Following a year in which four players were selected in the NFL Draft, only one player was taken in the 2023 draft.
Former Jackson State cornerback Isaiah Bolden was selected by the New England Patriots with the 245th overall pick in the seventh round.
The attention now shifts to the undrafted free-agent market, where players look to keep their dreams of playing in the NFL alive.
Here is a list of players who were signed by NFL teams as undrafted free agents:
Hampton WR Jadakis Bonds, San Francisco 49ers
Hampton wide receiver Jadakis Bonds is heading out west signing with the San Francisco 49ers.
Bonds was dominant in the 2022 season for the Pirates accounting for over half of his team’s receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
He put up 855 receiving yards on 49 receptions and scored 10 touchdowns. He was named to the All-CAA First Team.
Alcorn State LB Claudin Cherelus, New York Jets
Claudin Cherelus is looking to become the first Alcorn State player to play in the NFL since 2019, signing as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets.
Cherelus transferred to Alcorn after playing two seasons at UMASS, going on to play the last two years with the Braves.
He finished with 149 total tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, three passes defended, two forced fumbles, and an interception in 20 games.
Jackson State WR Dallas Daniels, Denver Broncos
Dallas Daniels is heading to the state that his former college coach now calls home, signing with the Denver Broncos.
Daniels was the leading receiver for a dominant Jackson State offense this past season, recording 66 receptions for 775 yards and 10 touchdowns.
There was speculation that the Cleveland Browns were interested in drafting the Tigers All-SWAC receiver, with reports even claiming he could be taken as high as the fifth round.
South Carolina State WR Shaquan Davis, New Orleans Saints
Davis is headed to the Big Easy, signing with the New Orleans Saints.
Davis is a versatile receiver standing at 6-5 who can make big plays in the slot and on the outside.
He played a huge role in South Carolina State’s Celebration Bowl win in 2021 with five catches for 95 yards scoring three touchdowns en route to being named the game’s offensive MVP.
This past season, Davis continued to produce big numbers recording 29 receptions for 662 yards and seven touchdowns.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff OT Mark Evans II, New Orleans Saints
Joining Shaquan Davis on the New Orleans Saints is Arkansas-Pine Bluff offensive lineman Mark Evans II. As a result, Evans joins fellow former UAPB offensive lineman and mentor Terron Armstead.
The UAPB lineman comes to the Saints off a historic college career in which he was named to the All-SWAC team four times and the FCS All-American team three times.
Lane DE Andrew Farmer, Los Angeles Chargers
Coming off a dominant 2022 season with the Lane Dragons, edge rusher Andrew Farmer is heading to the NFL, signing with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Farmer was a playmaking machine for the Dragons this past year, leading Division II averaging 3.1 tackles for loss (25 total) along with 58 tackles, six sacks, seven quarterback hurries, and three pass breakups. He was named to the All-SIAC Defensive First Team.
The Dragons defender is looking to become the fifth player from Lane to ever play in the NFL and the first since Jacoby Jones, who played nine seasons in the league.
Bowie State QB Dion Golatt, Baltimore Ravens
The only HBCU quarterback to sign as an undrafted free agent so far, Bowie State quarterback Dion Golatt has signed with the Baltimore Ravens.
Golatt returns to Baltimore where he began his college career at Morgan State playing two seasons before transferring to Bowie State.
In his lone season as the starter at Bowie, Golatt recorded 2,649 passing yards completing 61% of his passes and scoring 18 touchdowns.
He set the school record for passing yards in the team’s homecoming game against Livingstone with 439 passing yards.
Virginia State RB Darius Hagans, Indianapolis Colts
Virginia State running back Darius Hagans joins fellow former Trojans running back Trenton Cannon in the AFC South signing with the Indianapolis Colts.
While Jada Byers was the talk of the town in the CIAA last season, Hagans quietly had an impressive season, too.
He tallied 1,012 rushing yards scoring six touchdowns along with 17 receptions for 135 yards. He was named to the All-CIAA First Team.
Alabama State DB Keenan Isaac, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Alabama State defensive back Keenan Isaac is on his way to the NFC South where he will sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Isaac played his entire college career with the Hornets recording 154 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 30 pass breakups, and two interceptions in 41 games.
Florida A&M LB Isaiah Land, Dallas Cowboys
One of the more surprising players to go undrafted, Isaiah Land joins his former Rattler teammate Markquese Bell on the Dallas Cowboys.
Land put his name on the map during the 2021 fall season in which he was named the winner of the Buck Buchanan Award.
He put up 43 total tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 19.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, and three pass breakups.
While his production slightly dropped in the 2022 season, Land helped his pro stock with a big performance in the Senior Bowl. He recorded a key tackle for loss on a goal-line stand and a sack in the fourth quarter.
Jackson State LB Aubrey Miller, Miami Dolphins
Another surprising player that did not hear his name called in the NFL Draft is Jackson State linebacker, Aubrey Miller.
The reigning SWAC Defensive Player of the Year was the catalyst for a Jackson State team that finished the regular season undefeated for the first time in school history.
He finished with 117 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, two sacks, six pass breakups, five forced fumbles, four quarterback hurries, and two fumble recoveries.
Like Isaiah Land, Miller also had a big performance in the Senior Bowl with seven tackles including a big hit on the first play of the game.
Southern DL Cam Peterson, Baltimore Ravens
Southern defensive lineman Camron Peterson is heading to Charm City, signing with the Baltimore Ravens. Peterson transferred to Southern from McNeese State playing each of the last two seasons for the Jaguars.
Peterson posted 50 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, and a pass breakup in 19 total games at Southern.
He was a standout performer in the HBCU Legacy Bowl as part of the winning Team Robinson.
Bowie State DL Joshua Pryor, Washington Commanders
Reigning CIAA Defensive Player of the Year Joshua Pryor is staying local, signing with the Washington Commanders.
Pryor played a starring role for a Bowie State defense that won three straight CIAA championships from 2018-2021. This included a 2019 season in which they finished the regular season undefeated for the first time in school history.
He totaled 245 tackles, 77.0 tackles for loss, 32 sacks, four forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and three pass breakups in 49 career games.
Florida A&M WR Xavier Smith, Los Angeles Rams
Florida A&M wide receiver Xavier Smith joins HBCU 2022 NFL draftee Decobie Durant signing with the Los Angeles Rams.
Smith had a decorated career with the Rattlers with 280 receptions for 3,620 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns. He was named to three All-Conference teams.
The Rattlers receiver was named the Offensive MVP of the HBCU Legacy Bowl with six receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown.
Jackson State DB Dejahn Warren, Chicago Bears
Former number one JUCO defensive back recruit Dejahn Warren is NFL-bound after inking a deal with the Bears.
Coming from Lackawanna Community College, Warren was one of the first players to sign with Jackson State after the announcement of Deion Sanders being hired as head coach.
He amassed 51 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, six pass breakups, and an interception in 28 games with the Tigers.
Fort Valley State RB Emanuel Wilson, Denver Broncos
Rounding out the list is Fort Valley State running back Emanuel Wilson who has signed with the Denver Broncos.
Wilson enters the pro ranks following his decision to forgo his senior season to enter the NFL Draft.
The Wildcats back began his college career at Johnson C. Smith winning the CIAA Offensive Rookie of the Year award after recording 1,040 rushing yards and scoring 13 touchdowns.
He played the last two seasons with Fort Valley State including this past year in which he was named the SIAC Offensive Player of the Year.
He totaled 1,252 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns along with 20 receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns.
