HBCU Legacy Bowl: Standout performances, rising stock, and NFL eyes watching

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The 2026 Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl was billed as a showcase of draft hopefuls.

It turned into a resume-building stage for a handful of players who turned likely NFL scouting notebooks in their direction on Saturday.

Here are the takeaways from the fifth annual game and who shined:

The best offensive player on the field was a CIAA running back

Winston-Salem State running back JaQuan Kelly led the way, earning Offensive Most Valuable Player honors in Team Gaither’s 27–23 victory over Team Robinson.

Kelly rushed for 76 yards on 10 carries and became the only player to score twice, first breaking free on a 22-yard sprint to the outside for Team Gaither’s opening touchdown, then punching in a short second-half score that ultimately stood as the winning margin.

His combination of burst and finishing power gave concrete backing to a week of buzz that he could be one of the game’s biggest risers.

On the other side of the ball, South Carolina State defensive end Michael Lunz II was named Defensive Most Valuable Player.

Lunz finished with 1.5 sacks and two tackles, but his impact stretched beyond the stat sheet: he blew up an early drive almost single-handedly. He delivered a goal-line tackle that preceded a critical end-zone interception in the second half.

That effort was punctuated by Delaware State edge rusher Quincy Robinson, who delivered the game’s defining play in the final 74 seconds. With Team Robinson driving and trailing by four, Robinson came off the edge for a strip sack that snuffed out the comeback bid and allowed Team Gaither to kneel out the clock.

Robinson entered the week with a reputation as a high-motor pass rusher after a disruptive 2025 season and multiple splash games on tape, and his closing burst in a two-minute situation gave him a signature moment for scouts to remember.

​A pair of Florida HBCU players made a name for themselves early

For Team Robinson, the early buzz belonged to the connection between Bethune-Cookman quarterback Cam’Ron Ransom and tight end Travaunta Abner, one of the week’s most discussed offensive prospects.

Ransom twice found Abner on the opening drive, first fitting a throw between a defender and the sideline for an acrobatic grab, then going back to him on a back-shoulder throw in double coverage to give Team Robinson a 6–0 lead.

Abner, who was highlighted pregame for a string of 100-yard outings during the season, reinforced the view that he can be a matchup problem at the next level.

Florida Memorial running back Jerodd Sims also made the most of his touches for Team Robinson, cashing in on a special teams miscue to give his squad a 13–10 advantage late in the first half. Sims flashed the vision and toughness that had drawn him to the HBCU all-star stage.

Team Gaither’s passing game provided another notable spark out of halftime, when Johnson C. Smith quarterback Kelvin Durham opened the third quarter by marching the offense down the field.

Durham capped the drive with a fade route to his Golden Bulls teammate, wide receiver Deandre Proctor. The timing on the throw-and-catch reflects years of shared reps and putting Gaither back in front, 20–13. Their chemistry offered a different kind of evaluation point for scouts: how quickly a quarterback and receiver can translate familiarity into production against all-star competition.


A cast of others flashed NFL traits​

The HBCU Legacy Bowl week began with “players to watch” lists that highlighted names such as North Carolina Central quarterback Walker Harris, Virginia Union running back and Harlon Hill Trophy winner Curtis Allen, and Morgan State linebacker Erick Hunter as headliners.

By the time Saturday’s game ended, Kelly, Lunz, Robinson, Abner, Sims, Durham, Proctor and Vassell had joined that group in creating some of the loudest buzz, not just for their invitations, but for what they placed on film under the lights.

Jackson State’s Quincy Ivory anchored the defensive line with constant pressure up front, while teammate Reid Pulliam flew to the football with sideline-to-sideline speed that set the tone early.


Hunter’s leadership and range stood out. Delaware State’s Quincy Robinson clogged running lanes effectively, and North Carolina Central’s Max U’Ren displayed his versatility as a playmaker, wrapping up an impressive showing for HBCU football’s best.

For the fifth edition of the HBCU Legacy Bowl, the story was once again about opportunity — and about the players who refused to let it pass quietly.

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