Iowa, UCLA, HBCU Players Secure NFL 53-Man Rosters for 2025

The 2025 NFL season will feature a strong presence of college football alumni from various programs, including major state universities, UCLA, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Iowa leads state universities with 29 former players on NFL rosters, including stars like George Kittle and T.J. Hockenson, while Iowa State and Northern Iowa also contribute notable players. UCLA has 24 players on Week 1 NFL rosters, with prominent contributors across several teams such as the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, and Las Vegas Raiders. HBCU players continue to make significant impacts, with stars like Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns and Travis Hunter of the Jacksonville Jaguars securing roster spots and contributing to their teams; defense remains a strong suit for many HBCU alumni across the league. Despite only one HBCU player being selected in the 2025 NFL draft, several undrafted HBCU alumni have earned places on 53-man rosters following impressive preseason performances. This widespread representation underscores the continued importance of these programs as pipelines for NFL talent across multiple positions and teams.