at the helm. He was named the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2025 after helping the team average the most points in the FCS (42.4 points per game).
In an offense that thrives in 10 personnel (one running back, zero tight ends and four wide receivers) and 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end and three wide receivers) sets, Body is a resolute decision-maker who spreads the ball with an unconventional, over-the-top throwing release. His mobility is also a factor, as he can execute designed QB runs and make plays outside of structure.
The biggest concern surrounding Body is his durability; he played in only the first eight games of last season after suffering a shoulder injury. He has yet to finish a full collegiate season healthy.
HT: 5-foot-11 | WT: 177 pounds | Class: Senior
Cyprian was one of my favorite small-school hidden gems from summer scouting. An explosive deep threat, he made his presence felt at Division II Kentucky State in 2025, finishing with 42 catches, 907 yards and eight touchdowns.
Cyprian’s speed makes it difficult for defenders to match vertically or stop him from turning underneath passes into explosive plays. He averaged an impressive 21.5 yards per reception last season. But he also has the route-running ability to attack defenses at the short-to-intermediate levels.
HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 200 pounds | Class: Redshirt senior
Fortilien was the No. 2 player on last year’s list but was limited to just two games due to a nagging hamstring injury. Now fully healthy, he is expected to return to the WR1 role for Jackson State.
With a huge catch radius, Fortilien routinely skies over defenders to win at the catch point. Those ball-tracking skills show up in the red zone and on vertical routes in the open field. Fortilien still needs to expand his route tree, as he’s mostly deployed on go balls and underneath quick-hitters. But development in that regard — and an overall healthy season — could keep him in the mix as a potential draftable prospect.
7. Jordan Dollard, Edge, South Carolina State
HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 235 pounds | Class: Redshirt junior
Few FCS edge rushers have Dollard’s length and raw tools. He is a towering defensive end who can operate as a standup outside linebacker or rush with his hand in the ground.
Dollard had 3.5 sacks and 11.0 tackles for loss last season, but he still needs to expand his arsenal of pass-rush moves to create more wins around the arc. Scouts also want to see him play with more hand strength and utilize his length more consistently as a run defender. Dollard will once again be a key part of the Bulldogs’ defense as the team aims to repeat as HBCU champions.
HT: 6-foot-2 | WT: 205 pounds | Class: Redshirt junior
Another top defender in the SWAC, Brister is a versatile prospect who wears multiple hats in the secondary. After spending two seasons at Air Force, the Baton Rouge native returned home in 2024 to become a core piece of the Jaguars’ defense.
Last season, Brister showcased his range from center field as a single-high defender. With 56 tackles, he is an enthusiastic tackler who comes downhill with plenty of energy. He needs to produce more turnovers to help his draft chances, as he didn’t record an interception in 2025.
9. Elijah Kennedy, WR/RS, North Carolina A&T
HT: 5-foot-11 | WT: 180 pounds | Class: Redshirt senior
One of the most dangerous return specialists in the nation, Kennedy has a knack for making defenders miss and finding open creases. He averaged 16.1 yards per punt return last season (second best in the country), scoring twice. Kennedy tied a program record with a 96-yard punt-return touchdown against Campbell, while also scoring a game-winning 85-yard kickoff return in the same contest. He could have next-level opportunities as a return specialist. (He also had 25 catches for 305 yards last season as a receiver.)
HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 220 pounds | Class: Eighth-year
Brown spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Georgia State from 2019 to 2021, but he started only during the 2020 season. After a one-year stop at UT-Martin, he found a permanent home in 2023 in his home state of Alabama.
Brown got off to a fast start last season, throwing for 1,060 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception in four games, but he needed season-ending surgery after sustaining an ankle injury. If he’s able to stay healthy this season, he could earn an NFL rookie camp invite. Brown’s frame and mobility have already caught the eye of scouts despite his long list of injuries.
