December 28, 2023
Byron Perkins, First HBCU Football Player To Come Out As Gay, Declares for 2024 NFL Draft
“I will be entering the 2024 NFL Draft to take my spot amongst the elite athletes, blessed and ready to take our talents to the next level. Why not me?"
Last year, Hampton University football player Byron Perkins made history when, as a junior at the school, he became the first football player at an HBCU to come out as gay.
Now, he is entering the 2024 NFL Draft, according to a recent Instagram post.
The defensive back thanked his family, friends, and coaches for supporting him over the years and stated that their advice and mentorship have led him to become who he is today.
“Since I was a child, I have had aspirations of being elite,” he wrote. “Not just an elite player but an elite person. I pride myself on growth and development. All of my previous endeavors to fully maximize my potential as a leader, student, and athlete have led me to this decision:
“I will be entering the 2024 NFL Draft to take my spot amongst the elite athletes, blessed and ready to take our talents to the next level. Why not me? Thank you all again for your support on my journey. Let’s go be great!”
He will be the third openly gay football player to enter the NFL Draft.
If drafted, it will be exactly 10 years after the first openly gay person who entered his name in the draft, Michael Sam, was selected by the St. Louis Rams. He was the 249th player out of 256 selected in the 2014 NFL Draft.
After the Rams released him, Sam never played in a regular season NFL game, although the Dallas Cowboys picked up him a month later for their practice squad. He did play in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the European League of Football (ELF).
The only other openly gay player to enter the draft was Scott Frantz, who went undrafted in 2020.