30 best HBCU football players of all time, ranked

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

By Dante Pryor | May 11, 2021

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 28: Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball against the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XXIV on January 28, 1990 at the Super Dome in New Orleans, LA. The 49ers won the Super Bowl 55-10. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

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Photo credit should read SCOTT ROVAK/AFP via Getty Images) /

9. Aeneas Williams, cornerback, Southern University

Williams is proof that the evaluation system is not always perfect. A New Orleans native, Williams was an all-district safety, but he played on the same high school team with three future NFL players, Maurice Hurst, Kevin Lewis and Ashley Ambrose.

Suffice it to say scouts did not come and look at Williams. With no college offers, Williams decided to attend Southern University, where his brother Achilles went. “Our parents always expected that we would go to college and get our degree,” he explained. “(Playing football) never crossed my mind; I was preparing for the rest of my life.”

Williams concentrated on getting his degree and did not play football at Southern until his junior year. Williams was All-SWAC and led the conference in interceptions.

Despite not playing college football for two years, Williams was a third-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals on his way to a hall of fame career. As a rookie, Williams led the NFC in interceptions.

Williams made eight Pro Bowls, a three-time All-Pro first-team and a Cardinals Ring of Honor member. During his 13-year career, Williams had 55 touchdowns, 23 fumble recoveries and 13 touchdowns.

Williams was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

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