HBCU Football: The top 10 HBCU NFL Draft Prospects

6. Roderick Perry- Defensive Line, South Carolina State

Roderick Perry has had an interesting journey to the NFL Draft. After an FCS-All American career at South Carolina State, Perry decided to transfer to Illinois after the MEAC chose to cancel its fall season.

Perry did well at Illinois despite having some of the worst COVID-19 issues in the Big Ten.  The SCSU transfer had 17 tackles and 2.5 sacks in six games for the Illini last season in a limited sample size. Perry did not look overwhelmed or overmatched in limited Big Ten play.

South Carolina State has had recent success putting defensive players in the NFL. Javon Hargrave and Darius Leonard are two of the better defensive players in the NFL, with Leonard arguably the best linebacker in the NFL.

Perry is a bit smallish (6-foot-2 and 300 pounds) to be an NFL interior lineman, but what he lacks in size, he more than makes up for it in speed. Despite not having the circumference of a traditional defensive tackle, Perry has Warren Sapp-like speed from the three-technique.

Perry is fast enough to shed blocks against the run, as indicated by 14.5 tackles for loss as a junior at South Carolina State. What Perry needs is to improve the pass rush repertoire. Playing against FCS-level competition, Perry could get by with his strength. He cannot do that at the next level. He needs to improve his bend and pad level and develop a counter-moved for opposing defenders.