NFL Draft 2011: Top HBCU Prospects Available

CONNECTICUT -- For the second straight year, the NFL is using the opening round of their College Draft with a hint of "Amercan Idol" and a little of the "McLaughlin Group." On one hand, there will lots of hugging and crying amongst the participants.

On the other hand, there will be grown men yelling at the top of their lungs and looking to fight. Oh well, just another Thursday night in the Big Apple. Luckily for most folks, neither Ryan Seacrest or Pat Buchanan will be not be seen or heard at Radio City that evening.

While the familiar elements surrounding this year's draft are a bit modified by the current NFL labor situation, it will be business as usual for the most part. Roger Goodell will be spreading the league's positive message while Jet fans will boo vendors and parking attendants.

Today, we take a look at the best players from HBCU's (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) that will be eligible for this weekend's happenings. Historically, Hall of Famers like Walter Payton (Jackson State), Art Shell (Maryland-Eastern Shore), Mel Blount (Southern), and others have been a part of outstanding HBCU players that have had their names called.

While we can't say for sure if a future Hall of Famer is in this year's draft, we can definitely admit that this is a very talented bunch.

1. DT Kenrick Ellis, Hampton (6-5, 346)
A two-time First Team All-MEAC selection, Ellis was second on the team in tackles with 94 total tackles (34 solo, 60 assisted), second on the team with 15.0 tackles for loss totaling 37 yards and was second on the team with 2.0 sacks in 2010. Ellis recorded a career-high 16 tackles (seven solo, nine assisted) at Howard on Sept. 11 on his way to earning MEAC Defensive Player of the Week honors, and he also had 15 tackles (two solo, 13 assisted) at N.C. Central on Oct. 9. Both of his sacks came against Howard. A transfer from South Carolina, Ellis was one of only two HBCU invitees to the NFL Scouting Combine.


2. WR Ricardo Lockette, Fort Valley State (6-1, 211)

A standout wide receiver and return specialist, Lockette finished the 2010 season with 23 receptions for 262 yards within FVSU's Wildcat-based offense. He averaged 11.4 yards per catch and caught one touchdown pass. His longest reception was 50 yards. As a kick off returner, Lockette averaged 24 yards per return. His longest return was 49 yards. A Division II national champion in the 200 meters in 2008, Lockette also impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine.

3. OT David Mims, Virginia Union (6-8, 337)

A member of the SBN Black College All-American Team, Mims anchored an offensive line which allowed VUU rushers to run for over 1,800 yards and quarterbacks to pass for over 1,700 yards. In all, the Panthers' offense generated over 3,200 yards in total offense behind the two-time All-CIAA standout. Mims played in various postseason All-Star games including the Russell Athletic HBCU Bowl and Eastham Energy College All-Star Game. He was also a preseason selection for the 2010 Lindy’s Sports All American Team.

4. SS Eugene Clifford, Tennessee State (6-2, 205)

A three-time All-Ohio Valley Conference selection, Clifford finished 2010 with 83 tackles, four interceptions, 10 pass breakups and 14 pass deflections in 11 games (ranked 10th nationally in passes defended at 1.27/game). In his three years at TSU, Clifford recorded 204 tackles (120 solo), nine interceptions, 26 passes defended, 35 pass breakups, four fumbles recovered, three forced fumbles and 272 All-Purpose yards (197 INT return yards). Clifford is a national finalist for the Sports Network’s FCS Buck Buchanan Award. Transferred from Ohio State to TSU.


5. DT Ibraham Abdulai, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6-2, 301)
A three-year starter for the Golden Lions, Abdulai has been a very productive player. Last season, he finished with 67 total tackles (18 for losses), 7.5 sacks, 5 QB hurries, 2 fumble recoveries, and two blocked kicks. Had over 150 tackles in his career at UAPB. He also excelled as a track (shot put) and wrestling standout. His Nigerian name means "Hero and helper of God."


