NFL COMBINE: The Top FCS Standouts

The FCS had some top showings in the NFL Draft Combine that wrapped up Monday. We decided to take a look at the prospects we think bettered their cause the most.

Some athletes didn't participate in drills because of injury, while others have chosen to display their skills at their on-campus Pro Days with their college teammates in an environment they train in daily. But some took a shot at it and flourished in Indianapolis. Below are prospects who came into the combine projected as a free agent pickup, but may have left with a day three pick projection based on how they performed.

MORE: All FCS to the NFL Coverage

Now we're on to the Pro Days, which begin Thursday. The full schedule is in the link below:

SCHEDULE: All FCS Pro Days[divider]

IMPROVED THEIR DRAFT STOCK

1. IOSUA OPETA, OG, WEBER STATE: Nobody helped his case more than Opeta. He proved his strength, as his 39 reps of 225 pounds is the second-most ever for an offensive lineman dating back to when records were kept beginning in 1987. So he had the entire combine's top bench press mark (by five reps, by the way) but then also went on the next day to show his athleticism, posting a top-five 40-yard dash time among his O-line peers (5.02 seconds) and also a top-five mark in the vertical jump and a top 10 mark in the broad jump. He's strong, he's athletic and nobody will ever question his work ethic if you know anything about Opeta.

OPETA TOLD HERO SPORTS AFTERWARDS …:  "I wish I would’ve tested better at the end (shuttle and 3-cone drills) but my legs were shot by then. This process has been an experience of a lifetime. The best part of this process is just taking it all in and enjoying it because you only go through something like this once in your life."[divider]

RELATED: Measurements for all FCS Prospects​

2. EASTON STICK, QB, NORTH DAKOTA STATE: Stick's had a busy past couple of days. When it comes to the on-field measurables, Stick tore it up. He had top five marks for all signal callers in the 40-yard dash (4.62 seconds), the vertical jump, the broad jump, the 20-yard short shuttle and the 3-cone drill. In fact, his shuttle and 3-cone were tops among quarterbacks all time — his 4.05-second mark on the shuttle is right outside the top 10 all time in 12th, and his 6.65-second time in the 3-cone? How about No. 2 all-time for QBs, just ahead of some guy named Tim Tebow.

Now, how much does this help Stick? It certainly proves he is athletic, which anybody who follows the FCS level already knows. It may not make him a No. 1 draft pick, but it will help him open more doors — and that's all you can ask. He celebrated his combine performance by flying to Washington, D.C. with his teammates Monday and presenting the President of the United States with an NDSU jersey. All in a week's work, right?[divider]

TOP PERFORMERS: FCS All-Time At NFL Combine

3. JOSHUA MILES, OL, MORGAN STATE: Miles came in and instantly wowed with his measurements of hand size and wingspan, etc. He also showed his athleticism with an O-line best 36 inches in the vertical jump, which by the way is tied for the No. 2 O-line mark all-time in the NFL Combine, behind only Air Force's Ben Miller in 2002 (37.5). Match the meat market stuff up with the upbeat, positive personality of Miles, and scouts and GMs have to had come away with a positive impression.[divider]

TOP FCS DRAFT PICKS: Listed By Year

4. ALEX WESLEY, WR, NORTHERN COLORADO: This super speedy wide receiver ran a 4.45 time in the 40-yard dash, which is solid for a receiver, and he posted Top 10 marks in the vertical jump and broad jump. Keep an eye on him at his Pro Day.[divider]

THE FCS RESULTS

NOTE: 40, 20-yard shuttle and 3-cone are in seconds, vertical and broad jumps are in inches and bench is in reps of 225 pounds

NOTE: $ means a top five mark for his position, # means a top 10 mark.