HBCU combine gives student-athletes hope

LYNWOOD, CA – The opportunity to attend a historically black college or university was one the minds of hundreds of high school student-athletes looking for perhaps a last attempt to impress college recruiters and coaches at the annual National College Resources Foundation (NCRF) and the Student-Athlete Program (SAP) HBCU Football Combine.

The place to be was Lynwood High School for unsigned high school seniors, juniors and junior college players (JUCO) and transfer portal student-athletes to show off their football skills. The two-day event began on April 26,.

The first day consisted of combined testing and one one-on-one. Based on how the athletes performed, some were invited to come back the next day. As many as 225 participants showed showcased their skills in front of coaches and college recruiters.

On a sunny Saturday morning, April 27, student-athletes gathered on the fields at Lynwood High School those that weren’t able to attend during came in. Student-athletes from all over California come out to this event to get evaluated by coaches from many HBCUs and get offers.

At least 70 of these student-athletes wound up receiving offers from the combine. The process of the combine taking place on multiple days put these student-athletes in wait-and-see mode for their opportunity.

The importance of the moment was felt throughout the camp. Some student-athletes stretched while they waited. Some players engaged in cone drills while others patiently waited as music blared in the background.

Many of the student-athletes have been playing football since they were little. Jordan Davis, from Diablo Valley College in the Bay Area, came out for evaluations in hopes of speaking for one of the coaches.

The dream of many of these student-athletes is to get an offer from some of these coaches, without the need to stay closer to home. The HBCU representation ranged from Jackson State University, Prairie View A&M University, Tuskegee University, and North Carolina Central.

“HBCU is my top pick when it comes to colleges,” said Davis, who was excited to talk to one of the coaches during this event. “So I’m happy that the coaches are out here to give us a chance to do stuff.”

The defensive tackle attended both days of the event and is very excited to be able to participate in this event.

“There were about 200 kids that have popped out yesterday, and more coming in today,” said Jackson State assistant coach Mario Magana. “So it’s been really good getting to see some kids, get eyes on some guys that are out this way and really need an opportunity to go to the next level.”

Magana looked forward to Saturday’s event. Where some of the student-athletes go to phase two of the event and they have more of one-on-one type of drills.

“But today is really what I’m looking for, and that’s the competition piece,” said Magana. “One-on-ones, how you plan against somebody else on the football field.”

Prairie View A&M University coach Reggie Moore believes these events are helpful for the student-athletes.

“This event has been a tremendous asset for kids that need a second opportunity to kind of get looked at and to have a chance to go forward and seek scholarships,” Moore said. “A lot of these HBCUs aren’t out this way and it’s a good opportunity for guys to get looked at and evaluated and maybe get a chance to go to a different part of the country and see something different.”

Many student-athletes just want to be seen by the HBCU coaches and get offered and they don’t fear going away from home.

Don Henry feels that an event like the NCRF HBCU Football Combine helps give student-athletes an opportunity to be seen.

“Good for the players to get exposure in front of college coaches and show off their skills in front of coaches and get an opportunity,” said Henry. “Any school that offers me, I’ll go it don’t matter how far or close it is from home.”