A staff report

NEW ORLEANS — Team Robinson and Team Gaither are set to face off the fifth annual HBCU Legacy Bowl at 4 p.m. Saturday at Yulman Stadium on the campus of Tulane in New Orleans.

The rosters feature several of the top stars from the SWAC, MEAC, SIAC and CIAA.

There are also notable players from North Carolina A&T, Hampton and Tennessee State, who played in PWI conferences.

The game will be televised by the NFL Network.

NFL Network analyst Steve Wyche, the Howard graduate who was recently announced as an inductee into the upcoming class of the Black College Football Hall of Fame, will provide commentary for the game.

Wyche, Sherree Burress, Bucky Brooks and Charles Davis have been on hand all week to watch the practices.

“There are a lot of all conference players on both sides, but let’s start out with Morgan State linebacker Erick Hunter, a dominant player in practice,” Wyche said on NFL Network. “He’s one of the best players at this level in college football.”

Brooks, a former scout and player, has spoken with several NFL scouts who attended the practices about Hunter, who was listed at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds by Morgan State.

“Everybody’s raving about the MEAC monster,” Brooks said. “A guy who can get it done in a variety of different ways. When you see him play inside and outside, the versatility really stood out. But in talking to scouts, they talk about the speed, the range and the sideline-to-sideline ability. The overall physicality gives him a chance to play at the next level.”

Hunter also had a strong showing at the All-American Bowl.

Jackson State defensive end Quincy Ivory also has had a strong week of practice.

“Quincy Ivory, the SWAC defensive player of the year, off the edge from Jackson State,” Wyche said. “He was a true outside linebacker. He dropped in coverage, but here, he’s going to be a 4-3 defensive end. A lot of just setting the edge and getting after the quarterback.”

Ivory has also impressed scouts.

 “We’ve seen it,” Brooks said. “We saw it in the Super Bowl. Positionless ball is everything. (Players who) can stand up and put the hand in the dirt have an opportunity to make plays. But he is a guy who is very impactful. Can rush the passer. Can stand up and make plays in coverage. This week, being able to show that he can rush the passer is only going to help his stock.”

Virginia Union running back Curtis Allen, the first player from an HBCU to win the Harlon Hill Trophy (The Heisman for Division II) has suffered a hamstring injury and will not play in the game.

Here’s Wyche’s list of players who stood out during the practices:

 (Team Robinson SWAC/SIAC – Defensive players to watch)

–DL Bryce Cage, Grambling,

 –DL Quincy Ivory, Jackson State

–DL Warren Robinson, Grambling,

–LB Reid Pulliam, Jackson State

–B Stemarion Edwards, Alcorn St.

–DB Carlos Dunovant, Morehouse

–DB Markel Linzer, Grambling

(Team Robinson – Offensive player to watch)

–RB Jerrodd Sims, Fla. Memorial

–RB Reggie Davis, Alcorn St.

–TE Travunta Abner, Alabama A&M

–OL Quentin Ross, Grambling

–OL Cameron Smith, Alabama State

–OL D’Andre Townes-Blue, Jackson State

(Team Gaither MEAC/CIAA – defensive player to watch)

–LB Erick Hunter, Morgan State

–LB Max U’Ren, NC Central

–S Samuel Graham, Bowie State

–DL James Stewart Tennessee State

–DL Noah Miles, Howard

–DL Michael Lunz, SC State

(Team Gaither MEAC/CIAA Offensive player to watch)

–NC Central QB Walker Harris

— WR Deandre Proctor, Johnson C. Smith

— WR Malik Hunter, Virginia State

–OT Bruno Onwuazor, Virginia State

— RB Christian Mosley, N.C. Central