Facing the daunting task of being selected in the 2012 NFL draft, 120 eligible football players from HBCUs will square off in the third annual HBCU All-Star Bowl Sunday at 3 p.m. in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome.
The all-star game not only allows players to showcase themselves in front of NFL, Arena Football, Canadian Football League, Western Football League and United Football League scouts, it also gives them a chance to meet scouts face-to-face, as well as learn financial skills and other skills necessary to survive in the professional ranks.
Though the players are drawn primarily from the nation's four HBCU conferences (MEAC, SWAC, SIAC, CIAA), players from individual schools, including West Virginia State, Central State and Tennessee State, will also be on hand.
Earlier in the week, players got the chance to impress scouts at a one-day combine administered by National Football Scouting.
Players selected in the draft typically come from the premier conferences of the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (like the SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, ACC and Pac-12). It becomes increasingly difficult for all but extraordinary players from the Football Championship Subdivision, Division II and NAIA to make it to the NFL (though other leagues like the CFL, UFL, Western and Arena leagues are always willing to pick up the NFL's discards).
Some of the potential draftable prospects this year include Prairie View A&M's Adrian Hamilton, who led the FCS with 24 sacks, followed closely by Donovan Robinson of Jackson State (#3 in the nation) and Corey Hart of Alabama A&M (#6).
Also named to the game is Casey Therriault, Jackson State's uber QB, was second in the country in total passing yards and passing yards per game.
Other notables include Winston-Salem State running back Nicholas Cooper; Jeremy Pruitt of Virginia State, who was no. 5 in Division II in total tackles; Daron Jones of Lincoln (Pa.), no. 8 in the nation in total tackles, and defensive back Antonio Dennard of NAIA Langston.
Last year's HBCU All-Star Bowl showcased three players who were drafted -- J.C. Culbreath (S.C. State), who went to Detroit; Frank Kearse of Alabama A&M, taken by Miami, and Florida A&M's Curtis Holcomb, who went to San Francisco.
The first all-star bowl in 2009 presented the talents of Morehouse's Ramon Harewood, drafted by the Baltimore Ravens and South Carolina State's Phillip Adams, taken by the San Francisco 49ers.
For the All-Star Bowl East and West rosters, click here.
For ticket information, check Ticketmaster.
The game will be covered at HerbFM, National Football Post and Classic Sports Radio.
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