Two former HBCU cornerbacks selected in 2026 NFL Draft

Although there were no players drafted directly from an HBCU in the 2026 NFL Draft, there were a few former HBCU players whose names were selected. Former Jackson State star Kevin Coleman was selected by the Miami Dolphins with the 177th pick in the 5th round. Alongside Coleman were two former HBCU defensive stars who entered the transfer portal, made it to FBS, and ultimately had their names called in this year’s NFL Draft.

Karon Prunty, New England Patriots

A few picks before Coleman was selected, the New England Patriots selected Karon Prunty with the 171st overall pick. Prunty played high school football at I.C. Norcom High School in Virginia and was eventually deemed a 3-star recruit. He started his college journey at Kansas and spent 2 seasons with the Jayhawks before transferring to North Carolina A&T. While with the Aggies, he showed flashes of his potential. Across his 3 seasons with North Carolina A&T, he finished with 72 total tackles (14 of them assisted), 2 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss for 21 yards, and 10 passes defended, along with 1 interception.

He then transferred to Wake Forest for his final year of eligibility and finished the 2025 season with 40 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 interception. He now finds himself with a Patriots team that recently made the Super Bowl but ultimately lost to the Seattle Seahawks. The Patriots, led by head coach Mike Vrabel, look to duplicate their success from last season in the super-competitive AFC.

Eric Fuller, Seattle Seahawks

In the 7th round, former University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff cornerback Eric Fuller was drafted by the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks with the 236th overall pick. He started his career with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in the spring of 2021. With the fall season canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SWAC became one of a few leagues to play an abbreviated spring season. Fuller was a pivotal part of the Golden Lions’ defense that led them to an appearance in the spring SWAC Championship game. During that spring 2021 season, he had 9 tackles and 3 pass breakups.

Before entering the transfer portal, he also played for the Lions in the fall and once again showcased his skills. In 11 games, he totaled 29 tackles, 3 tackles for loss for 9 yards, 1 sack, and 17 passes defended. He also hauled in 3 interceptions for a total of 151 yards and 1 touchdown, including a 97-yard interception return.

He then transferred to Toledo, where he eventually built his resume to become an NFL draftee. He transferred following the 2021 season and started his career with Toledo in the fall of 2022, finishing the season with 18 tackles, 3 pass breakups, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 sack. In 2023, he had 11 total tackles. In 2024, he was out for the entire season due to an injury and returned with a vengeance in his final season with the team in 2025.

In the 2025 season, he finished with 49 tackles, 1 interception, 12 passes defended, and 1 fumble recovery across 13 games. He now looks to find a place in the Seattle Seahawks defensive unit, which was among the best in the league under Mike Macdonald and ultimately propelled the team to a Super Bowl victory.

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