For decades, the NFL served as the definitive next step for elite athletes emerging from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). However, the landscape of collegiate athletics has shifted dramatically.
Marshall Faulk, Hall of Fame running back and the new head coach at Southern University, recently highlighted the evolving challenges facing HBCU programs.
“I believe that the next level is no longer the NFL,” Faulk stated during SWAC Football Media Day, as reported by Steven J. Gaither of HBCU Gameday. “We get poached by the FBS. They want our players.”
This trend is a direct result of the modern era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and the expanded transfer portal. Once a player demonstrates high-level performance at an HBCU, they frequently become targets for powerhouse FBS programs.
“They have an opportunity to maybe go somewhere and make good money while they’re in college,” Faulk noted. “The game has changed. The landscape of college football has changed.”
In previous eras, legendary figures such as Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, Aeneas Williams, Jackie Slater, Michael Strahan, Shannon Sharpe, Mel Blount, John Stallworth, and Deacon Jones would have transitioned directly from their HBCUs to the professional ranks. Today, the premier talents at these institutions often pivot to wealthy major college programs, securing significant financial compensation and high-profile exposure before ever attempting to enter the NFL.
