Andrew Brown was the only HBCU athlete to receive an invitation to the NFL Combine. He is white.
And not only is he white, he has red hair.
Brown has a good chance of making the NFL and earned his opportunity to show off in Indianapolis. That doesn’t mean the optics here aren’t worthy of a good chuckle
The NFL did not invite a single HBCU football player to the Scouting Combine.
Some of the best players in National Football League history played college football at an HBCU. An HBCU is defined as “…any historically black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans.”
The list of former players includes Robert Brazile, Michael Strahan, Shannon Sharpe, Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, Deacon Jones, Donald Driver, Steve McNair and Doug Williams, among others. Current players include Terron Armstead, Bobby Wagner, Javon Hargrave, Tytus Howard and Khadarel Hodge.
These five HBCU players are considered the top NFL Draft prospects for this coming April:
- Jackson State wide receiver Joanes Fortillien
- Virginia State offensive tackle Bruno Onwuazor
- South Carolina State defensive back Jarod Washington
- Florida A&M offensive guard Ashton Grable
- Morgan State linebacker Erick Hunter
None of them were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. 319 players were invited to attend. Not one of them played at a Historically Black College or University. Zero!
Now, it should be noted that this is not the first time this has happened. It likely will not be the last. That does not make it any less surprising each time! Apparently, not even one HBCU athlete deserves a look.
Andrew Brown was a late add.
Although the initial list of invitees did not include an HBCU athlete, the league quickly changed its mind after watching the HBCU Legacy Bowl over the weekend and got Andrew Brown on the next flight from New Orleans to Indianapolis. Brown, a five-year kicker at North Carolina A&T, received an invitation!
This is not to discredit his talent but the optics are objectively hilarious.
The only HBCU athlete to attend the NFL Scouting Combine is a white dude with red hair. That’s funny.
Brown, a native of North Carolina, played five years at N.C. A&T and left the program as the all-time leader in field goals made. He made all five of his attempts from 50 yards or greater this past season, including a 56-yarder in November, and was named as the 2025 HBCU Special Teams Player of the Year.
The NFL invited him to the combine after an impressive week at the HBCU Legacy Bowl.
He delivered on Wednesday in Indianapolis.
North Carolina A&T K Andrew “Money” Brown was indeed 💰 today and probably made himself some of it, too. He made all of his kicks.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 25, 2026
Andrew Brown is living proof that you do not have to hop in the transfer portal to be discovered. If you are good enough to play in the NFL, the NFL will find you. His invitation was well deserved.
That does not make it any less comical. The only HBCU athlete at the NFL Scouting Combine is white.