17 HBCU alum make NFL 53-man rosters; 3 expected to make practice squads
Today was the deadline for NFL teams to finalize their 53-man rosters and at 3 pm EST all cuts were made. This year, 17 of the 1,696 players who made a roster today played football at HBCU's. In 2020 19 HBCU alumni were on NFL 53 man roster. Only 2 players who were on practice squads last season [Simmons & Price] made the active roster this season.
P Jamie Gilian UAPB- Browns
OL Lachavious Simmons TennSU- Bears
OL Joshua Miles MSU - Cardinals
DE Darryl Johnson NCAT- Panthers
OL Trent Scott Grambling- Panthers
OL Terron Armstead UAPB- Saints
DL Javon Hargrave SCSU- Eagles
LB Darius Leonard SCSU- Colts
RB Tarik Cohen NCAT- Bears
OL Brandon Parker NCAT- Raiders
LB Joe Thomas SCSU- Texans
OL Tytus Howard ASU- Texans
DB Anthony Levine TennSU- Ravens
DB Antonio Hamilton SCSU- Bucs
DL Grover Stewart Albany State- Colts
RB Trenton Cannon VSU- Panthers
DB Bobby Price NSU- Lions
5 of the 17 players have more than 5 years of NFL experience. No HBCU rookie made anyone's 53 man roster but some were still able to make an impression in camp and the preseason. Former NCAT CB Mac McCain, former NCCU CB Bryan Mills, and former Southern DB Danny Johnson were cut in the days leading up to today but have strong cases to land on a practice squad. Since COVID, the NFL allows teams to move players up to their active roster on gamedays and return them during practice week, so practice squad players have been a little more important these last two seasons.
4 players who were either on a teams practice squad or active roster in 2020 who have been unsigned this offseason.
3 Tennessee State alum DB Terrell Bonds, LB Kion Smith, and WR Chris Rowland were cut today and also have an opportunity to make a teams practice squad but their most recent teams are not expected to pick them up.
2 Players will miss the season due to injury as former Grambling Safety turned LB Montrel Meander ruptured his Achilles tendon during Training camp. Former SCSU LB Alex Taylor was cut today after being placed on IR with an ankle injury last week.