LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor
Two longtime NFL veterans from the HBCU ranks are not on NFL opening day rosters as the league kicks off the 2020 season this Thursday night when the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Houston Texans.
Defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie out of Tennessee State and safety Antoine Bethea from Howard, the two longest tenured players in the league with HBCU roots, are said to be awaiting calls to continue their careers.
With DRC and Bethea currently out of the league, Baltimore defensive back and special teams ace Anthony Levine Sr., entering his ninth NFL season out of Tennessee State, takes over as the most senior HBCU product. Behind Levine is Arkansas-Pine Bluff product Terron Armstead, an all-pro offensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints, now entering his eighth NFL season.
DRC, taken 16th overall in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, spent last season with Washington before being placed on injured reserve after tearing ligaments in his ankle. In his 12 years in the league, the two-time Pro Bowler has played for Arizona (3 years), Philadelphia, (2), Denver (1), the NY Giants (4), Oakland (1) and Washington (1).
Bethea, a three-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XLI champion with Indianapolis, was chosen by the Colts in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. His NFL spans 14 seasons with three other teams – eight as the starting safety for Indy before spending three years with San Francisco, two with Arizona and last season with the New York Giants.
This year marks the first time since the BCSP began publishing in 1994 that NFL play will begin with no HBCU product in the league with at least a decade of playing experience.
Also on the sidelines is a veteran former Delaware State standout Rodney Gunter who would have been entering his sixth season. He was signed by Jacksonville after five years in Arizona but was recently diagnosed with a heart ailment that may end his playing career. He is on the Jags’ Reserve/Retired list.
The only HBCU player taken in this year’s draft, Tennessee State offensive tackle Lachavious Simmons plucked by Chicago in the seventh and last round, was named this week to the Bears’ practice squad. Simmons’s TSU teammate, undrafted rookie Chris Rowland, a wide receiver who led HBCU players in receptions and receiving yardage, earned a spot on Atlanta’s practice squad. Undrafted rookie safety Bobby Price out of Norfolk State made the practice squad for the Detroit Lions as did Grambling linebacker Montreal Meander with Cleveland.
Among players on new teams is Javon Hargrave out of South Carolina State who was signed by Philadelphia after playing four years in Pittsburgh. Former Virginia State running back Trenton Cannon was released by the NY Jets and picked up by the Carolina Panthers, as was former Grambling and LA Chargers’ offensive lineman Trent Scott. Tony McRae from North Carolina A&T left Cincinnati after three seasons to sign with Detroit. South Carolina State product Antonio Hamilton is now in Kansas City, his third NFL team.
Defensive backs (7) continue to be the position most manned by HBCU products with defensive (6) and offensive line (6) next. The MEAC (12) leads the SWAC (9) with the most players in the league. Tennessee State, SC State and NC A&T lead the HBCUs with each having four players in the league.
Cleveland leads all NFL teams with three HBCU products on its roster.