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| Isaiah Land and Xavier Smith embrace after working out for NFL scouts. |
FAMU football standouts Isaiah Land and Xavier Smith were both quickly snapped up by the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams, respectively, as undrafted free agents (UDFA) shortly after the three-day draft ended.
Isaiah Land, a linebacker, was a part of Coach Willie Simmons’ first signing class in 2018 and became an essential part of FAMU’s “Dark Cloud” defense, in 2021 as he recorded a nation-leading 19 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss as Land went on to win the 2021 Buck Buchanan Award as the best defensive player in FCS. In 2022, Land had 7.5 sacks and 11.5 sacks in eight games after facing injuries throughout the season.
Xavier Smith, a wide receiver, walked on to the FAMU football team and proved to be integral part of the Rattler offense amassing 280 receptions for 3,623 yards and 29 touchdowns in four years. Smith also had 647 career return yards, 155 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, and one passing touchdown.
Land was one of 10 individuals to be selected as UDFAs with the Cowboys, while the Rams added 16 UDFA yesterday.
Of the 259 players selected in the seven rounds of the 2023 draft only, one HBCU player Isaiah Bolden, a cornerback from Jackson State University, was selected as the 28th pick (254th overall) in the final round. Bolden transferred to Jackson State following a brief stint at Florida State.
Bolden becomes a second generation NFL selection. His father Juran Bolden was a drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round (127th overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft. His selection stunned most draft experts who had ranked his teammate LB Aubrey Miller Jr. and Land ahead of him. Land had been projected by ESPN as the top-ranked HBCU prospect this year.
The draft drew the ire of a befuddled Coach Simmons.