HBCU NFL Free agent report

By BlackAthlete.com
May 5, 2004

BRISTOL, CT.---While this year's NFL Draft only included two players from Black Colleges, there are still many HBCU players that will get their chances to play on Sunday.

Prominent players including Bethune-Cookman's linebacker and Jackson State's record-breaking quarterback Robert Kent were signed as free-agents and or invited to NFL mini-camps that began last weekend.

Baggs, the MEAC's Defensive Player of the Year in 2003, was invited to the camp of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Also joining Baggs at Bucs' camp is Fort Valley State running back Duron Croson, the SIAC's Offensive Player of the Year in 2002.

Kent, who ranks fourth in Division I-AA history in total offense with 12,793 yards, was signed by the Tennessee Titans. The JSU standout will also be joined in camp with a pair of SWAC standout receivers.

The Titans also signed Grambling's record-breaking wideout Tramon Douglass and Alabama State's Chad Lucas. A two-time, All-SWAC selection, Douglass caught 77 ball for 917 yards and 10 TDs in 2003.

Here's a brief list of other HBCU football players that have been signed and or invited to a mini-camp as of May 1st:

Bills: CB Deon Giddens (Tennessee State).

Jaguars: TE Brian Jones (Arkansas Pine-Bluff), QB/WR Allen Suber (Bethune-Cookman).

Eagles: WR Jerome Leslie (Virginia Union).

Lions: CB Kenny Heatly (Bethune-Cookman), SS Clifford Johnson (Morgan State)

Rams: SS Shedrick Copeland (Florida A&M), WR Jamal Jones (North Carolina A&T).

Redskins: WR Jonathan Brewer (Howard).

Giants: WR Chris Davis (Southern).

Cowboys: DT Bryan "Big Cat" Williams (Alcorn State).