In our 5th annual installment of tracking the earnings of HBCU alumni who are NFL players, the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Terron Armstead takes the crown.
HBCU Money™ FACTS:
- HBCU NFL players combine for $38.7 million, an almost 32 percent decline from our last list in 2016, when HBCU NFL players earned $56.4 million.
- South Carolina State University leads the way with 4 NFL players.
- 16 HBCUs are represented in the NFL. Up from 15 in 2016.
- Average salary for HBCU NFL players is $1.8 million, a sharp decrease from $2.1 million in 2016.
- Median salary for HBCU NFL players is $630,000, down 35 percent from 2016.
- HBCU players account for 1.3 percent of the NFL’s 32 team active roster spots.
- Terron Armstead /University Arkansas-Pine Bluff / Saints / $10.3 million
- Antoine Bethea / Howard University / Cardinals / $4.48 million
- William Hayes / Winston-Salem State University / Dolphins / $4.05 million
- Isaiah Crowell / Alabama State University / Jets / $4 million
- Rafael Bush / South Carolina State University / Bills / $2 million
- Joe Thomas / South Carolina Sate University / Cowboys / $1.575 million
- Brandon Parker / North Carolina A&T State Univ. / Raiders / $1.538 million
- Anthony Levine / Tennessee State University / Ravens / $1.4 million
- Rodney Gunter / Delaware State University / Cardinals / $705,000
- Javon Hargrave / South Carolina State Univ. / Steelers / $691,000
- Antonio Hamilton / South Carolina State University / Giants / $630,000 (Tied)
- Chester Rogers / Grambling State University / Colts / $630,000 (Tied)
- Ryan Smith / North Carolina Central University / Buccaneers / $630,000 (Tied)
- Trenton Cannon / Virginia State University / Jets / $619,224
- Chad Williams / Grambling State University / Cardinals / $581,500
- Tarik Cohen / North Carolina A&T State Univ. / Bears / $555,000 (Tied)
- Tony McRae / North Carolina A&T State Univ. / Bengals / $555,000 (Tied)
- Michael Ola / Hampton University / Saints / $511,181
- Danny Johnson / Southern University / Redskins / $490,000
- Trent Scott / Grambling State University / Chargers / $451,674
- KhaDarel Hodge / Prairie View A&M University / Rams / $423,529
- Jawill Davis / Bethune-Cookman University / Giants / $395,294