Tennessee State coach Rod Reed has demonstrated a knack for landing talented transfers.
That’s nothing new — it’s pretty much always been that way.
Decades ago, the exceptions to this rule were historically Black colleges and universities. With most colleges south of the Mason-Dixon Line refusing to add African-American players to their squads, Black colleges flourished as a result. Many schools, including Grambling, Jackson State and Tennessee State, have sent more than 100 players to the National Football League.
But those days, much like the Jim Crow days that yielded that talent, are long gone. With the top talent free to go wherever they choose, it’s become increasingly difficult for HBCUs to pluck top talent from the high school ranks.
But just because blue chip recruits don’t flock to HBCUs directly from high school doesn’t mean they don’t end up there. Every year, hundreds of players leave their original schools for almost as many reasons. Many of those same players that once never considered an HBCU school as high school recruits find themselves contacting those same coaches for a second chance.
The most prominent current former-FBS star-turned-HBCU stand-out is Alabama State’s Isaiah Crowell. The running back was selected the Southeastern Conference’s Rookie of the Year in 2011. A few months after winning that honor, Crowell was dismissed from UGA following a failed drug test and multiple criminal charges. He resurfaced at ASU in the fall, rushing for 15 touchdowns in 2012. He’s been even better in 2013, rushing for over 100 yards per game two-thirds of the way through the season.
In addition to his spectacular on-field performance, Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said he has matured a lot since coming to play for the Hornets.
