By Tamara Brown

With no HBCU players invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, a group of 48 standouts took matters into their own hands—using the league’s newly expanded showcase to make one final push toward the NFL Draft.

Held at the Washington Commanders’ training facility in Ashburn, Virginia, the event marked a historic first as the NFL HBCU Showcase merged with the International Player Pathway Pro Day, creating a unified platform designed to elevate overlooked talent.

For HBCU prospects, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Over the past three years, only two HBCU players have been selected in the NFL Draft, and with no active HBCU invitees to this year’s combine, opportunities to impress scouts are limited. That reality makes showcases like this one critical—offering a direct pipeline to NFL and CFL personnel evaluating talent up close.

This year’s event brought together talent from across the MEAC, SWAC, CIAA, and SIAC, featuring names like Noah Miles (Howard), Walker Harris (North Carolina Central), Quincy Ivory (Jackson State), and Erick Hunter (Morgan State). The field also included top Division II talent, including Virginia Union running back Curtis Allen, the reigning DII Player of the Year.

But one name stood above the rest.

Morgan State linebacker Erick Hunter delivered a combine-level performance that turned heads across the league. At 6-foot-2 and 224 pounds, Hunter clocked a 4.48-second 40-yard dash, a time that would have ranked among the best at his position in Indianapolis. He also posted a 10-foot-10 broad jump and a 37-inch vertical, showcasing elite explosiveness and athleticism.

Other standouts made their mark as well. Jackson State’s Donerio Davenport and Benedict’s Jamal Sam both posted blazing 1.56-second 10-yard splits, while Florida A&M offensive lineman Ashton Grable powered his way to the top of the bench press leaderboard with 28 reps.

Beyond the numbers, prospects also participated in position drills and interviews with NFL and CFL personnel—critical moments that could determine futures at the next level.

As evaluations continue, all eyes now turn to the 2026 NFL Draft, set for April 23–25 in Pittsburgh. For many of these athletes, Ashburn may have been the moment that changed everything.