Jerry Rice, Walter Payton and the 30 best HBCU football players of all time

Ranking the 30 best HBCU football players of all time, which includes legendary Hall of Famers such as Jerry Rice and Walter Payton.

Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have a long and storied history of iconic football. HBCUs have just as long an account of putting great football players in the NFL. Current players like Darius Leonard (South Carolina State) and Tarik Cohen (North Carolina A&T) have impacted the league.

Players like John Taylor (Alabama A&M) and Steve McNair (Alcorn State) had Super Bowl moments to remember. HBCUs were often the only place that recruited black players to play football until the early 1980s. That is especially true of quarterbacks.

The McNair mentioned above went to Alcorn State because that was the only school to recruit him to play quarterback. During segregation, football players who were born in the south usually played for an HBCU because schools in the SEC, ACC, Big 8 and SWC (the Big 8 is now the Big 12 and the SWC is part of the Big 12, AAC and Conference USA) did not recruit black players.

Despite being denied the opportunity to play at historically white colleges, players from historically black schools are some of the best players in college football history. Some, like Walter Payton, Jerry Rice and Robert Brazile, are among the best players in NFL history.

Ranking the 30 best HBCU football players of all time

30. Ken Houston, safety, Prairie View A&M University

For most NFL players, the prime of their careers lasts anywhere from five to seven years. However, former Houston and Washington safety Ken Houston is the exception to that rule. Drafted in the ninth round of the 1967 AFL draft by the Houston Oilers, Houston was a pro-bowler for 12 straight years.

In 1971, Houston set a record for return touchdowns in one season with five; four interceptions and one fumble recovery. That record would stand for 35 years until 2006, when Devin Hester had six returns for touchdowns, though none was on defense.

Houston was either first or second-team all-pro from 1968-1979. Houston was traded to Washington in 1973 after six seasons with the Houston Oilers.

Despite the consistency in Houston’s career, the Texas native is considered one of pro football’s most underrated superstars. The narrative fits Houston’s work-hard approach to the game.

After a stand-out career at Dunbar High School in Lufkin, Texas, Houston received just two college offers, one from Bishop College and Prairie View A&M University. However, Bishop would resend their request because they had not desegregated.

Houston had an outstanding career at Prairie View, which began playing center then switching to linebacker. It was there at linebacker where Houston would garner All-American honors.  Those humble beginnings would mold Houston into one of the great players of his era.