BCSP BLACK COLLEGE NFL REPORT
Numbers down in NFL
LUT WILLIAMS
BCSP Editor
After three years of staying at 67, the number of black college players on opening day National Football League rosters took a precipitous drop this year.
In many ways the drop of 13 to 54 could have been
expected with at least that many on 2003 rosters in what
could be called marginal positions, as third-stringers, on practice squads or
injured reserve.
The drop may also reflect a trend that was painfully obvious at last April's NFL Draft, where an all-time low of just two black college players were selected in the final round. That trend is away from players at HBCUs.
Neither of the two drafted players, Hampton defensive end Isaac Hilton (New York Giants, 7th round) or Southern defensive back Lenny Williams (Tampa Bay, 7th round) made opening day rosters.
Instead, two free agent defensive backs from North Carolina A&T, Curtis Deloatch and Jason Horton, earned spots on their respective teams.
Deloatch (6-2, 215) played last year for the Aggies at cornerback and made the New York Giants squad as a back-up defensive back and kick returner. Deloatch burst on the scene his sophomore season leading the nation in punt returns including five he brought back for touchdowns.
His inclusion allows the Giants to tie Jacksonville and Baltimore as the teams with the most black college products (5).
Horton (6-0, 193) last played for the Aggies in 2002 before declaring for last year's draft. He spent the last two seasons playing in the Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts as a defensive back and on special teams. He made the Green Bay Packers squad as a back-up defensive back.
Both Deloatch and Horton played and were teammates at Hertford County (N. C.) High School and were both coached at A&T by Darin Hart, the Aggies secondary coach.
"They are both hard workers, are very talented and self-motivated," said Hart. "They're also very competitive." Hart said he's not surprised that either of them made an NFL roster.
"Horton transferred (to A&T) from Carolina where he started opposite Dre' Bly (CB, Detroit Lions) as a freshman," Hart explained. "He knew he could play on that level. Deloatch, who had a lot of ability and natural talents, was not so sure."
They are following in the footsteps of former Aggie Dwaine Carpenter who made the San Francisco 49ers squad last year after a stint in Arena League 2. Carpenter is a back-up free safety on this year's 49ers squad.
Notably absent from this year's list is veteran tight end Shannon Sharpe, a Savannah State product who decided to retire after a record-setting 14-year career to take a position as a broadcaster on "The NFL Today" show on CBS. Sharpe leaves with two Super Bowl rings and with all-time tight end records for receptions (815), receiving yards (10,060) and touchdowns (62).
Also gone is Anthony Pleasant out of Tennessee State, a 14-year veteran who was not re-signed by the world champion New England Patriots.
Among others let go in final roster cuts this weekend were four-year veteran defensive lineman Tyrone Rogers (Alabama State) by Green Bay, veteran safety Anthony Mitchell (Tuskegee) by Jacksonville, Hampton WR/KR Zuriel Smith let go by Dallas after spending last year in that role with the Cowboys, former A&T running back Maurice Hicks cut by the 49ers and former Tennessee State speedster Avion Black and former Hampton QB turned WR Ataveus Cash by the Giants.
North Carolina A&T and Arkansas-Pine Bluff with five lead the schools with the most players on NFL rosters. Six other programs have three players on NFL rosters. The Mid Eastern Athletic Conference is slowly catching up with the Southwestern Athletic Conference in terms of players in the league. The SWAC holds a two-player edge (21-19) after leading by seven (26-19) in 2003.
By a wide margin, defensive backs (17) lead wide receivers (10), defensive linemen and offensive lineman (9) as the position most occupied by black college players.
Forty-two year old Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State) of Oakland is still the dean of black college players entering his 20th year in the league. Aeneas Williams (Southern) of St. Louis (14), Robert Porcher (South Carolina State) of Detroit and Ashley Ambrose (MVSU) of New Orleans are next (13) in seniority.
Former Southern Jaguars, Chris Davis and Lenny Williams, both key components on Southern's 2003 Black College National and SWAC Title team, have been signed to the practice squads of two NFL teams.
Chris Davis has been added to the New York Giants practice squad. Davis was originally signed as a free agent, and after catching just 7 total passes in his sophomore and junior seasons, he led the Southwestern Athletic Conference in 2003 with 56 receptions and 897 yards, scoring 8 touchdowns and returning 2 kickoffs for 27 yards.
Lenny Williams has been signed to the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys. Originally selected in the 7th round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Williams was signed after being cut by the Bucs last week. Williams played and started in all 47 games in his career on the bluff. The three-time All-American and three-time first team All-SWAC Defensive Back and SWAC Defensive Player of he Year in 2003, led the team in tackles with 87, tied for second in interceptions with 3, including a school record 98-yards return for a score against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. In the SWAC Championship Game, Williams rose to the occasion, making 9 tackles and recovering a fumble. Williams was Chosen as SWAC Defensive Player of the Year, as well as being named to the first team AFCA All-American team.
© 2004 Azeez Communications, Inc.