HBCU Football Draft Picks: Louisiana - Southern University
Southern University
Between 1951 and 2022, 78 football players were taken in professional drafts from Southern University. Southern was founded in 1880, under the original name of Southern University for Colored Students. It is currently located in Baton Rouge Louisiana.
The 1950s
Four football players from Southern were drafted byb professional teams during the 1950s.
Obie Posey was the first Southern football player drafted by a professional team. Posey was taken by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1951 NFL Draft.
Harold Jackson was picked by the New York Giants in the 1955 NFL Draft.
Two Southern players were taken during the 1959 NFL Draft. Dick Williams was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles and George McGee was selected by the Detroit Lions.
The 1960s
Twenty-three football players were drafted from Southern during the 1960s. Four of those picks were in the AFL Drafts and 19 of the picks were in the NFL Drafts.
The 1970s
Twenty-nine football players were drafted from Southern during the 1970s. All of those picks were in NFL Drafts.
The 1980s
Ten football players were drafted from Southern during the 1980s. All of those picks were in NFL Drafts.
The 1990s
Ten football players were drafted from Southern during the 1990s. All of those picks were in the NFL Drafts.
The 2000s and 2020s
Three Southern football players were drafted by professional teams between 2000 and 2022.
Gillis Wilson was taken by the Carolina Panthers in the 2000 NFL Draft.
Lenny Williams went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL’s 2004 Draft.
The most recent player to be drafted from Southern was Ja’Tyre Carter. He was selected in the NFL’s 2022 Draft by the Chicago Bears.
