Alabama A&M’s Vinson selected by Ravens in fifth round of NFL Draft

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Alabama A&M University senior offensive lineman Carson Vinson was selected Saturday by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2025 National Football League (NFL) Draft.

The Ravens selected Vinson with the 141^st pick overall.

“The biggest thing with me is I bring tenacity and I’m an athlete.” @vinsoncarson excited to learn from Coach Warhop pic.twitter.com/O8k2UgGglx

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 26, 2025

The 6-foot-7, 314-pound offensive lineman, became the 20^thAAMU player selected in the NFL Draft and the first since 2011 when Frank Kearse was chosen by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round.

In addition, Vinson became the first Bulldog offensive lineman taken since Joe Patton was selected in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins.

Vinson, who spent all four years at AAMU, was the second player off the board from a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in this year’s draft.

Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter began his collegiate career at Jackson State before transferring to Colorado and was taken second overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Shedeur Sanders, a quarterback at JSU for two years before playing his final two years at Colorado, was selected in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns.

Vinson was the only HBCU player invited to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis and to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

As a senior, Vinson racked up multiple postseason honors, including becoming the first HBCU player invited to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl, AFCA FCS All-America Second Team and Phil Steele 2024 SWAC Offensive Lineman of the Year, started in all 48 games for the Bulldogs.

The Morrisville, N.C. native has helped the Bulldog offense rank tops in the SWAC in total offense (444.5 yards per game) and passing offense (260.5 yards per game). In addition, the Bulldogs were third in the conference in rushing offense at 184.0 yards per game.

Vinson had an 89% overall offensive line grade with 61 total knockdowns and allowed just one sack, which was against SEC opponent Auburn in the season opener.