NFL showcase is ‘straight business’ for JCSU’s Benari Black

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Former Johnson C. Smith linebacker Benari Black, who earned CIAA defensive player of the year and Division II All-America accolades in 2024, is one of two Golden Bulls selected for the HBCU Legacy Bowl, an NFL-sponsored showcase. Black led the CIAA in tackles last year with 114.

Benari Black learned early it’s better to tackle people than get tackled.

As a junior varsity player at North Mecklenburg High, he saw himself as a running back. A few practices convinced him defense was preferable.

“It’s crazy,” he said. “Growing up, I played running back, and then ninth grade year I want to play running back as well. But now I’m seeing that running backs get hurt too much, so I'd rather be the one doing the hitting, causing the damage, instead of being the one hurt 24/7 and getting hit.”

It was a good decision.

Black switched to linebacker and ultimately earned Division II All-America and 2024 CIAA defensive player of the year at Johnson C. Smith. In his final campaign as a Golden Bulls, he led the conference in tackles with 114, including 14.5 for loss. NFL scouts took note as well, which earned Black an invitation to the Feb. 22 HBCU Legacy Bowl in New Orleans. The showcase is a chance to convince teams he’s worth a contract offer – as a draft pick or free agent.

“Mentally, I’m in a great head space right now, and I’m looking at it as straight business,” Black said. “This my opportunity to get to the next level and play in front of all 32 scouts, so this is a business trip, it’s what I’ve been working for my whole life. I’m thinking that nothing more just business going down there, going out and just dominating at the high level.”

Black’s high school resume was thin. He led West Charlotte High in tackles as a senior, which earned scholarship offers from several Division II schools. He signed with UNC Pembroke, then transferred to JCSU in 2022 when Maurice Flowers was hired as coach.

“A lot of people were telling me I should go (junior college) because of the season I had at West Charlotte,” he said. A lot of people tell me to do juco, but I had these D2 offers. I was like, ‘I’m still going to take the D2 route and just see where it takes me. Then I went to Pembroke, Johnson C. Smith, and I just felt like that was a good fit for me.”

Black was the first Golden Bull invited to the Legacy Bowl, but he wasn’t the last. Middle linebacker Jack Smith also earned a spot, a fitting finale for the linchpins to the CIAA’s top-ranked defense the last two seasons. The 2024 team matched the school record with eight wins and a national ranking for the first time.

“We definitely went through trials and tribulations, being at Smith and turning it around from ground zero and build it up,” Black said. “That was the plan coming through Smith and even though the season didn’t end how we wanted it to end, we still get one opportunity to just put it out there on the floor one last time together.”

Flowers is convinced Black has the temperament and physicality to succeed at the professional level. At weakside linebacker, he uses mobility and instinct to make plays.

“Bernari Black, he’s just that guy that’s out there,” Flowers said. “He’s 6-2, 225 pounds, sideline to sideline. Predator is what I call him. He's going to hunt you down and run you down and be physical when he gets there.”

Said Black: “I really like my lateral movement. I can get to plays sideline-to-sideline. The CIAA was a real big run-heavy [conference], so I really want to go out there and just show that I’m able to pass cover as well.”

Although most draft-related attention is on players from the biggest football brands, Black’s goal is to break into the conversation among personnel evaluators. Although the CIAA is Division II, it has a long history of producing NFL players, including recent standouts Emanuel Wilson, a North Mecklenburg and JCSU alum (Green Bay) and Joshua Williams (Kansas City).  

“We’re all human,” Black said. “We all ball play. I don't look at it really as this level, that level, because if you can play, you can play. The scouts are going to find you regardless. They found people in D3, D2, so I really get into the ‘Oh, he’s at a bigger school, bigger level. I know the work that I’ve been putting in and the caliber player that I am, so I’m not really worried about different levels. I look at it as another game to go out there and just showcase my talents.”

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