HBCU Football: Top 5 prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft

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MOBILE, ALABAMA – JANUARY 29: Jerry Garner of Mississippi Valley State runs a 40-yard dash during the 2022 NFL HBCU Combine at the University of South Alabama Jaguar Training Center January 29, 2022, in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

5. Jerry Garner, OLB/DE, Mississippi Valley State

Jerry Garner did not win many games while at Mississippi Valley State, but he was in the backfield quite often in Itta Bena. Garner was productive at Mississippi Valley State, despite battling constant double and triple teams.

The Chunchula, Ala., native finished his career with the Delta Devils with 17.5 career sacks. Garner is a versatile defender who can play both defensive end and outside linebacker. If anyone doesn’t think Garner can play in the NFL at 6-foot-2, bookend defenders Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney were 6-foot-2 and 6-foot-1, respectively.

If coming from one of the smaller HBCUs scare you, Hugh Douglas has 80 career sacks and played at Central State. Size is not a skill, and if you can ball, you can ball. Garner can ball.

Garner turned heads both at the HBCU Combine and the HBCU Legacy Bowl. Garner ran a 4.78 40-yard dash, had 25 reps on the bench, and ran the shuttle in 4.25 seconds. The WP Davidson High School product showed NFL-level athleticism at the combine.

This athleticism translated to the Legacy Bowl. Garner showed a tremendous ability to use his hands against larger offensive linemen. He had a significant first step and translated speed to power well. Garner has to learn how to drop in coverage because he was asked primarily to rush the passer in college.

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