6. DT Frank Kearse, Alabama A&M (6-4, 315)

The All-SWAC standout started all 11 games in 2010. Known as the "Big Spoon", Kearse was second on the team with 57 total tackles (30 solos, 14 for loss), 1 sack, and 2 forced fumbles Kearse complied 122 tackles, five passes defended, three forced fumbles, two fumbles recovered, a block kick, 7 sacks for 35 yards and 2 interceptions in 44 career games played for the Bulldogs.


7. WR Joseph Hills, Tennessee State (6-4, 211)

After transferring from South Carolina in 2008, Hills has led the Tigers in receiving the last two seasons. He caught 40 passes for 462 yards (11.6 avg) and four touchdowns last season. A year earlier, he started 9 of 11 games and had 39 receptions for 528 yards for an average of 13.8 yards per catch...Averaged 48.9 receiving yards per game...Scored three touchdowns for 18 points


8. CB Dionte Dinkins, Fort Valley State (6-1, 195)
Regarded as one of the SIAC's best, Dinkins was routinely pitted against the opponent's best receiver. The All-SIAC standout  became widely respected for his coverage ability. Selected to play in the Russell Athletic HBCU Bowl and the Cactus Bowl, Dinkins led the conference in interceptions in 2009 with six.

9. OT Johnny Culbreath, South Carolina State (6-5, 322)

Culbreath was among the top blockers on the Bulldog squad and in the MEAC last season. The conference's 2009 Offensive Lineman of the Year, he was one of the most dominant linemen in the league during his four-year Bulldog career. In addition to earning Walter Camp and AFCA All-America accolades, he was a two-time first-team All-MEAC Selection as well.

10. DE Quinton Spears, Prairie View A&M (6-5, 236)

A three-time All-SWAC selection, Spears had 70 tackles in 11 games last year, including nine tackles for loss, four and a half sacks, a forced fumble and an amazing three blocked kicks. A member of the Panthers' title team in 2009, he tallied 39 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and a team-leading 5 sacks during that season.


OTHERS TO WATCH

WR Raymond Webber, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
In 2010, Webber concluded one of the most successful seasons in history with numbers that set new records in the SWAC and at UAPB. He led the nation in receptions (101) and yards receiving 1,429 averaging 129.9 yards per contest. His 101 catches is only the third time in SWAC football history a receiver has caught more than 100 receptions. He joined Jerry Rice, who accomplished that feat twice during his collegiate career (103 in 1984, and 102 in 1983). Webber also was selected to a total of three All-American Teams including the American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp, and Associated Press.


QB Philip Sylvester, Florida A&M (5-9, 185)

Sylvester dealt with injuries the first month of his senior season, but put up big numbers once he returned. He finished the year with six straight 100-yard rushing performances, averaging 143.3 yards and running for 10 touchdowns over that span in being named second-team All-MEAC. He finished his career fourth on the Rattlers' all-time rushing list with 2,998 yards. He was the 2007 MEAC rookie of the year after rushing for 858 yards and seven TDs while finishing first in the conference in all-purpose yards per game with 164.3. May be converted to running back in the NFL.

RB DeAngelo Branche, Norfolk State (5-10, 205)

A first-team All-MEAC selection in 2010, Branche rushed for 1,330 yards and 13 touchdowns. He led the MEAC and tied for eighth in the Division I FCS in rushing yards per game (120.9). Branche finished his career as NSU’s all-time leading rusher with 3,678 yards. His 1,330 yards rank as the second-best single-season in school history, and he also became the first Spartan offensive player to be named to the All-MEAC team in three straight years.

TE Larry Donnell, Grambling State (6-5, 265)

A 2010 preseason All-SWAC selection, Donnell has had 15 catches for five touchdowns in the Tigers' run-oriented offense over the last two seasons. He was also selected for the Russell Athletic HBCU All-Star Bowl.

CB Dante Barnes, Norfolk State (6-1, 194)

A transfer from Akron, Barnes has put in time at nickelback during the last two seasons for the Spartans. He finished his career with NSU with over 50 tackles and five interceptions.

