In the final round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the 245th name called was Isaiah Bolden from Jackson State University, the one and only HBCU player chosen. He was drafted by the New England Patriots.

The 6-foot-2 cornerback joined the Jackson State University football team during a phenomenal time. Legendary Deion Sanders, a.k.a “Prime Time,” became head coach.

Sanders delivered the winning trifecta: media coverage, funding, and other D1-level student-athletic resources through his stardom. Bolden catapulted to success under the influence of the “Deion Sanders effect.” Bolden is the “exception”, who achieves the dream despite the odds and disparities of Historically Black College Universities vs Predominately White Institutions.

Many HBCU student-athletes often fall short of achieving their goal because of three glaring disparities between PWIs and HBCUs: media coverage, sports program funding, and student-athletic resources, including rehabilitation programs.

Some great Hall of Famers come from HBCUs like Doug Williams, the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl XXII and the first Black quarterback selected in the first round, and Hall of Famer, Shannon Sharpe.

Making it to the big stage has typically been a harder route for HBCU players. Players coming from Predominantly White Institutions (PWI) are less likely to experience the adversity that makes the journey to the league a tougher one for HBCU players.

The Tale of Two Choices

Hollywood at Troy University and Bowling Green State University

Six-foot-3 cornerback Jai Nunn-Liddell, a.k.a “Hollywood” from Mableton, Georgia dreams of making it to the big stage. In the beginning of Hollywood’s playing career, he experienced both sides of the spectrum, attending both PWIs and a HBCU. He attended Troy University and Bowling Green State University, both mostly white schools with an abundance of media coverage and resources for student athletes; however, playing time was difficult for Hollywood.

His decision to transfer landed him at an HBCU, Kentucky State University. Hollywood felt seen as both a player and a person. “Kentucky State was willing to give me an opportunity to play ball,” Hollywood said. “And I just wanted to be around people who understood me.”

Hollywood at Kentucky State University

Hollywood got his desired playing time, but it came at a cost. The disparities of media coverage, funding and resources diminished his exposure to recruiters for professional prospects, like the NFL.

Yet, determined to achieve his goal of playing in the NFL, Hollywood turned to outside opportunities, such as participating in the The Legacy Bowl (a game for HBCU NFL draft prospects) to gain access to media coverage he would’ve undoubtedly received at a PWI.

Media Coverage

Media exposure is key to making it to the next level.

Hollywood quickly noticed the difference in quality and broadcast media. While many PWI programs gained prime-time televised media coverage on mainstream platforms such as ESPN andSportsCenter, many HBCUs, if they gained national coverage, ended up on online platforms such as ESPN+. Untelevised games by mainstream networks make it harder for players to be recognized for the talent and skills at their institutions. “We had like three games on ESPN+,” Hollywood says. “And that meant you had to login and click a link. But in terms of primetime ESPN or on TV or anything like that, there were zero games.”

He adds, “I remember at both of my previous schools they had College GameDay.” College GameDay is ESPN’s coverage of college football aired on Saturday mornings during college football season .“If you have a good game at a school where they have College GameDay, you're going to go viral and get an opportunity to be on ESPN.”

HBCUs’ media coverage fell short. “It wasn't the same quality,” Hollywood says. “I made a lot of good plays you'll never know just because they didn't have good film or they didn't document it properly.” Even through the difficult times that didn’t stop Hollywood from performing. Other HBCU players, former and present, have come face to face with having the talent at the school but inadequate media coverage.

Curtis Johnson Dallas Cowboys

Curtis Johnson, a former defensive end at Clark Atlanta University and former NFL player (Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, St.Louis Rams, and New Orleans Saints), says none of his games were televised. “I wouldn't have any coverage if it wasn't for my agent at the time bringing NFL scouts down to come see me,” he says.“I think the most press coverage that we had was the local newspaper.”

The goal is to level the playing field.

Terrence Harris Defensive Back Clark Atlanta University

“HBCUs have to make sure they have their media team together like at PWIs,”says Terrence Harris, an HBCU football All-American from Clark Atlanta University. “PWIs have a whole casting team just to film their players working and to promote their players.”

