Superstar athletes who paved the way for HBCU schools

According to the US Department of Education, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act in 1964 to serve African Americans primarily.

In the spirit of Black History Month, some of the greatest athletes in history attended HBCU schools before they became professional athletes in their chosen sports.

Here are the athletes that paved the way for HBCU schools!

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Three-time Super Bowl champion Shannon Sharpe is one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, becoming the first man to have over 10,000 receiving yards in his position, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

For the HBCU school Savannah State, Sharpe was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame and Division Two Football Hall of Fame, having 192 receptions and 40 touchdowns in his college career.

As reported by the Biography website, Walter Payton, better known as 'Sweetness,' was a star running back for the Chicago Bears, earning nine Pro Bowl selections, one NFL MVP, an NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and one Super Bowl ring.

Payton made HBCU school Jackson State cool before Deion Sanders took over as a coach there a few years ago, having a breakout performance of 46 individual points in a 72-0 win over Lane College. He finished his career with 63 touchdowns and 3600 receiving yards

NBA legend Ben Wallace has one of the most unique stories in professional sports, becoming the first player to go from undrafted to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, according to the NBA website.

The four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year went to HBCU school Virginia Union, averaging 13.4 points and ten rebounds per game, helping Virginia get to the Division Two Final Four with a record of 28-3.

Super Bowl champion and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Michael Strahan is one of the most dominant pass rushers in NFL history, holding the single-season NFL record for sacks in a season (22.5), as reported by ESPN.

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However, Strahan started with humble beginnings, following in his uncle's footsteps and going to Texas Southern University. According to the Black College Football HOF website, he was inducted into their Hall of Fame and named Black College Defensive Player of the Year.

Jerry Rice is arguably the greatest player to grace an NFL field, holding 12 NFL records, winning three Super Bowls, two Offensive Player of the Year, and six NFL receiving yards titles, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame website.

Even someone with Jerry Rice's stature can start his football journey at an HBCU, beginning life with Mississippi Valley State. He was inducted into the College and Black College Hall of Fame after multiple NCAA records and finishing ninth in Heisman Trophy rankings in 1984.

As reported by The Root website, Steve McNair became the first black quarterback to win the NFL MVP award, winning it in 2003 with Peyton Manning as a co-MVP.

McNair started his career in college with Alcorn State, becoming the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year in all four years at college. He threw for 15,010 yards and 122 touchdowns.

Boston Celtics legend Sam Jones is one of the NBA's greatest winners after being a part of the Celtics domination in the 1960s and winning ten NBA Championships with Bill Russell

Jones started his basketball career at North Carolina Central University, and according to ABC News, Jones scored 1,745 points and was a three-time All-CIAA league selection. His number 41 was later retired.

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