James 'Shack' Harris is excited players get chance to impress NFL teams at HBCU Legacy Bowl

Last year, no player from an historically Black colleges and universities was selected in the NFL draft. It raised an eyebrow for a lot of former NFL legends, including James “Shack” Harris.

Harris, the co-founder of the Black College Football Hall of Fame, believed HBCU players deserve a chance to showcase themselves to NFL teams. That led to the creation of the HBCU Legacy Bowl, which makes its debut Saturday at Yulman Stadium on the Tulane University campus in New Orleans.

The game will give 98 draft-eligible players a chance to play with NFL scouts in attendance on a national scale. The game will be telecast on NFL Network at 4 p.m., Saturday.

“We are giving NFL scouts an opportunity to see them in an atmosphere where they are going against some players and see who can transition that into the NFL and enhance the opportunity of getting drafted or sign to play in the National Football League,” Harris said. “We’re excited about it.”

Also at the game, the Black College Football Hall of Fame will introduce its Class of 2022 — Ben Coates (Livingstone), Donald Driver (Alcorn State), John “Big Train” Moody (Morris Brown,), Roscoe Nance (Tuskegee), Nate Newton (Florida A&M), William “Billy” Nicks (Morris Brown and Prairie View A&M) and Sammy White (Grambling State).

“We’re excited about this class and some players who have been outstanding,” Harris said.

Harris also is looking forward to the 2022 Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic in Canton featuring Central State and Winston-Salem State. He hopes the public gets a glimpse of the HBCU experience while bringing the community together in Canton. 

“Hopefully, when the people of Ohio get to experience it," he said, "they’ll be able to suggest and recommend their students, families, and kids ... to HBCU schools.” 

Harris reflected on his time at Grambling State and considered it the best time of his life.

Before being drafted by the Buffalo Bills — where he became the first Black quarterback to open an AFL or NFL season as a starter —  Harris led the Tigers to a 24-5-1 record as a three-year starter in college. In his senior year, he threw for 1,972 yards and 21 touchdowns.

“Those were the best four years of my life,” Harris said, “I’ve met friends of a lifetime and as I travel around the country, I tend to be proud of so many of our graduates who are doing well in the country and the decision of making jobs and being contributors of making a difference in other people’s lives.”

Going forward, Harris hopes to gather more sponsors for BCFHOF. The Legacy Bowl is in partnership with 26 different brands and foundations. Current NFL players such as Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Donald, Terron Armstead, Jameis Winston, and Bobby Wagner are partners or brand ambassadors.

“We just like to thank all the support that we’ve gotten from the Black College Hall of fame, HBCU football, from our fans, our alumni,” Harris said. “We just like to thank the people for all the support. We feel like we provide an experience, the camaraderie. It’s second to none, and we’re excited about it and encourage the young people to give the HBCU experience a chance.”

Four players to watch in the 2022 HBCU Legacy Bowl

Christian Clark, DT, Alabama State

Clark carries a load at 6-foot, 343 pounds. The Cleveland native and Glenville High grad is a disrupter in the backfield. In 2019, he made first-team All-SWAC after recording 50 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and a sack. During the 2021 spring season, Clark recorded 15 tackles in five games, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble. Last fall, he made 40 tackles, seven for losses. Clark is the younger brother of NFL defensive end Frank Clark of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Aqeel Glass, QB, Alabama A&M

Aqeel Glass was a star in the FCS division. He has the arm talent to go with size (6-5, 215) and ability to run whenever he gets an opportunity. Glass finished in the top 15 in FCS history in career passing yards (12,136) and touchdowns (109). He earned FCS third-team All American honors. Glass had an impressive outing in the NFLPA Bowl last month. The two-time All-SWAC and HBCU Player of the Year completed 9 of 11 passes for 141 yards going against some other top NFL prospects. 

Kailon Davis, DE, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Some may remember Kailon Davis for starring in Season 4 of ‘Last Chance U’ when he played junior college football at Independence College before he signed with Arkansas State. Heart issues forced him off the field before he made his return to football at Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 2021. In four games in the spring, he two forced fumbles. Last fall, he made six tackles for loss. Davis also recovered a fumble for a touchdown on Sept. 6 against Lane. He gets to showcase his pass-rushing skills in his hometown of New Orleans in this game. 

Jamal Holloway, DE, Central State

Jamal Holloway will be the lone representative of Ohio's Central State. Last season, Holloway recorded 84 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks. At 6-foot-3 245 pounds, Holloway made first-team All-SIAC. Holloway transferred from UNLV.