Staying True: Ravens’ Carson Vinson Becomes NFL’s Lone HBCU Draft Pick in 2025 Without Transferring

By Jamison Hensley / ESPN | July 26, 2025

When Alabama A&M offensive line coach Markus Lawrence heard a knock at his office door, his heart often sank. Carson Vinson—6’7″, 314 pounds and loaded with raw talent—could have easily told him he was entering the transfer portal like so many other promising players from smaller programs chasing bigger opportunities.

But Vinson stayed.

And now, after four seasons at Alabama A&M, he stands alone as the only HBCU player selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, taken in the 5th round by the Baltimore Ravens. Rather than chasing NIL deals or Power Five spotlight, Vinson chose loyalty, commitment, and the road less traveled.

“He could have left us and chased the money,” said Lawrence, now coaching at South Carolina State. “Instead, he chased commitment and loyalty.”

Despite being the only HBCU draftee, Vinson takes no pride in that statistic. He believes more HBCU talent deserved recognition and wants to use his success to inspire others to stay true to their path—even if that path doesn’t lead to a bigger-name program.

Vinson earned his shot by dominating at the Senior Bowl, including a highlight moment in a one-on-one drill against Bengals first-rounder Shemar Stewart. At the NFL Combine, he ranked among the top 15 offensive linemen in the 40-yard dash (5.2), broad jump (9’3″), and three-cone drill (7.51).

Throughout the draft process, Vinson received messages from HBCU coaches, players, and fans across the country. The support reminded him that while HBCUs may be rivals on the field, the community is united in mission.

“We have our rivalries, but after we get past it, we’re all one big family,” Vinson said.

Vinson joins Cobie Durant (South Carolina State, 2022) as only the second HBCU player taken in the first five rounds over the past five years. ESPN’s Jordan Reid sees the transfer portal and NIL deals as ongoing barriers for players who stay at HBCUs to get noticed.

“It’s hard to blame them,” Reid said. “But it makes what Vinson did even more special.”

From Two-Star to Standout

Arriving in Huntsville, Alabama, in 2020 as a two-star recruit, Vinson didn’t initially impress Coach Lawrence.

“I didn’t think he was going to be tough enough,” Lawrence admitted. But during Vinson’s first practice, he demolished the starting defensive end in one rep. “I looked at Coach [Duane] Taylor and said, ‘Scratch that whole soft deal.’”

From there, Vinson emerged not only as a physical force but as a cerebral presence, famously carrying a chessboard to games and remaining undefeated against teammates.

“He’s our biggest, meanest, strongest guy — and he’s playing chess in the locker room,” Lawrence laughed.

Vinson’s breakout moment came in a 2023 matchup against Vanderbilt, proving he could handle FBS competition. Despite late recruiting interest from North Carolina, Vinson turned them down.

“They didn’t want me out of high school. I had a chip on my shoulder,” Vinson said. “I said, ‘I’m going to do it from the school that wanted me first.’”

The Ravens Take Notice

By the time he visited Baltimore, Vinson had already earned a reputation as a physical beast. But his handshake sealed it for GM Eric DeCosta.

“He almost broke my hand,” DeCosta joked. “When he left, I just said, ‘I’m good.’”

Baltimore’s offensive line coach George Warhop became one of Vinson’s biggest advocates, pushing hard for the team to draft him after watching him battle in Senior Bowl practices.

“He wasn’t perfect, but he competed,” Warhop said. “And there aren’t many guys built like him.”

Selected with the 141st overall pick, Vinson received the call from DeCosta and then a straight-shooting message from Warhop:

“Don’t let me down. I’m going to work the dog crap out of you.”

And Warhop has made good on that promise, delivering intense coaching and no-nonsense feedback from rookie minicamp forward.

“He just kind of looks at me and says, ‘Yes sir,’ and goes on and does what he’s supposed to do,” Warhop said. “We’re trying to get him up to speed fast—by any means necessary.”

Building Legacy, Not Just a Career

With Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten locking down the tackle spots, Vinson won’t need to play immediately. But the Ravens have a history of developing Day 3 linemen into starters, and Vinson could be next in line.

If and when his moment comes, Vinson plans to pay it forward. Inspired by Alabama A&M legends Robert Mathis and John Stallworth, he knows firsthand the value of representation.

“Seeing guys like Mathis in person makes the dream real,” Vinson said. “It’s not just about giving money — it’s about showing up.”

And that’s exactly what Carson Vinson plans to do — show up, stand tall, and lead the next generation of HBCU talent to believe that staying loyal can still lead to greatness.