What Alabama A&M's Carson Vinson said after being drafted by Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens took an HBCU product on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft. Alabama A&M offensive tackle Carson Vinson was the No. 141 overall pick, three spots ahead of former Jackson State quarterback Shedeur Sanders. 

Vinson is the first HBCU prospect drafted since JSU cornerback Isaiah Bolden was taken by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2023 draft. A rare feat as he also becomes the first draft pick out of Alabama A&M since 2011 and is the first offensive player drafted from the program in more than 30 years.

Vinson arrived in Baltimore and shared his thoughts about part of this year's draft class. 

"Being from an HBCU, it is so special because over this entire process, when HBCU guys get past our space, we have our rivalries, and we have the teams where we go at each other. But after, when we get past it, we're all one big family," Vinson said Saturday after being drafted via NFL.com. 

"We're all one big thing. So, I've gotten support from every single HBCU [team], especially after I got the Senior Bowl invite. After games, they'll say, 'Hey, you're going to do great things,' so it's all one big family. And with the transfer portal, and the way things are, a lot of guys feel like they have to transfer up to go to where they want to go, but it's really important to me that I stayed at Alabama A&M for all four years, and it was the best four years of my life. And you can go anywhere you want to from the institution that you're at. So, it was really important for me."

The only HBCU player to participate at the NFL Scouting Combine and get a Senior Bowl invitation, Vinson was ready for the next level. 

"That Senior Bowl was able to put me on a stage where I could really prove myself against the best-of-the-best athletes, especially when you come from a smaller school," Vinson said of his Senior Bowl experience. 

"That's one thing that a lot of people have questions about is if they can translate to a higher level. So, the Senior Bowl was a blessing to get the invite and then to prepare myself to play well at – it was just the icing on the cake."

The 6-foot-6, 315-pound North Carolina native was a four-year starter at left tackle for the Bulldogs. He closed his career by earning All-SWAC first-team honors and an AP FCS All-American honorable mention. In 12 games and 447 pass block snaps this past season, Vinson allowed two sacks, according to PFF. He was a four-season starter and in each year his sacks allowed dropped. 

"I bring tenacity, and I'm an athlete," Vinson said. "Those two things I really hang my hat on, and a lot of things that the Ravens organization can help me with, other things that I need to work on, is my technique. [Offensive line] coach [George] Warhop, he's a great coach. So, there's a lot of things like that where I feel like I'm in the perfect position to be the best player that I can be."