HBCU Football: Alabama-Birmingham to host HBCU combine in April

This season’s HBCU combine comes after last year’s combine was canceled. 

The 2020 “draft season” was supposed to be the first regional HBCU football combine. Unfortunately for 51 draft-eligible prospects, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the combine was canceled. This year, in conjunction with the NFL, the inaugural HBCU combine will commence at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Phillip Blackwell, regional director for NFL Regional Combines, and Charles “Yogi” Jones, assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Bethune-Cookman University lead this combine as its Executive and Assistant Executive Director respectively.

“We are fully committed to exploring ways to enhance player evaluation for professional football teams and giving every deserving player the opportunity to have his talent assessed by pro scouts,” said Blackwell.

Added Jones, “Having a good first look or a great second look could make all the difference in the evaluation process, especially when being judged from afar with sometimes preconceived notions.”

Other combine staff members include: John Aaron, director for NFL Regional Combines; Eric Lougas, director of NFL Regional Combines; and David Turner, former assistant director of pro personnel for the Oakland Raiders, and former director for player personnel for the CFL’s Edmonton Football Team.

The two-day combine features 42 draft-eligible players, nine fewer than last year pre-pandemic. Of those, 26 were invited last year but not invited to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last season or had a pro-day with pro scouts. Not only will the NFL have scouts, but the XFL and CFL will also have scouts on hand.

How will the players be evaluated?

In addition to the athletic evaluations, invitees will complete career sessions that are focused on transitioning out of football and financial literacy. On the field, players will go through drills standard with the NFL Regional Combines specifications. That includes but is not limited to the 40-yard dash, short shuttle and bench press.

Other events during the combine.

The night of April 9th will be the HBCU Combine Recognition Dinner held at the Hilton Birmingham. The dinner will include combine participants and invited guests to highlight HBCU football, its contribution and legacy. Award-winning journalist Darryl Orlando –an HBCU graduate — is the keynote speaker.

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith, a Winston-Salem State graduate,  also plans to participate in the evening. Smith has provided a travel assistance grant to defray the cost of travel to and from the combine.