2nd Annual HBCU Legacy Bowl Final Rosters

The 2023 HBCU Legacy Bowl final rosters are set to showcase the best HBCU football all-star players from across the country.

The 2nd Annual HBCU Legacy Bowl final rosters are set to showcase the best HBCU football all-star players from across the country.  One hundred HBCUs' draft-eligible players from the SWAC, MEAC, CIAA, SIAC, OVC, Sooner Athletic, and CAA will be on either Team Robinson or Team Gaither rosters. 

The game will have a 3:00 PM CT kickoff at Yulman Stadium (Tulane University) on February 25, 2023.  The NFL Network will broadcast live with Steve Wyche (play-by-play announcer) and Charles Davis (color analyst) returning to the booth for calling the contest.

Co-founders Doug Williams and James "Shack" Harris will lead a contingency of our finest former black college football stars into the stadium for the event. Pro Football and Black College Football Hall of Famers Mel Blount, Art Shell, and Willie Lanier will be available to meet and greet fans.

The HBCU Combine, in collaboration with the NFL, will be held on February 20th at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center, which is the New Orleans Saints practice facility, located in Metairie, LA.   All 32 NFL clubs are expected to be in attendance at the HBCU Legacy Bowl and HBCU Combine.

THE COACHES

2023 HBCU Legacy Bowl Head Coaches - Trei Oliver, Chennis Berry, Richard Hayes Jr., and Eric Dooley; Credit: HBCU Legacy Bowl and Black College Football Hall of Fame

Four highly-regarded HBCU coaches will be coaching Team Robinson and Team Gaither. Trei Oliver (10-2, 4-1 MEAC) of the 2022 HBCU National Champions NCCU Eagles will coach Team Gaither with Richard Hayes, Jr. (9-3, 7-1 CIAA) of Fayetteville State University.  

Chennis Berry (11-1, 7-0 SIAC) of the 2022 SIAC Champions from Benedict College will direct Team Robinson along with New Orleans native and Southern University's head coach Eric Dooley (7-5, 5-3 SWAC). 

THE ROSTERS

Team Robinson has players from 18 HBCU football programs representing the SWAC (34), SIAC (12), and Sooner Athletic (4) conferences.

Team Gaither has players from 22 HBCU football programs representing the CIAA (20), MEAC (12), CAA (7), SIAC (5), OVC (4), and SWAC (2).

The Southwestern Athletic Conference has the largest contingency of players at 37, followed by the CIAA (20), SIAC (16), MEAC (12), CAA (7), Sooner Athletic (4), and OVC (4).

Mark Evans II is invited to participate in the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine and  will play for Team Robinson at the 2023 HBCU Legacy Bowl.

The roster of Team Gaither and Team Robinson are as follows:

Team Robinson

1. Southern -7
2. Florida A&M - 5
3. Jackson State - 4
4. Fort Valley State - 3
5. Langston - 4
6. Benedict - 4
7. Alcorn - 3
8. Alabama A&M - 3
9. Alabama State - 2
10. Albany State - 2
11. Bethune-Cookman - 2
12. UAPB - 2
13. Texas Southern - 2
14. Grambling - 2
15. Prairie View - 1
16. Lane College - 1
17. Mississippi Valley State - 2
18. Clark Atlanta - 1

• Roster Breakdown: Defense (23), Offense (27)
• Conferences Represented: SWAC (35), SIAC (11), and Sooner Athletic (4)

Team Gaither

1. Bowie State - 6
2. NC A&T - 5
3. Virginia Union - 5
4. Tennessee State - 4
5. Morgan State - 3
6. NCCU - 3
7. Delaware State - 3
8. Fayetteville State - 3
9. Tuskegee - 2
10. Hampton - 2
11. Virginia State - 2
12. Shaw - 2
13. Edward Waters - 1
14. Lincoln U - 1
15. Central State - 1
16. Howard - 1
17. South Carolina State - 1
18. Norfolk State - 1
19. Texas Southern - 1
20. Alabama State - 1
21. Kentucky State - 1
22. Elizabeth City - 1

• Roster Breakdown: Defense (23), Offense (27)
• Conferences Represented: CIAA (20), MEAC (12), CAA (7), SIAC (5), OVC (4), and SWAC (2)

The HBCU Legacy Bowl Career Fair, presented by the New Orleans Saints, will be Thursday and Friday, February 23 & 24, 2023 (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM CST) at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in the La Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom.

Purchase tickets to the HBCU Legacy Bowl online here.