As the nation's best draft-eligible football players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) prepare to showcase their talents this month, they will practice in jerseys donated by the Houston Texans.
The HBCU Pigskin Showdown is a postseason all-star contest that will showcase some of the best draft-eligible football players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). This year, 84 HBCU players will participate and have a chance to make a final impression on pro scouts. Organizers expressed their gratitude on Twitter, thanking the Texans for providing resources to a growing game operating on a limited budget. HBCU Pigskin Showdown wrote in its tweet:
"Growth starts as folks like the Texans realize how important our event is for the kids of HBCUs."
Texans OL Tytus Howard is a current product of HBCU football, a first-round pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. Howard played four seasons (2014-18) at Alabama State after redshirting the 2014 campaign. Named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2019, Howard has started all 34 games he has played in at right tackle, left guard and now left tackle.
The 2021 HBCU Pigskin showdown will be held at David J. Robinson Memorial Stadium on the campus of Marion Military Institute (MMI) in Marion, Alabama, on Sunday, December 19.
The Houston Texans roster in photos.

DL Mario Addison, #56 (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

QB, Kyle Allen, #3

RB, Darius Anderson, #30

DB, Grayland Arnold, #35

TE, Antony Auclair, #83

DL, Ross Blacklock, #90

DL, Thomas Booker, #96

OL, Justin Britt, #68

DB, Terrence Brooks, #8

TE, Pharaoh Brown, #85

RB, Rex Burkhead, #28

WR, Jalen Camp, #17

OL, A.J. Cann, #60

LB, Blake Cashman, #53

DL, Maliek Collins, #97

WR, Nico Collins, #12

WR, Chris Conley, #18

WR, Brandin Cooks, #13

TE, Darrell Daniels, #47 (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

WR, Davion Davis, #14

LB, Tae Davis, #19

OL, Austin Deculus, #76

WR, Phillip Dorsett, #4

QB, Jeff Driskel, #6

DL, Michael Dwumfour, #98

WR, Drew Estrada, #81

K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, #7

DB, Jacobi Francis, #38

RB, Royce Freeman, #26

OL, Carson Green, #62

DL, Jonathan Greenard, #52

WR, DaeSean Hamilton, #5

OL, Kenyon Green, #59

DL, Rasheem Green (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

LB, Kamu Grugier-Hill, #51

LB, Christian Harris, #48

DL, Demone Harris, #94

WR, Damon Hazelton, #86

OL, Charlie Heck, #67

LB, Neville Hewitt, #43

QB, Kevin Hogan, #16 (AP Photo/Stew Milne)

OL, Tytus Howard, #71

DL, Jerry Hughes, #55 (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

FB, Andy Janovich, #41

An image from the Aug. 21, 2021 Houston Texans preseason game 2 against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. The Texans won 20-14.

WR, Johnny Johnson III, #89

P, Cameron Johnston, #11

TE, Brevin Jordan, #9

DB, Desmond King II, #25

LB, Christian Kirksey, #58

DL, Roy Lopez, #91

RB, Marlon Mack, #2

DB, Tristin McCollum, #39

OL, Justin McCray, #64

WR, John Metchie III, #88

QB, Davis Mills, #10

WR, Chris Moore, #15

OL, Jimmy Morrissey, #79

DB, Eric Murray, #23

DB, Steven Nelson (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

DB, Steven Nelson, #21

DL, Adedayo Odeleye, #75

OL, Cedric Ogbuehi, #77

RB, Dare Ogunbowale, #33

DL, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, #45

DB, Jonathan Owens, #36

RB, Dameon Pierce, #31

LB, Kevin Pierre-Louis, #57

DB, Jalen Pitre, #42

FB, Paul Quessenberry, #45

OL, Scott Quessenberry, #54

TE, Teagan Quitoriano, #84

LB, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, #34 (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)

DL, Derek Rivers, #95

OL, Max Scharping, #74

DB, Kendall Sheffield (AP Photo/Kevin Sabitus)

DB, Tremon Smith, #24

OL, Jordan Steckler, #70

DB, M.J. Stewart, #29

DB, Derek Stingley Jr., #24

DB, Tavierre Thomas, #37

OL, Laremy Tunsil, #78

LB, Garret Wallow, #32

WR, Connor Wedington (AP)

LS, Jon Weeks #46

DB, Isaac Yiadom, #20