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    ASHBURN, Va. — As players from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) filed into the Washington Commanders’ practice facility Monday to compete in front of representatives from NFL teams, they knew the stakes.

    A strong showing can shift a player’s NFL draft trajectory, raising late-round grades, opening the door to priority undrafted free agent deals, or earning rookie minicamp invites that can turn into roster spots.

    For HBCU prospects, those events have offered a direct pipeline into NFL camps and eventually rosters.

    In previous years, the HBCU combine was held in New Orleans in February, during the run-up to the annual HBCU Legacy Bowl, with the events serving as a direct pipeline into NFL camps and eventually rosters.

    This year, the NFL paired the combine with its International Player Pathway (IPP) program to create the HBCU Showcase & IPP Pro Day, giving prospects additional time to recover from the season, train and perform at their peak. The three-day showcase, which concluded Monday, allowed prospects to interview with and run position drills in front of NFL scouts and executives less than a month before the NFL draft in April.

    HBCU alums and NFL players Elijah Williams and Robert McDaniel, both of whom participated in last year’s combine, were back on the sideline at this year’s showcase to encourage former teammates.

    Williams and McDaniel each recalled HBCU alumni coming to the 2025 Legacy Bowl to advise and encourage them during the draft process, so they wanted to return the favor.

    McDaniel, a Jackson State alum who went undrafted but spent last season on the Commanders’ practice squad and signed a reserved future contract with the team in January, believes his performance at the 2025 HBCU combine was instrumental in helping him sign with an NFL team.

    “Once it came to the [HBCU] combine, my numbers proved that I can compete with those top guys that did the [NFL scouting] combine,” McDaniel said. “It helped put me on notice. That’s when a lot of teams talked to me, so it definitely helped out.”

    NFL teams were in attendance in Virginia to watch 45 HBCU draft prospects, including many from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Coastal Athletic Association (CAA), Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).

    HBCU showcase takeaways

    Most likely to be drafted / best defensive prospect / best all-around performance: Erick Hunter, linebacker, Morgan State

    Scouts couldn’t stop talking about Morgan State linebacker Erick Hunter. He finished his redshirt senior season leading the MEAC in total tackles (102) and tied for second in tackles for loss (14.0), and his showcase performance backed up his film. Officially measuring at 6-foot-2 and 224 pounds at the combine, scouts raved about the 23-year-old’s long frame and mobility.

    Best interview: North Carolina Central’s Chris Mosley

    North Carolina Central running back Chris Mosley warms up by catching and throwing passes ahead of position drills at the HBCU Showcase in Ashburn, Va.
    North Carolina Central’s Chris Mosley warms up by catching and throwing passes ahead of position drills at the HBCU Showcase on March 30, 2026, in Ashburn, Va.

    Mia Berry / Andscape

    Chris Mosley, the MEAC’s second-leading rusher this season, was an anchor for North Carolina Central’s offense, racking up 1,017 yards on the ground. Scouts loved the running back’s fluidity when running and changing direction. An NFC South scout described Mosley’s one-on-one interview as energetic, passionate and interesting. He measured at 5-9, 180 pounds and ran an unofficial 4.68 in the 40-yard dash.

    Best offensive performance: Alcorn State’s Jacorian Sewell

    Alcorn State running back Jacorian Sewell turned heads at the showcase. He ran a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash and tallied a 36-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot broad jump, ranking at the top of the running back group. He finished his senior season rushing for 766 yards and six touchdowns as part of a two-headed Braves backfield.

    Fan favorite: Florida A&M’s Ashton Grable

    Florida A&M offensive lineman Ashton Grable built upon the buzz his Legacy Bowl performance generated, standing out in pass protection drills. Grable was a reliable offensive lineman for the Rattlers last season, helping them rush for more than 1,600 yards. During the showcase, scouts complimented his frame and agility during drills. Measuring at 6-2 and 308 pounds, Grable completed 28 reps on the bench press. Peers voted him one of the standouts during the showcase.

    The post HBCU Showcase puts prospects on scouts’ radars before NFL draft appeared first on Andscape.

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