Now former Alabama State offensive tackle Tytus Howard is on the verge of doing what no HBCU football player has done in more than 10 years.

Become a first round draft pick in the National Football League Draft.

That is a strong possibility for the Monroeville, Ala. native, who participated in the NFL Scouting Combine in March as well as the Senior Bowl. Just six years ago, Howard was the starting quarterback on his high school football team, weighing in at 6’3″, 225 pounds. Now Howard is 6’5″ 322 pounds and his draft stock is steadily rising. One mock draft has hime going No. 12 to the Packers.

If selected in the first round, Howard would become the first HBCU player drafted in the first round since Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was drafted by the Arizone Cardinals in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Howard sat down with BOXTOROW host Donal Ware and talked about his journey through Alabama State to this point and how he ended up being an offensive lineman, why it’s okay to go to HBCUs and play ball, about allowing for his teammates and others to shine at his pro day, and about the bet he made with Alabama State head football coach Donald Hill-Eley.