Jerry Rice, Walter Payton and the 30 best HBCU football players of all time
By Dante Pryor
3. Junious “Buck” Buchanan, defensive end: Grambling State University
Before the NFL actively began drafting black players, especially those from HBCUs, the AFL was a haven for black players good enough to play professional football but not scouted or drafted by the NFL. By the 1960s, the NFL would draft and sign a smattering of black players but not to the extent the AFL did.
One example of this is disparity is Junious “Buck” Buchanan. An Alabama native, Buchanan played for legendary Grambling State head coach Eddie Robinson. During his Grambling career, Buchanan was an All-NAIA selection and four-year letter winner.
Buchanan is one of four Robinson players to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After Buchanan’s career at Grambling was over, he was drafted by both the AFL and the NFL. While the Giants selected Buchanan in the 19th round, the Kansas City Chiefs selected him with the first overall pick.
Buchanan was the first black football player selected first overall in professional football. Much like Deacon Jones, Buchanan would be an imposing figure even in today’s game. At 6-foot-7 and 272 pounds, “Buck” would be one of the more dominant forces in the game today.
Buchanan was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.