The late eighties saw a diversity of HBCU talent from across the country get the opportunity to play at the highest level. 1987 saw the inclusion of Greg Lloyd from Fort Valley State to a ferocious Pittsburgh Steelers defense that was feared and 1990, of course, saw the arrival of Shannon Sharpe from Savannah State University.

Both Lloyd and Sharpe showcased the transcended greatness that exists at both the Division I & Division II level. Let's spotlight the amazing HBCU talent that was drafted from 1986-1990.

1986

  1. 1986: Jackie Walker, Jackson St., LB (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Round 2, Pick 28)
  2. 1986: Leonard Griffin, Grambling St., DE (Kansas City Chiefs, Round 3, Pick 63)
  3. 1986: John Taylor, Delaware State, WR (San Francisco 49ers, Round 3, Pick 76)
  4. 1986: Carl Byrum, Mississippi Valley State, RB (Buffalo Bills, Round 4, Pick 111)
  5. 1986: Eddie Anderson, Fort Valley State, DB (Seattle Seahawks, Round 6, Pick 153)
  6. 1986: Merlon Jones, Florida A&M, LB (New Orleans Saints, Round 9, Pick 226)
  7. 1986: Joe Thomas, Mississippi Valley State, WR (Denver Broncos, Round 9, Pick 244)
  8. 1986: Ike Readon, Hampton, NT (Kansas City Chiefs, Round 10, Pick 257)
  9. 1986: Victor Hall, Jackson St., TE (Denver Broncos, Round 10, Pick 271)
  10. 1986: Wayne Dillard, Alcorn, LB (St. Louis Cardinals, Round 11, Pick 281)
  11. 1986: Sebastian Brown, Bethune-Cookman, WR (New Orleans Saints, Round 12, Pick 311)

1987

  1. 1987: Donald Evans, Winston-Salem St., DE (Los Angeles Rams, Round 2, Pick 47)
  2. 1987: Onzy Elam, Tennessee St., LB (New York Jets, Round 3, Pick 75)
  3. 1987: Sean Smith, Grambling St., DE (Chicago Bears, Round 4, Pick 101)
  4. 1987: Derrick Beasley, Winston-Salem St., DB (NWE, Round 4, Pick 102)
  5. 1987: Milton Mack, Alcorn, DB (New Orleans Saints, Round 5, Pick 123)
  6. 1987: Greg Lloyd, Fort Valley State, LB (Pittsburgh Steelers, Round 6, Pick 150)
  7. 1987: Gene Atkins, Florida A&M, DB (New Orleans Saints, Round 7, Pick 179)
  8. 1987: William Harris, Bishop College, (St. Louis Cardinals, Round 7, Pick 195)
  9. 1987: Charles Buchanan, Tennessee St., DE (Pittsburgh Steelers, Round 8, Pick 205)
  10. 1987: Anthony Anderson, Grambling St., DB (San Diego Chargers, Round 10, Pick 256)
  11. 1987: Robert Clark, North Carolina Central, WR (New Orleans Saints, Round 10, Pick 263)
  12. 1987: James Evans, Southern, RB (Kansas City Chiefs, Round 10, Pick 271)
  13. 1987: Patrick Scott, Grambling St., WR (Green Bay Packers, Round 11, Pick 282)
  14. 1987: Howard Ballard, Alabama A&M, T (Buffalo Bills, Round 11, Pick 283)
  15. 1987: Arthur Wells, Grambling St., TE (New Orleans Saints, Round 11, Pick 290)
  16. 1987: Calvin Nicholas, Grambling St., WR (San Francisco 49ers, Round 11, Pick 301)

1988

  1. 1988: Terry Williams, Bethune-Cookman, DB (New York Jets, Round 2, Pick 37)
  2. 1988: Vincent Brown, Mississippi Valley State, LB (New England Patriots, Round 2, Pick 43)
  3. 1988: Gerald Perry, Southern, T (Denver Broncos, Round 2, Pick 45)
  4. 1988: Michael Brim, Virginia Union, DB (Phoenix Cardinals, Round 4, Pick 95)
  5. 1988: Anthony Blaylock, Winston-Salem St., DB (Cleveland Browns, Round 4, Pick 103)
  6. 1988: Michael Ball, Southern, DB (Indianapolis Colts, Round 4, Pick 104)
  7. 1988: Leon Seals, Jackson St., DE (Buffalo Bills, Round 4, Pick 109)
  8. 1988: Houston Hoover, Jackson St., G (Atlanta Falcons, Round 6, Pick 140)
  9. 1988: Carl Painter, Hampton, RB (Detroit Lions, Round 6, Pick 142)
  10. 1988: Danta Whitaker, Mississippi Valley State, TE (New York Giants, Round 7, Pick 186)
  11. 1988: Kevin Bryant, Delaware State, LB (San Francisco 49ers, Round 7, Pick 191)
  12. 1988: Curtis Maxey, Grambling St., DE (Cincinnati Bengals, Round 8, Pick 195)
  13. 1988: Robert Tyler, South Carolina St., TE (Seattle Seahawks, Round 8, Pick 215)
  14. 1988: Harvey Reed, Howard, RB (Chicago Bears, Round 8, Pick 217)
  15. 1988: Deatrich Wise, Jackson St., DT (Seattle Seahawks, Round 9, Pick 242)
  16. 1988: Vincent Fizer, Southern, LB (New Orleans Saints, Round 10, Pick 276)
  17. 1988: Frank Pillow, Tennessee St., WR (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Round 11, Pick 279)
  18. 1988: Dwayne Harper, South Carolina St., DB (Seattle Seahawks, Round 11, Pick 299)
  19. 1988: Albert Goss, Jackson St., DT (New York Jets, Round 12, Pick 314)
  20. 1988: Johnny Carter, Grambling St., DT (Denver Broncos, Round 12, Pick 332)