Paving The Way For Us All: Remembering pioneering sportswriter Wendell Smith

CONNECTICUT -- As journalists, there's an unwritten rule stating that you report the story, not become part of it.

However in some instances, there can be unusual circumstances. Those circumstances can sometimes lead to changes for the greater good, societal and otherwise. 
 

Wendell Smith was a sports journalist that made a career of being civic minded. That civic mindedness led to righting one of the greatest wrongs in all of professional sports. 

Born on March 23, 1914 in Detroit, Smith's father worked in Henry Ford's household as a chef. He was the only African American student at Southeastern High School in the motor city. 

He played on that school's baseball team and was one of the leading pitchers on an American Legion team that featured future Chicago White Sox catcher Mike Tresh.

Smith played baseball at West Virginia State College at Charleston, where he also became the sports editor for the school newspaper during his junior year. 

Smith began working at The Pittsburgh Courier immediately after graduating in 1937, first as a sportswriter and as the sports editor the following year. 

He used his position to protest segregation in professional sports. Smith played a significant, if not central, role in the desegregation of professional baseball in 1946. He is best remembered for his efforts, which led to Jackie Robinson signing with the Dodgers in 1947.

Smith made his first direct inroad into desegregating major league baseball when he advised Boston politician Isadore Muchnick how to gain Boston's African-American vote. 

At Smith's suggestion, Muchnick declared that he would with withhold support for the annual City Council vote allowing Sunday baseball in Boston unless the Red Sox and Braves agreed to allow Negro Leaguers to try out for the team.

These two teams agreed and Smith selected three players to try out: Robinson, Marvin Williams and Sam Jethroe. He declined to select Satchel Paige because he was too old (a decision Smith would later regret) and Homestead Grays' catcher Josh Gibson because of a protest from that club's owners.

Duffy Lewis, a former player and the Red Sox' traveling secretary, conducted the hour long try out. While some other sports writers were there, neither national publicity nor a contract offer from the Red Sox or the Braves came out of the tryout.

He then recommended Robinson to Brooklyn Dodger president and GM Branch Rickey for the "great experiment," and traveled and roomed with Robinson during the baseball player's early Dodgers career.

"Mr. Rickey asked if I would live with Jackie, be his companion on the road" Smith said. " That's when he put me on the Brooklyn payroll, $50 a week, about the same amount I was getting as sports editor of the Courier. He hired me as a scout, to scout Negro ballplayers."

"I had been a ballplayer, an all-city high school pitcher in Detroit; but I knew nothing of scouting. I was getting paid to help Jackie jump the hurdles."

"I never socialized with the writers. In the South it was forbidden. If they wanted me to go to dinner with them, it was against the law. I'm sure they would have liked to have me join them."

"They didn't ask because they knew it was impossible. But I considered myself part of the press corps. I was writing daily stories. I was Jackie's Boswell."

In 1948, Smith left the Courier and joined the staff of the Chicago American as a sportswriter covering primarily boxing. 

No longer working at an African-American newspaper, Smith's application for membership in the Baseball Writers' Association was ratified (after numerous attempts while at the Courier).

While he wrote for the American, Smith continued to encourage the full integration of spring training sites. Smith also felt that the inclusion of Robinson and other African-American players in the major leagues did not mean that the Negro Leagues should fold.

He wrote repeatedly of the need for his readers to support the Negro Leagues and promoted the annual East-West All-Star Game in his columns.

He stayed with that paper for nearly 14 years. In 1964, he became the sportscaster for Chicago's television station WGN. At the time of his death in 1972, Smith was the president of the Chicago Press Club.

In 1993, Smith was posthumously given the J.G. Taylor Spink Award by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, enshrining him in the "writers wing" of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

In the tradition of Sam Lacy, Mal Goode, and others, the career and struggles of Mr. Smith stands as an inspiration for every minority journalist everywhere.

NOTE: The National Baseball Hall of Fame and The African-American Registry contributed to this story.