Top Players to Watch in the 2026 HBCU Legacy Bowl
Several prospects with production that demands NFL attention will be featured in the 2026 HBCU Legacy Bowl, which will once again highlight outstanding draft-eligible talent from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The group's top quarterback is Walker Harris of North Carolina Central, who finished his career with over 5,600 passing yards and 47 touchdowns after throwing for 3,214 yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 2025. In a pro-style atmosphere, scouts will extensively examine Harris because of his cool under pressure and dual-threat potential. Cameron Peters from Prairie View A&M joined him in 2025 with over 2,700 passing yards and 21 touchdowns, ending his career with over 3,600 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. Peters' arm strength and vertical accuracy are what give him real upside. Both quarterbacks are must-watch possibilities.
After rushing for 2,409 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2025, Curtis Allen, out of Virginia Union, stands out in the backfield. His collegiate career totals include 3,819 rushing yards and 51 rushing touchdowns. He is among the most effective rushers in HBCU Football because of his vision, contact balance, and explosiveness. North Carolina Central senior Chauncey Spikes finished his career with over 1,000 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns, including 664 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2025. Top defensive backs will challenge Spikes' ability to run routes and produce in the red zone. Scouts will be keeping a close eye on Alabama A&M tight end Travaunta Abner, who has surpassed 1,000 career receiving yards with 380 receiving yards and three touchdowns this past season.
Defensively, the next seven prospects are defined by disruption. Bryce Cage, who represented Grambling State, showed consistent pass rush progress in 2025 with 36 solo tackles and five and a half sacks, bringing his total to nearly 10 career sacks. Ckelby Givens, out of Southern University, built a multi-year output record that suggests NFL potential, adding on his outstanding previous seasons with over seven sacks in 2025. This season, Jackson State's Quincy Ivory recorded six sacks and two forced fumbles, showcasing strength and edge-setting skills that are transferable to the next level. Pre-draft evaluations place a high importance on continuous backfield disruption, and all three of these defensive prospects have shown that.
In 2025, Central State linebacker Domonique Davis II added 113 tackles, nearly 17 tackles for a loss of yardage, along with five sacks, and four interceptions to his career total of 194 tackles and 34.5 tackles for loss. He is one of the most complete defenders in the game because of his ball abilities and sideline-to-sideline range. The final player on the list is Aaron Harris, a defensive back at North Carolina A&T, who finished the season with five interceptions and more than 107 tackles, establishing a career characterized by physical coverage and turnover output. In addition to having impressive stats, each of these ten players has qualities that translate to professional football going into the 2026 HBCU Legacy Bowl. Their draft trajectory may ultimately depend on how well they perform in this all-star environment.
