In this most unusual upcoming draft year, nothing is for certain. Thanks to COVID-19 and a ruling by the NCAA, players can play in the spring and even opt to come back for another season (fall 2021), even though they’re actually in this current draft class. Nobody’s eligibility will be affected by this pandemic year.
So, our Top HBCU prospect chart — in which we consult our subscription to DraftScout.com‘s database — could change quite a bit by the time the 2021 NFL Draft rolls around. But we are ranking a player based on his “class” as it stands now, along with any underclassmen who have expressed their desire to take an early shot at the draft.
Both the MEAC and SWAC lists were consulted.
RELATED: FCS’ Top 2021 NFL Prospects
EDITOR’S NOTE: Some of the players listed below have entered the transfer portal, but unless they’ve already selected their next school, they’re listed with the FCS school they played for in 2019.
THE RANKING
NO. 1: Bryan Mills, CB, North Carolina Central
PROJECTED ROUND: 5th to 6th Round
DRAFTSCOUT TOP 750: No. 192
THE SCOOP: Mills is getting a superb draft grade ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he has received an invitation to the Senior Bowl. He declared for the 2021 NFL Draft late last year, even though he could come back for another season. He’s a 6-foot-2, 180-pound cornerback with an incredible amount of upside.
NO. 2: David Moore, OG/OC, Grambling
PROJECTED ROUND: 7th to HPFA
DRAFTSCOUT TOP 750: No. 261
THE SCOOP: Moore is an athletic offensive guard and ready to punch you. He’s ready to barrel toward anybody in his way, and he’s not on this list because he’s a former tall, lanky hoops star who could be sculpted and molded into something special on the O-line, he’s here because he already is something special. He has interior lineman written all over him for the next level.
NO. 3: Calvin Ashley, OT/OG, Florida A&M
PROJECTED ROUND: 7th to HPFA
DRAFTSCOUT TOP 750: No. 330
THE SCOOP: Ashley started his college career playing for Auburn and Florida Atlantic, and he is a talent scouts will really be keeping an eye on in future months. Late in the summer, Ashley declared his intentions to be ready for the NFL Draft in 2021. The former five-star prospect will be a guy draft fans want to keep an eye on.
NO. 4: Jah-Maine Martin, RB/KR, North Carolina A&T
PROJECTED ROUND: HPFA
DRAFTSCOUT TOP 750: No. 526
THE SCOOP: A HERO Sports All-American, Martin rushed for nearly 1,500 yards and 23 touchdowns for the Aggies in 2019. Originally a Coastal Carolina signee, he has flourished at the FCS level. Keep an eye on this 5-foot-10, 215-pound fireball of talent coming out of Conway, S.C. Remember … folks doubted Tarik Cohen, too.
NO. 5: Qwynnterrio Cole, SS/FS, Alcorn State
PROJECTED ROUND: HPFA
DRAFTSCOUT TOP 750: No. 584
THE SCOOP: Who doesn’t love a 6-foot-2 safety? Cole is a self-described “late bloomer”, but so many FCS talents are exactly that. When he went through the recruiting process, the SWAC/HBCU universe was the only realm willing to take a chance on him. Well, it worked out for them and for Cole. He was a HERO Sports sophomore all-american in 2018.
NOTE- HPFA = High Priority Free Agent, which means they may not be projected to be drafted at this time in the cycle, but they’ll likely be signed within a few hours of the draft’s conclusion.
THE NEXT GROUP
| FCS PLAYER | Position | College |
| Mac McCain III | CB | North Carolina A&T |
| Donnie Corley | WR | Texas Southern |
| Zachary Leslie | WR | North Carolina A&T |
| Shawn McFarland | FB | Norfolk State |
| Chris Faddoul | P | Florida A&M |
| Aqeel Glass | QB | Alabama A&M |
| Reggie Stubblefield | FS | Prairie View A&M |
| Felix Harper | QB | Alcorn State |
| Juwan Taylor | FS | Alcorn State |
| DeShaan Dixon | DE | Norfolk State |
| Chad Gilchrist | ILB | South Carolina State |
| Shawn Steele | CB | Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
| Branden Bailey | ILB | North Carolina Central |
| Keshawn Williams | RB | Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
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