LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor
After no black college players were taken in the 2021 NFL Draft, four went off the boards last week in Saturday’s third day of the 2022 Draft in Las Vegas.
Fayetteville State defensive back Joshua Williams, South Carolina State defensive back Decobie Durant, Jackson State linebacker/ defensive end James Houston and Southern offensive lineman Ja’Tyre Carter all were selected as picks in rounds four through seven were made Saturday.
The fact that no HBCU players were drafted in 2021 was somewhat alarming. But it could easily be attributed to the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic caused no black college teams to play in the fall of 2020 and many (Alcorn State of the SWAC, the entire CIAA and SIAC and most of the MEAC) to opt out of playing in the spring of 2021.
As a result of those pandemic-related cancellations, the NCAA granted another year of eligibility to players and many chose to hang around for another year.
A contributing factors to this year’s list of HBCU draftees was increased HBCU attention and exposure following the shutout in 2021. There was an HBCU Combine at the Senior Bowl and an NFL sponsored HBCU Legacy Bowl put on in New Orleans by the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
Joshua Williams
Williams, at a rangy 6-2, 198 pounds, went off the boards with the 35th pick in the fourth round, 135th overall to the Kansas City Chiefs.
He had been at the top of most HBCU draft boards after impressive performances at both the NFL Combine and the Senior Bowl. Scouts liked his size, speed and toughness.
Chiefs’ senior college scouting executive David Hinson said what stood out with Williams, besides his size and athleticism, was his “leadership ability and demeanor.”
“The skill set and frame are there for him to grow into a ballhawk on the boundary,” said Matt Conner of Fansided. “It’s also clear the Chiefs are interested in rebuilding the entire secondary with the way the draft has fallen so far.”
Williams is the first FSU player to be drafted in 46 years. The last was running back James Godwin who was taken by the New York Jets in the 16th round of the 1976 draft. He is also the first CIAA player to be the first HBCU player selected in many years.
Decobie Durant
Durant went seven picks after Williams in the fourth round, 142nd overall, to the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.
He was the ringleader on the back end of the defense at South Carolina State that propelled the Bulldogs to the 2021 MEAC title and huge upset of Deion Sanders’ SWAC champion Tigers of Jackson State at December’s Celebration Bowl. He had caught the attention of the Rams’ brass in a two-interception performance against Clemson last season. Rams General Manager said Durant “stepped it up” in that game and showed next level ball skills.
Durant was a ballhawk and sure tackler who also put up impressive numbers at the NFL
Combine. He flashed speed, running a 4.38 40- yard time, and a good time in the shuttle. Durant plays with intelligence and confidence.
He follows in the footsteps of South Carolina State products Darius Leonard and Javon Hargrave, second and third round draft defensive selections out of Buddy Pough’s South Carolina State program, who have proven to be outstanding at the next level. Leonard and Hargrave were two-time MEAC defensive players of the year. Durant won the award this year.
James Houston
The Detroit Lions picked Jackson State pass rush specialist Houston with the 39th pick of the sixth round, 217th overall.
The University of Florida transfer had amongst the most impressive 2021 seasons. He posted 16.5 sacks for -117 yards in losses to finish behind only Florida A&M’s Buck Buchannan Award winner Isaiah Land in the FCS sack stats. JSU coach Deion Sanders compared him to Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons.
“Obviously, he’s done some different things from an off-ball position at the University of Florida and then obviously the sack production at Jackson State that he had last year speaks for itself,” Detroit GM Brad Holmes said. “We’re really excited.”
With his size, listed at 6-1, 260, and his agility, Houston could play either as a rush end or a linebacker for the Lions.
Ja’Tyre Carter
Carter was a basketball star at White Castle High School in Louisiana, winning the state’s Class 1A Outstanding Player of the Year as a senior. He also played tight end on the football team.
There were a bevy of scouts at Southern for his Pro Day intrigued by nimbleness and athleticism.
He ran 5.02 in the 40-yard dash and jumped eye-catching lengths of 34.5 inches in the vertical jump and 9’3″ in the broad jump.
Erik Lambert of the Chicago Sports News says the Bears liked Carter’s versatility to play tackle or guard and that he is fearless in his approach. “He doesn’t care who he lines up against,” Lambert wrote. “They’re in for a fight on every snap. It isn’t hard to understand why GM Ryan Poles likes him.”
