Two HBCU standouts land spots on NFL rosters

Two HBCU stars have made their way onto NFL rosters a week before the start of the NFL season, and they both attended the same HBCU. Former Morgan State defensive stars Erick Hunter and Elijah Williams have made their way onto the New England Patriots’ and Minnesota Vikings’ 53-man rosters, respectively. Both players were pivotal to Morgan State’s defensive success in the MEAC during their tenure.

Hunter spent all four years at Morgan State, establishing himself as one of the top players in HBCU football. His 2025 season stood out as his best, earning All-MEAC First Team honors and multiple All-American nods from BOXTOROW, FCS Football Central, and Phil Steele. He also competed in the HBCU Legacy Bowl and The American Bowl, and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, HBCU Player of the Year, and the Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award.

He led the MEAC with 102 total tackles, including 53 solo stops, to go with 14 tackles for loss and four sacks across 12 starts, adding five quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles, and an interception. His signature moment came against Michael Vick’s Norfolk State Spartans, when he returned a blocked kick 90 yards for a touchdown. He finished his career second in Morgan State history with 298 tackles. He initially signed an undrafted free-agent deal with the Detroit Lions, but ultimately was cut from the final roster and was picked up by the Patriots.

Elijah Williams also played all four seasons at Morgan State from 2021 to 2024, serving as a teammate of Hunter for several of those seasons. He finished his career with 216 total tackles, with 126 of the tackles solo, 52 tackles for loss for a total of 274 yards, 31 tackles for loss for a total of 224 yards, three passes defended, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick.

He declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, went unselected, and signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent. He ultimately found some playing time during the 2025 season, making 7 appearances for the Vikings last fall, but he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 17 against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings elected to bring him back to once again rejoin their 53-man roster.

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