The Russell Athletic HBCU Bowl Committee works with Sports Information Directors, Athletic Directors, and Coaches from schools within the 4 participating conferences to select the top 100 draft-eligible seniors (including 10 alternate players).  Once that list is set, the football scouting community will evaluate the quality of players available during a one day Official HBCU Bowl Combine. Teams from the NFL, CFL and UFL  are confirmed to attend the week's practices and Saturday's game.

This year’s NFL Draft produced (2) two HBCU draft picks and (16)sixteen HBCU Football Student Athletes signed free-agent agreements. Each of these eighteen (18) players were participants in the 2009 Russell Athletic HBCU Bowl.