Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk, who now coaches at Southern University, delivered a gut punch to college football’s old guard at SWAC Football Media Day. He stated directly, “I believe that the next level is no longer the NFL.” This isn’t just some throwaway line, folks, this is a Hall of Famer laying bare the dramatically changed landscape for HBCU players, a shift that’s been brewing for years and now it’s undeniable.
The Great College Poaching Is Real
For decades, we all knew that the absolute best talent emerging from HBCU schools would naturally find their path to the NFL. It was the next step, a well-worn road for legends like Walter Payton and Jerry Rice. But Faulk, speaking via Steven J. Gaither of HBCU Gameday, made it crystal clear: those days are GONE. He put it bluntly, saying, “We get poached by the FBS.” Think about that for a second. The very schools that used to be a direct pipeline to the pros are now feeder programs for other *college* teams. It’s wild, right?
This isn’t some conspiracy theory either. Faulk pointed right to the basic realities of this new era: NIL and the transfer portal. Once an HBCU player starts showing out and proving they can perform at a high level, the big-time college programs come calling, loaded with opportunities. As Faulk explained, players now have “an opportunity to maybe go somewhere and make good money while they’re in college.” Let that sink in. These athletes can now secure significant financial gains *before* ever stepping foot on an NFL field. The game has totally flipped. “The game has changed,” Faulk declared. “The landscape of college football has changed.” And boy, has it ever.
What This Means for the Future Pipeline
In past years, Hall of Fame players like Aeneas Williams, Jackie Slater, Michael Strahan, Shannon Sharpe, Mel Blount, John Stallworth, and Deacon Jones all found their opportunities, often straight to the NFL. Now, it’s a completely different ballgame. The best players at HBCU programs *will* get opportunities, but those opportunities are increasingly at FBS schools, lured by the money and exposure that NIL and the transfer portal offer. It’s a seismic shift that impacts the entire college football ecosystem.
This fall, as teams gear up for kickoff, everyone needs to watch closely. Faulk’s comments are a wake-up call to the league and fans about how profoundly the college game has evolved. Will the NFL start seeing fewer direct-from-HBCU draftees? It sure seems like it. The talent is still there, no doubt, but the path has fundamentally changed. Get ready, because the ripple effects of this could be massive for scouting departments and player development across the board.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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