BCSP BLACK COLLEGE NFL REPORT
NFL black college numbers rise for the first time since '95
LUT WILLIAMS
BCSP Editor
Black College Players on Opening Day NFL Rosters
NFL By The Numbers
There could be a new day dawning for black college players in the National
Football League.
After six years of decline, the number of players on opening
day NFL rosters rose this year.
Sunday's kickoff to the 2001 season saw 67 players with black college roots
listed in the ultimate pro football league. That number is up ten from last year
and represents the first rise since the 1995 season when a whopping 92 black college
players graced the league.
The rise after such a steady decline (82 in '96, 78 in '97 and 76 in '98 and
66 in '99) apparently comes from the number of rookies and free agents that made
this year's rosters as compared to the number of black college products that retired
or were cut.
Gone from this year's list are such noted veterans as Ben Coates (Livingstone),
Yancey Thigpen (Winston-Salem State), Tyrone Poole (Fort
Valley State), Andrew Glover (Grambling) and Jerry Wilson
(Southern). They have been replaced by a cadre of as many as 12 young players
from historically black colleges who made rosters as veteran free agents, several
who played in NFL Europe or who hung around last year in some capacity before
breaking through and making the teams this year.
These are guys like quarterback Roderick Robinson, who came out of
Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 1999 and spent two years bouncing around the league,
including a stint in NFL Europe, before making the Indianapolis Colts roster this
season as their third-string signal-caller. Lane product Jason Brookins
is another one who has been on three NFL teams before catching on this year
as a back-up running back with the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens.
Additionally, despite the fact that a all-time low of four black college players
were taken in the April NFL draft, 11 rookies made squads this season, the other
seven via the free agent route.
The Ravens added four new black college players to their roster, bringing
their number to seven and unseating the New Orleans Saints from a year ago as
the team with the most black college players.
Tennessee State and South Carolina State with five, tied as
the school with the most players in the league. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
made a big jump to 21 players (up from 13 last season) and is now challenging
the Southwestern Athletic Conference (24), who has perennially led
all black college conferences in producing NFL talent.
NFL legend and Mississippi Valley State product Jerry Rice,
now with the Oakland Raiders, leads all black college players entering his 16th
NFL season. His position, wide receiver, tops the list of where most of these
products play (16), narrowly edging defensive and offensive linemen (14).
BY THE
NUMBERS
© 2001 Azeez Communications, Inc.
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