The first HBCU player drafted in 2025, a four-year left tackle starter out of Alabama A&M taken by the Ravens in round five.
Carson Vinson made history as the first Alabama A&M player drafted since 2011 and the program's first offensive player picked in more than three decades. The North Carolina native was the only HBCU athlete invited to both the NFL Combine and Senior Bowl before Baltimore selected him in the fifth round.
Path to the league
Vinson was a four-year starter at left tackle for Alabama A&M, standing 6-foot-6 and 314 pounds. He earned first-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference honors and an AP FCS All-American honorable mention, allowing just two sacks across 447 pass-block snaps in his final season. The Ravens drafted him with the 141st overall pick in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, making him the first HBCU player off the board that year.
Career highlights
Vinson's college resume is defined by durability and pass protection, anchoring the Bulldogs' offensive line for four straight seasons. His draft selection carried extra significance as the first Alabama A&M player picked since 2011 and the first offensive player from the program taken in over 30 years.
2025 season recap
As a Ravens rookie, Vinson worked to develop behind Baltimore's veteran offensive tackles while adjusting to NFL competition after making the jump from the FCS level.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Carson Vinson
- Baltimore Ravens: Ravens Draft Offensive Tackle Carson Vinson in Fifth Round (No. 141)
- ESPN: Carson Vinson
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Offensive Tackle
- Group
- offense
- College
- Alabama A&M
- Hometown
- Morrisville, NC, USA
- Age
- 24
- Status
- active
