HBCU legends get Black College Football Hall of Fame call

/ Alabama State, Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M, Football, Fort Valley State, Howard, Jackson State, News / By

Several great players, coaches and an important contributor from HBCUs will be honored this coming June.

The Black College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 includes Rudy Hubbard (Florida A&M), Tyrone Poole (Fort Valley State), Eddie Robinson Jr. (Alabama State), Nick Collins (Bethune-Cookman), Jimmy Smith (Jackson State), and Steve Wyche (Howard).

The announcement was made on Thursday afternoon, and the ceremony will take place on June 6 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Hubbard coached the Rattlers from 1974 to 1985, compiling a record of 83-48-3. Among those 83 wins include the first ever NCAA I-AA (now FCS) National Championship Game, a 35-28 win over UMass, and a 16-13 win vs. the University of Miami at Florida State the next season.

Smith was an all-SWAC wide receiver at Jackson State before winning a Super Bowl as a rookie with the Dallas Cowboys. He went on to become one of the more feared receivers of his generation with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he still holds all of the franchise’s receiving records.

Poole holds the distinction of being the first-ever Fort Valley State Wildcat selected in the NFL draft. He played 14 seasons in the NFL at cornerback, most notably for the New England Patriots, winning back-to-back Super Bowls in 2003 and 2004.

Robinson was an all-SWAC linebacker at Alabama State before spending 11 seasons in the NFL with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise, as well as stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills. Robinson currently is the head football coach at his alma mater, sporting a 30-16 record in four seasons on the job.

Collins earned All-MEAC and I-AA All-American honors as a safety in Bethune-Cookman, then spent his entire seven-year NFL career with the Green Bay Packers. Collins returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLV, helping the Packers defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Wyche is a Howard grad who has been an NFL reporter for over 30 years and has been instrumental in raising awareness and opportunities for HBCU Football and HBCU Football players. He is currently a reporter with the NFL Network and contributes to HBCU GO football broadcasts.

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