Long ago, droves of HBCU football players were drafted by the NFL and many went on to All-Pro and Hall of Fame careers.

That’s no longer true as times have changed, but Hampton University’s Jadakis Bonds hopes to change the trend, even if the odds seem against him.

Bonds set numerous receiving records at HU under Coach Robert Prunty, and at least is on the NFL’s radar for the April 27-29 draft in Las Vegas.

“I think he’ll go somewhere from the fourth round to free agency, but he’ll definitely be in someone’s camp,” said Coach Prunty.

Named after the rapper Jadakiss, Bonds has entertained Pirates fans for four years with his speed, height (6-foot-4), sure hands and talent for getting open.

Bonds has re-written the Pirates’ record book for receiving. Earning All-conference honors in both the Big South as a junior and Colonial Athletic as a senior, he finished his career on the Bay with 180 catches for 2,731 yards and 34 touchdowns.

The Williamson, N.C., native had 49 grabs for 855 yards (nearly 18 yards a catch) and 10 TDs this past season. He was selected to the prestigious East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas where he caught two passes for 26 yards in front of NFL scouts from all teams. All of it played out on national television.

There were about 15 NFL scouts watching Bonds and standout defensive lineman KeShaun Moore (58 tackles, five sacks) for Hampton’s “Pro Day.”

Moore, from Suffolk, was selected for the HBCU Legacy Bowl in New Orleans. Impressing the NFL talent scouts, Bonds ran a 4.5 for 40 yards, did a 35-inch vertical leap and did 10-3 for the standing broad jump.

Moore ran an impressive 4.8 while weighing 285.

These days, the NFL draft is never a sure thing when it comes to HBCUs. Just four HBCU athletes were drafted in 2022 and none in 2021.

The modern-day draft is mostly about the Power Five, Foot- ball Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Hampton and the other Division I HBCUs compete in the one-step down Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

While HBCU numbers are down in the NFL, Hampton has had its share of athletes make it to the top.

That group includes defensive lineman Reggie Doss (Rams, 1978 to ’87), linebacker Justin Durant (2007-’17 with four teams), lineman Kenrick Ellis (2011-’15, Jets, Vikings), and tackle Michael Ola (2012-’19, 10 teams).

Three Pirates have made the NFL this century from Central Virginia Schools – Petersburg lineman Kendall Lanford (2008- 18, six teams), Petersburg receiver Jerome Mathis (2005-’11, three teams) and Hanover receiver Zuriel Smith (2003-’06, three teams).

The upcoming NFL draft will consist of seven rounds and 259 selections.