Funding

With limited access to funds players and athletic programs have to lean on scholarships, alumni, and other avenues to fund the athletic program. Schools struggle with enrollment, which ultimately affects the funding of the school which affects the athletic programs.

Johnson said his team offered only six scholarships.. Schools receive scholarships based on their Athletic Performance Rate.

Because of limited scholarships for the football community, they have opportunities to find funding for their athletic programs through what is called a money game. A money game is where a higher-ranked school plays against a lower-ranked school to help boost their national record. However, the losing team doesn't lose completely; they help their athletic program with the funds generated from the game.

Another source of funding are alumni donations.The pride of alumni plays a major role in the funding of any institution. Many alumni enjoy giving back to their institutions because the success of the institution speaks to the success of the individual.

This is important for athletic programs because a number of professional athletes come from larger schools. As can be seen in the NFL draft and other drafts.

High-profile alumni bring visibility, knowledge from a professional standpoint, and connections.

“At HBCUs, we have alumni, but it's like the program is the same stuff. When they come back it is the same type of stuff that it was when they left. Whereas with PWI, something is changing every year whether it's new uniforms, new houses on campus, new offices, something constantly upgrading. The alumni support I think is bigger at PWIs.”

Harris believes alumni contributing back to their schools’ help the institution's progression. He says, “I think the alumni plays the biggest part, PWIs got the money they have because their alumni give back.”

Alumni donations help with the morale of funding the schools and athletic programs.

PWI Top 5 Valuable Football Programs (2019-2020)

HBCU Top 5 Valuable Athletic Programs (2016-2017)

Resources

For some HBCU football programs, exposure to opportunities are rare because not all teams are equipped with the sufficient resources, coaching staff, networks/connections, and proper equipment.

Coaching staff with professional experience also plays a factor in athlete’s development and decisions to attend HBCUs. Johnson speaks about not having coaches who played in the NFL and how that affected players. “It's not that you can't be coached and be prepared for the NFL by someone who wasn't there,” Johnson says. “But it's harder to prepare somebody to make it to the NFL who didn't play in the NFL.”

He also speaks about players having to get their own uniform equipment. “. “We had to get our own gloves. We had to get our own turf shoes. When you go to these major colleges, you don’t have to worry about anything,” he says.“You just come in there with a shirt and pants that you have on and they're going to make sure that you are right. And with HBCUs, a majority of them, it’s hard knowing that this is what we had to operate with.”

Hollywood recalls not having trainers at football camp.

Harris says PWIs overflow with trainers. “The training those players have at PWIs, they got five strength coaches. You put five heads together to come up with a plan to get somebody faster, stronger and able to move better; then you go to a HBCU and you get one strength coach over seven sports.”

Having to compete with players that have naturally been used to training with better quality resources is yet another unfair factor. “ Their four years are preparing them for the combine. You go to an HBCU, your four years of training is not the same as getting ready at a PWI.”

Having an adequate large endowment from the school allows the school to provide a structure for athletes to focus primarily on their sport of choice.

Carson Byrd Hampton University

Former Hampton University linebacker, Carson Byrd, understands the difference in the environment of HBCUs vs PWIs. He was offered 40 plus PWI offers but chose family tradition to attend a HBCU. He says, “ A lot of PWIs at their visits, the way they treat you when you go to a PWI, all you got to focus on is football. Everything else is done.”

Solutions

HBCU players are constantly proving why they deserve representation in professional leagues, so progress is being made.

Legacy Bowl player and a Baltimore Ravens undrafted free agent Dion “DJ” Golatt Jr., believes with the lack of televised games at HBCUs, players gain exposure in other ways. Using their social media platforms to market and brand their talent. “Social media that's really the big platform for HBCUs,” Golatt says.“Bigger schools, the platform is TV. It’s showing up on ESPN, when you wake up in the morning being on “First Take” but for HBCUs it's social media.``

DJ Golatt

Social media is a powerful medium that HBCU programs and students can leverage to cover practices and game footage to promote players. “Social media is the biggest thing in the world right now,” Harris says.“Having a camera crew out there, video recording all the team practices and drills, that's the biggest thing.”

