ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his updated position rankings for the 2022 NFL Draft. Several former FCS players are featured in his top 10.
The subdivision looks to have a big increase in its number of draft picks this year. In both 2020 and 2021, just six FCS players were drafted. The FCS had double-digit draft picks every year from 1993 to 2019. There are 21 former FCS players invited to this week’s NFL Combine, a higher number than the previous five years.
Below are the top FCS prospects in the 2022 draft, according to Kiper’s positional rankings:
Quarterbacks
7. Bailey Zappe, Houston Baptist/Western Kentucky
10c. Cole Kelley, SLU
10d. EJ Perry, Brown
Running backs
10b. Pierre Strong Jr., South Dakota State
Fullbacks/H-backs
3. Tanner Conner, Idaho State
7. Clint Ratkovich, Western Illinois/Northern Illinois
Wide receivers
10e. Christian Watson, North Dakota State
Tight ends
10e. Dalton Kincaid, San Diego/Utah
Offensive tackles
4. Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
10a. Matt Waletzko, North Dakota
Offensive guards
1. Zion Johnson, Davidson/Boston College
4. Cole Strange, Chattanooga
Defensive tackles
10a. Eric Johnson, Missouri State
10c. Noah Elliss, Idaho
10d. John Ridgeway, Illinois State/Arkansas
Inside linebackers
6. Troy Andersen, Montana State
Cornerbacks
10e. Zyon McCollum, Sam Houston
Kickers and punters
10b. Andrew Mevis (K), Fordham/Iowa State
10e. Daniel Whelan (P), UC Davis
Returners
4. Jequez Ezzard, Sam Houston
NEXT: UNI’s Penning Goes From 2 D1 Offers To A Potential 1st Rounder