1989

  1. 1989: Robert Massey, North Carolina Central, DB (New Orleans Saints, Round 2, Pick 46)
  2. 1989: Anthony Florence, Bethune-Cookman, DB (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Round 4, Pick 90)
  3. 1989: Lewis Tillman, Jackson St., RB (New York Giants, Round 4, Pick 93)
  4. 1989: Maurice Hurst, Southern, DB (New England Patriots, Round 4, Pick 96)
  5. 1989: Elliot Smith, Alcorn, DB (San Diego Chargers, Round 5, Pick 120)
  6. 1989: Michael Andrews, Alcorn, DB (Buffalo Bills, Round 5, Pick 137)
  7. 1989: Lybrant Robinson, Delaware State, DE (Washington Redskins, Round 5, Pick 139)
  8. 1989: Bryan Tobey, Grambling St., RB (Kansas City Chiefs, Round 8, Pick 199)
  9. 1989: Derrick Gainer, Florida A&M, RB (Los Angeles Raiders, Round 8, Pick 205)
  10. 1989: Jack Phillips, Alcorn, DB (Kansas City Chiefs, Round 9, Pick 227)
  11. 1989: Charles Jackson, Jackson St., DT (Los Angeles Raiders, Round 10, Pick 262)
  12. 1989: Jeff Hunter, Albany State, DE (Phoenix Cardinals, Round 11, Pick 291)
  13. 1989: Brad Baxter, Alabama State, RB (Minnesota Vikings, Round 11, Pick 303)
  14. 1989: William DuBose, South Carolina St., RB (Indianapolis Colts, Round 12, Pick 314)
  15. 1989: Jimmie Johnson, Howard, TE (Washington Redskins, Round 12, Pick 316)
  16. 1989: John Javis, Howard, WR (Denver Broncos, Round 12, Pick 320)

1990

  1. 1990: Darion Conner, Jackson St., LB (Atlanta Falcons, Round 2, Pick 27)
  2. 1990: Vince Buck, Central State, DB (New Orleans Saints, Round 2, Pick 44)
  3. 1990: Tony Stargell, Tennessee St., DB (New York Jets, Round 3, Pick 56)
  4. 1990: Anthony Pleasant, Tennessee St., DE (Cleveland Cavaliers, Round 3, Pick 73)
  5. 1990: Fred Jones, Grambling St., WR (Kansas City Chiefs, Round 4, Pick 96)
  6. 1990: Sean Vanhorse, Howard, DB (Miami Dolphins, Round 6, Pick 151)
  7. 1990: Dwayne White, Alcorn, G (New York Jets, Round 7, Pick 167)
  8. 1990: Garry Lewis, Alcorn, DB (Los Angeles Raiders, Round 7, Pick 123)
  9. 1990: Shannon Sharpe, Savannah State TE (Denver Broncos, Round 7, Pick 192) (Hall Of Famer, Pro Bowler)
  10. 1990: A.J. Jimerson, Norfolk St., LB (Los Angeles Raiders, Round 8, Pick 197)
  11. 1990: Harvey Wilson, Southern, DB (Indianapolis Colts, Round 8, Pick 213)
  12. 1990: Kenneth Want, Albany State, DB (Dallas Cowboys, Round 9, Pick 221)
  13. 1990: Broderick Graves, Winston-Salem St., RB (New Orleans Saints, Round 9, Pick 233)
  14. 1990: Michael Wallace, Jackson St., DB (Cleveland Browns, Round 10, Pick 268)
  15. 1990: Anthony Shelton, Tennessee St., DB (San Francisco 49ers, Round 11, Pick 289)
  16. 1990: Clemente Gordon, Grambling St., QB (Cleveland Browns, Round 11, Pick 296)
  17. 1990: Tyrone Watson, Tennessee St., WR (Philadelphia Eagles, Round 11, Pick 300)
  18. 1990: Ron Lewis, Jackson St., WR (Las Angeles Raiders, Round 11, Pick 303)
  19. 1990: Elliott Searcy, Southern, WR (San Diego Charger, Round 12, Pick 326)