Social media allows for viewers to get a sense of the players both on and off the field. Learning about players as more than just athletes. “ I think all HBCUs should put their energy into that because that's what’s going to help change HBCUs,” Harris says. “How people on the outside look in so they can feel like they’re getting an inside look on what's really going on.”

HBCU GameDay, a media outlet that specializes in covering HBCU sports, was a central platform for broadcasting HBCU games and brought attention to the talent at HBCUs. Recently, media outlets such as ESPN have noticed the improper coverage and created a plan airing more than 125 games from HBCUs across its networks during the 2022-2023 season.

The Legacy Bowl

Carson Byrd Hampton University

A platform that has helped with awareness and coverage of HBCU football players is the Legacy Bowl. The Legacy Bowl is an exclusive opportunity for specific HBCU players to showcase their talents on a bigger platform while getting the chance to be seen by NFL scouts and televised by the NFL Network. Founded by former NFL stars Doug Williams and James Harris who partner with the NFL to select the top HBCU NFL draft prospects.

The Legacy Bowl provided players like Hollywood a chance to highlight the talent at HBCUs. Hollywood says, “It’s huge because a lot of guys don't get the opportunity. It's just that exposure being on that platform. After the Legacy Bowl, it was like seven or eight articles about me. And then I ended up getting some workouts.”

Hollywood at HBCU Legacy Bowl

“ In the articles, they literally said if it wasn't for this game, they never would have heard of me,” he says. “So it’s needed, especially for kids coming out of HBCUs.”

Hollywood has now been invited to the NFL mini rookie camp for the Baltimore Ravens.

Players and coaches connect and share experiences that spotlight the work being done at HBCUs. “Events like this will shed light on a lot of talented guys,” says former NFL player Douglas McNeil III, who is also a wide receivers coach at Bowie State University.

The Legacy Bowl became a pipeline for talent to make it to the NFL. Doug Williams, who also attended Grambling State University says, “You can get there from here and when I say from here I'm talking about HBCUs.” Williams has worked hard to show that, “The talent at HBCUs are as great as anywhere in the country.”

De'Jahn Warren at HBCU Legacy Bowl

Legacy Bowl player, De’Jahn Warren, a former cornerback for Jackson State University , who now is a Chicago Bears undrafted free agent, speaks about the experience of the Legacy Bowl. “Y’all would love to experience this,” Warren says. “Don't sleep on HBCUs.” Warren also played under Deion Sanders during his time at JSU.

The Deion Sanders Effect

Sanders played a huge role in the revival of awareness of HBCU talent. He coached two years at Jackson State University. He demonstrated the importance of helping the community and spotlighting HBCU football excellence. He showed how increasing media coverage brings both exposure and opportunity.

“One word…Notoriety. That's what he did for HBCUs. He gave us a stage and that's what we want. We just want the stage and we will do the rest,” says HBCU Southern University Defensive Coordinator coach Henry Miller.

He also proved how a winning athletic program brings funding. He transformed Jackson State’s football program into a winning program bringing the school its first undefeated (11 wins) regular season in the school’s football history. The light he shined on his team provided opportunities for some of his players to showcase their talents on major platforms like the Legacy Bowl.

Looking Forward

For change of media coverage, funding and resources at HBCUs there needs to be reconstruction in the decision making process. After hearing the news of only one HBCU player being drafted, Doug Williams said: "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?"

This constant debate about lack of athletes from predominantly Black schools fuels the impact of what future NFL drafts will look resemble .

Deion Sanders also took to social media to address the lack of representation of HBCU players. Sanders stated on Twitter, "Ashamed of the 31 other NFL teams that couldn't find draft value in all of the talented HBCU players."

Role models like Doug Williams and Deion Sanders are champions in the HBCU community. Creating paths towards revolutionizing the lack of media coverage, funding, and resources at HBCUs. Players such as Hollywood are defying the odds showing that it is possible to achieve your dreams coming from an HBCU.