It is customary for the Dallas Cowboys to continue searching for talent after the end of the NFL Draft. Dallas has become known for finding gems among undrafted free agents after the final selections.
Last year, for example, running back Malik Davis and tight end Peyton Hendershot were both signed post-draft.
On Friday night, Jerry Jones told media members that he expected to “come out of here with 30 players.” He was counting both the players they would draft and the ones they intended to sign.
The Cowboys’ front office is still working on reaching that 30-player benchmark. But so far, one of the signees that stands out is Isaiah Land, a linebacker from Florida A&M.
https://twitter.com/FAMU_FB/status/1631283648681869312?s=20
MEET ISAIAH LAND
Leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft, Isaiah Land topped multiple lists as the best HBCU prospect. He was mentioned by ESPN, the Athletic, NFL.com and Sports Illustrated.
In February, Land was the 33rd pick of the USFL Draft.
Instead of joining the Pittsburgh Maulers, however, he decided to continue pursuing a career in the NFL.
Things played out quite differently for Land in the NFL draft. Contrary to expectations, his name was never called during the seven rounds of player selection.
You can’t tell me that there aren’t multiple players from HBCUs that should not have been drafted by now. I am not saying that emotionally. I am saying that because there are deserving players – Isaiah Land, Mark Evans and others – that have earned the right to be drafted
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) April 29, 2023
His collegiate accomplishments garnered media attention but didn’t seem to place him quite high enough on any team’s draft board.
Still, it’s hard to look at his list of achievements and not be a little excited (or at least curious) about what he could do for the Dallas Cowboys.
The most notable of those achievements include:
- 19 sacks, 43 tackles, and 25.5 tackles for loss in 2021
- Buck Buchanan Award winner (2021)
- First Team AP FCS All-American (2021)
- SWAC Defensive Player of the Year (2021)
- First Team All SWAC (2021, 2022)
One can’t help but wonder what might have been added to the list above if not for injuries that limited Land to only eight games in 2022.
As a Cowboy, Land will be reunited with his former teammate, Markquese Bell, who was signed last year by the Dallas Cowboys.
HBCU PROSPECTS WENT MOSTLY UNDRAFTED
In this year’s NFL Draft, only one HBCU prospect was selected. Isaiah Bolden, a cornerback from Jackson State University, was selected by the New England Patriots with the 28th pick of the seventh round.
That number is a dip from last year. In 2022, four HBCU prospects were selected in the draft.
Legendary Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders said via Twitter that he is “ashamed of the 31 other [NFL] teams that couldn’t find draft value in ALL of the talented HBCU players.”
Sanders added, “We had [three] more draft worthy players at JSU.”
Deion Sanders was the head coach of the Jackson State University football team from 2020 to 2022.
Toward the end of the 2022 season, it was announced that he would be leaving Jackson State to continue his coaching career at the University of Colorado.
His son, Shedeur, also left Jackson State to become the quarterback at the University of Colorado.
While he didn’t specifically name any players, it is assumed that Sanders was referring to three players from Jackson State University that agreed to terms with NFL teams almost immediately after the draft.
Those players were linebacker Aubrey Miller Jr. (Miami Dolphins), defensive back De’Jahn Warren (Chicago Bears), and wide receiver Dallas Daniels (Denver Broncos).
ISAIAH’S OPPORTUNITY
Recently, Isaiah Land told NFL Network that attending an HBCU was important for his character development.
He acknowledged the “trials and tribulations” he faced by attending a university that didn’t have many of the amenities and other benefits that bigger schools have.
https://twitter.com/nflnetwork/status/1646256883936935936?s=20
Land retweeted a post from one of his coaches who congratulated him on his signing but also stated “It’s not the outcome you wanted, but it’s an opportunity.”
If Land is disappointed in the low draft numbers of HBCU players, he now has an opportunity to not only prove his value as a professional athlete but to possibly improve the perception of future HBCU prospects.
I think Land landed him a nice spot with the Dallas Cowboys…good pick up!
Means nothing till Football season starts and we see how they play!
Danny Aptekar How they play? The NFL is gonna pick who wins regardless, like they been doing the past 20 plus years!
Danny Aptekar lol you are so right. I been calling the NFL the WWE for Yeats. It’s a joke the way things are script
Watch Another Sport,.’ Obviously u Don’t KNOW a DAAMN THING…
Love this pick. One of the few Cowboys picks I am excited about
Frank Perricelli undrafted… not picked signed
Robert Odom No kidding
Robert Odom I know but I am fully aware he was an UDFA signing. Thanks
This guy is awseome
This guy it’s exciting let’s gooo alright keep on making moves Dallas Cowboys and getting better each and everyday ok
Where is our kicker coming from. Too many games are decided by that to not worry about it
Don’t fool yourself we picked up some pieces those guys can play football do not sleep on what we picked up
Nice pick up but he wasn’t the top HBCU prospect. The top prospect actually got drafted in the 5th round from out of Jackson St
Andrew Arnold cat had 20 sacks last yr missed a few games cause some bs eligibility at famu but he us a baller. Practice squad
He was a top prospect. Almost any mention of the top HBCU prospects mentioned him. Some sources, not all, did mention Land as THE #1 prospect.
Isaiah Bolden is an excellent player as well, and he was also #1 on some lists.
Darryl Wright 20 sacks in 2021,8 in 2022
Andrew Arnold you realize there can be more than one at different positions right?
A lot of really good players don’t get drafted. IMO, teams are going to draft players they think will help them win games, no matter the school, so the implications don’t hold water.
@VAM that’s just it. “In your opinion “ which undoubtedly was formed without any personal knowledge of the teams selection process. Of course implications hold water. You have no idea what goes into drafting a player. Of course teams want people that will help them win. That doesn’t necessarily mean they got the best players to help them win. Your logic is woefully flawed.
It appears you didn’t get the meaning behind my use of the word “implications”.
Congratulations
It doesn’t matter all sports are fixed. The NBA and NFL are terrible the refs fix the games.
Here we go… Let me guess this guy is a dawg and he will make an impact on the team and maybe even start and become an all pro and eventually be a hall of famer. I am so sick of people/fans pumping these UDFA and especially HBCU free agents up to be more than they are. MAYBE one or two will make the roster and statistically speaking the HBCU free agents won’t be one of them. I hope they all develop and become an All Pro selection some day but the fact of the matter is the vast majority will never see a regular season snap. There is a reason they weren’t drafted and even 6th and 7th round picks have a hard time making rosters and seeing regular season snaps. Last year Bell was the one who everyone said was a dawg and should be starting but in truth he turned out to be a puppy and Izzy proved he was the dawg. Maybe Bell and this guy grow into that dawg role but it won’t be this year for either, more than likely they never will, and if they do it won’t be for this team.
Myles Bailey