Black college NFL players finding new homes
Some of the most unheralded but outstanding black college players in the NFL have found new homes.
Former South Carolina State standout defensive back Cobie Durant, Emanuel Wilson who starred as a running back at Fort Valley State and Johnson C. Smith, former Fayetteville State defensive back Joshua Williams and former Howard and Cincinnati safety Bryan Cook have all found new digs after establishing themselves in the NFL.
Durant was picked in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the LA Rams and spent four years working his way into a starting cornerback position. As a rookie in 2022, he led the team with three interceptions and led the league with 151 interception return yards including one pick he returned for a touchdown. He added four picks in 2024 and another last season, again bringing that theft back for a TD.
Durant has been signed to a one-year $5.5 million contract by the Dallas Cowboys.
Wilson was signed as a free agent by Green Bay in 2023 after being waived by Denver. He had an outstanding preseason and made the Packers roster as a reserve running back to begin that season. He was used sparingly in 2023 but broke out in 2024 and became the primary back-up RB averaging 4.9 yards per carry and rushing for 502 yards and four touchdowns. In 2025, he totalled 496 rushing yards and had three TDs.
The hard-running, rugged 230-pounder was signed to a one-year deal by Seattle as a potential replacement after losing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to Kansas City.
Both Cook and Williams were selected by Kansas City in the second and fourth rounds respectively of the 2022 NFL Draft and both were on Chiefs’ Super Bowl winning teams in 2022 and 2023.
Cook started 47 of 62 games at safety in his four years with the Chiefs and had 238 tackles and four interceptions. He also had one postseason interception.
Cook has signed a three-year deal worth a reported $40.25 million with $14 million guaranteed to next man the safety position for the Cincinnati Bengals. He is now among the top-12 highest paid safeties in the NFL.
Williams once played regularly and had some starts at cornerback for the Chiefs during his first two seasons but has primarily been used on special teams in the last two seasons. He played in a minimum of 15 games in each of his four years with KC and posted 97 total tackles and one interception in his rookie season.
He has signed a two-year contract with the Tennessee Titans.
