NFL
By: Bill Carroll
If you have read Part I of this article series. then you know that I have the Top 50 HBCU NFL Prospects divided into five tiers, from those that I could see being drafted in the NFL to those that will be fighting to make a roster in an indoor league or “going pro in something other than sports”
I still have several tier one prospects. Here they are:
6. Karon Prunty,CB, North Carolina A&T He joins Kenny Gallop as my second Tidewater native, [#757Football], in the top 10. Prunty is the classically long limbed corner that gets so many scouts hot and bothered. He has made nearly every All-HBCU team and award list, including The Deacon Jones Trophy. The 2024 The Deacon Jones Trophy is also the known as the Black College Football Player of the Year Award,
“The Deacon Jones Trophy is regarded as the most prestigious and recognized award in HBCU football,” said BCFHOF co-founder and 2012 inductee James Harris.
In 2023: 33 solo tackles, 10 assists, five passes defended, 3 ½ TFLs, one of which was a sack.
In recognition of his past achievements, Prunty has also been named to BoxToRow’s preseason HBCU All-American team, having previously earned honorable mention All-American honors from BoxToRow in 2022. Additionally, Prunty has been selected as a fourth-team preseason All-American by Phil Steele FCS and is a first-team member of Phil Steele FCS’s preseason All-CAA team.
STATS Perform has named Prunty to its inaugural Urban Edge Network HBCU + FCS National Player of the Year Watch List. This prestigious award will honor the nation’s top HBCU player, regardless of position, from among the 21 Division I-FCS HBCU institutions. The winner of the Urban Edge Network HBCU +FCS National Player of the Year award will be announced on December 9th.
7. Jacob Williams, LB, Texas Southern In a mere six games in 2023 he accounted for 26 solo tackles, 27 assists, 12 TFLs and 5 ½ sacks. If he stays healthy, he has an opportunity to double those statistics. His favorite player is Ray Lewis, but I see him as a run and hit WOLB, in the mold of Brian Rolle. He is a shade under 6 feet tall and about 212, size is the biggest question about him.
8. Nick Taiste Center, SC State Is a graduate of White Knoll HS. Clemson recruited him.A red-shirt senior, Taiste has been recognized as one of the top offensive linemen in both FCS football and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), having earned consecutive All-MEAC honors. The FCS Football Central Preseason All-American Team featured 78 standout student-athletes from 44 teams across all 13 FCS conferences.
I think Nick Taiste is the best center prospect in the state and a top 20 center prospect in the NFL Draft. I would like to see him fire his hands a touch earlier and gain 12-18 pounds of muscle. However, he is a complete player, he has refined protection techniques and excels as a run blocker.
9. Erick Hunter, LB, Morgan State Is one of the more physically impressive HBCU prospects. At over 6’3″ and about 214 pounds he is a lean, mean football machine. His 2023 season was impressive,
He finished the regular season as the MEAC’s top tackler with 75 tackles and ranked sixth in the conference with 9.5 tackles for loss. He also added 7 quarterback hurries, 3.0 sacks (ranking 11th in the MEAC), two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and a pass breakup. Impressively, he recorded nine or more tackles in five of Morgan’s 10 games this season, including tying a season-high with 11 tackles in the Bears’ season finale against Howard.
Hunter currently stands 10th on Morgan’s all-time tackles list with 188 career tackles. His standout performance on September 4 earned him BOXTOROW National Player of the Week honors after he registered 11 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 1.5 tackles for loss in the Bears’ victory over nationally ranked Richmond. His crucial fourth-quarter sack-fumble, which was recovered by the Bears, led to the game-winning touchdown.
A two-time MEAC Player of the Week (Sept. 4, Oct. 30), Hunter was also named BOXTOROW Impact Player of the Year, earned a spot on the FCS Football Central All-American Third Team, was selected for the All-MEAC First Team, and was a finalist for the prestigious Buck Buchanan Award.
Hunter was one of 11 HBCU players who have been named to The 2025 @seniorbowl Watchlist. He should be drafted if he tests well and performs well if he is invited to the @seniorbowl.
10. CB James Burgess, Alabama State-Corner-back James Burgess played in 11 games, making a significant impact with 32 tackles, including 26 solo stops. He tied for third in the SWAC with two interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns. His 11 passes defended (9 pass breakups and 2 interceptions) also tied for third in the SWAC and ranked 30th in FCS. Averaging 1.0 passes defended per game, Burgess ranked fourth in the conference in this category.
Burgess had a standout performance against Alcorn State, recording a season-high six tackles and three pass breakups. He also tallied four tackles in four separate games and returned interceptions for touchdowns against both Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State.
Stay tuned! I have three more segments to go.
