NEW ORLEANS – A purple and gold haze in the western sky gave way to dusk descending over Yulman Stadium at Tulane University as the 2024 HBCU Legacy Bowl concluded. The chatter, laughter, photos, and media interviews created a buzz from the players, coaches, friends, and families still lingering on the football field.
As Doug Williams and James “Shack” Harris announced the 2024 HBCU Legacy Bowl Offensive and Defensive MVPs, we intercepted Jackson State safety John Huggins before entering the locker room.
On Monday, Huggins lit up social media with a stellar performance at the 2024 HBCU Combine.
nFebruary 24, 2024; Jackson State safety John Huggins interviews with Kyle T. Mosley of HBCU Legends at the 2024 Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl inside Yulman Stadium; New Orleans, LA; Credit: Kyle T. Mosley, HBCU Legends
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“My experience is great,” Huggins said in his initial reflection on the HBCU Legacy Bowl week. “Just being a part of bringing the spotlight back to HBCUs, leveling the playing field, and having this exposure is big time.
CBS analyst and founder of Football Gameplan, Emory Hunt, wrote about Huggins:
“Huggins had the best workout at the HBCU Combine, running 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 6.91 seconds in the 3-cone shuttle. He also jumped 38.5 inches in the vertical jump. His on-field drills were equally as impressive. He’s an athletic freak who can run, hit, and turn the ball over. We’ll see if those things are enough to get his name called next month.”
Just as Huggins began his interview, seven-year All-Pro safety, and Prairie View’s head football coach Bubba McDowell gave him a shoutout. We asked him to share his opinion on Huggins as an NFL prospect.
“He got the size. He got the speed. He got the technology,” McDowell commented on Huggins. “Technology, like, from head to toe that God built him with and the intelligence to do what he needs to do to get to the next level.”
nFebruary 24, 2024; Prairie View A&M head coach Bubba McDowell and Jackson State safety John Huggins interview with Kyle T. Mosley of HBCU Legends at the 2024 Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl inside Yulman Stadium; New Orleans, LA; Credit: Kyle T. Mosley, HBCU Legends
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HBCU football has young men with complex real-life issues. As Huggins insinuated, inviting them to rookie or training camp, or even drafting one, could quickly alleviate several real-life problems.
“It’s a great feeling, just to know your hard work’s paying off. I got a big family to feed, and we’ve been through a lot. So, it’s a really exciting time right now.”
Huggins grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida, but he’s ‘straight out of the Bronx.’ “I was born in New York, and I grew up in Florida. I moved to Florida when I was 13. I’m originally from the Bronx.” This explains a lot. Tough at his core.
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Most NFL Draft prognosticators project him as a Day-3 draft prospect. This wouldn’t be surprising during his Pro Day or private workouts. Teams like New Orleans, Kansas City, Seattle, Washington, Detroit, Philadelphia, Houston, or Miami could give him a shot with a late selection. A great example of teams to note is the production of Chiefs defensive back Joshua Williams out of Fayetteville State or even New England’s Isaiah Bolden of Jackson State.
He’ll be a contender in the National Football League, standing at 6-2 and blazing the HBCU Combine track at 4.45 speed. Take a look at his RAS, which is comparable to quite a few defenders invited to last week’s 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.
nJohn Huggins – HBCU Combine Results RAS
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McDowell gave his final endorsement on Huggins:
Will John Huggins get the call during the weekend of April 25th to 27th?
We shall see.
