In the NFL, it’s not unusual for several players from one power conference team being drafted in one anxiety-producing weekend. Teams like Florida, Texas and Miami know what its like to have several members of a team gone in one spring Saturday.
So is it reasonable to expect this same kind of attention for black colleges out of the United National Gridiron League?
Take the case of North Carolina Central University, which recently had four Eagles drafted into the United National Gridiron League. The league touts itself as a feeder system to other professional football leagues, primarily the NFL, AFL and CFL, and black colleges won’t have to worry about players declaring early draft eligibility, the creation of the league could have a positive impact on players moving on to opportunities at the highest levels of pro football.
When you consider that the NFL and other pro football leagues look sparingly at black college programs, you can assume that the new leagues are going to be more intensive in their search for good talent. That means elite players at the black college level have a minor-league styled opportunity that is geared towards exposing players to NFL scouts.
Players like Tuskegee’s Jacary Atkinson and Howard’s Endor Cooper, if not granted a tryout by NFL teams, might have a chance to take snaps at the pro level instead of being relegated to special teams or switching positions. And they will be in a better position with NFL scouts by playing in a league designed for cultivating talent.
The league is having its share of growing pains, but there’s no doubt that its formation will expand the growth and recognition of black college football players.
