Welcome to Year 9 of the FCS Jersey Countdown.
HERO Sports counts down the number of days until Week 0 by naming the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-0. Due to rosters being updated at different times for teams across the country and to keep things consistent, jersey numbers are based on last season’s rosters.
Below is the running list of players honored.
FCS Jersey Countdown
Jersey numbers are based on 2025 rosters
RELATED: FCS Preseason Preview Central
99: South Dakota State DE Dawson Ripperda
-2026 Senior
-6’4” 255 lbs
-2023 transfer from Northern Illinois
-2024: 23 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks
-2025: 43 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 6 QB hurries
-2025 PFF No. 43 FCS edge
98: North Dakota DT Montre Samuels-Parker
-2026 Senior
-5’11” 258 lbs
-2024 transfer from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
-2025: 29 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 sack, 4 QB hurries
-2025: Led UND’s interior DL (No. 5 FCS rushing defense) with 625+ snaps
97: Rhode Island DL Case Mankins
-2026 Senior
-6’3” 245 lbs
-2023: Appeared in 10 games as a true freshman
-2024: 24 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1.5 sacks
-2025: 55 tackles, 5 TFLs, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 QB hurries, 5 pass breakups
-2025 PFF No. 32 FCS DT
-2025 All-CAA 3rd Team
96: Yale DT Jaylin Tate
-2026 Senior
-6’4″ 290 lbs
-2025: 510+ snaps, 32 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks
-2025 All-Ivy League Honorable Mention
95: Furman DE Joshua Stoneking
-2026 Junior
-6’3″ 258 lbs
-2025: 79 tackles, 23 TFLs, 14.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 9 QB hurries
-PFF No. 6 FCS edge
-All-SoCon 1st Team
-6x 1st Team All-American
-No. 2 in Buck Buchanan Award voting
-FCS ADA National Defensive Player of the Year
94: Southern Illinois DT Amir Dwight
-2026 Junior
-6’1” 272 lbs
-2024: Played 270+ snaps as a redshirt freshman (13 tackles)
-2025: 355+ snaps, 20 tackles, 4 TFLs, 3 sacks, 4 QB hurries
-2025 PFF No. 28 FCS DT
93: Cal Poly DT Manaalii Danielson
-2026 Sophomore
-6’2” 255 lbs
-2025: 380+ snaps as a true freshman, 16 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 7 QB hurries, 2 pass breakups
-2025 PFF No. 24 FCS DT
92: Illinois State DL Travis Jones
-2026 Junior
-6’3″ 285 lbs
-2025: 405+ snaps, 21 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 sacks, 5 QB hurries
-Key part in ISU’s Top 25 rush defense
91: The Citadel DL Chris Benton
-2026 Senior
-6’0″ 250 lbs
-35 career games played
-2023 SoCon All-Freshman Team
-2025: 420+ snaps, 26 tackles, 5 TFLs, 5 sacks, 5 QB hurries
-2025 All-SoCon 2nd Team
90: UC Davis DT Trent Carrade
-2026 Senior
-6’3″ 280 lbs
-2025: 670+ snaps, 26 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 4 sacks, 2 QB hurries, 2 pass breakups
89: Montana State TE Rocky Lencioni
-2026 Sophomore
-6’3” 240 lbs
-2025: 19 catches, 206 yards, 6 TDs
-2025 PFF No. 2 FCS TE
-2025 Phil Steele Freshman All-American
88: South Dakota State TE Greyton Gannon
-2026 Senior
-6’4” 235 lbs
-2025: 33 catches, 372 yards, 3 TDs
-2025 All-MVFC 1st Team
-2025 AP All-American Honorable Mention
87: William & Mary TE Sean McElwain
-2026 Senior
-6’5″ 230 lbs
-2x All-CAA
-2023: 22 catches, 312 yards
-2024: 20 catches, 361 yards, 5 TDs
-2024 All-CAA Honorable Mention
-2025: 7 games before injury, 12 catches, 186 yards, 3 TDs
-2025 All-CAA 3rd Team
86: Cornell TE Ryder Kurtz
-2026 Senior
-6’5″ 233 lbs
-2x All-Ivy League
-2x All-American
-2024: 36 catches, 441 yards, 4 TDs
-2024 All-Ivy League Honorable Mention
-2024 AP All-American Honorable Mention
-2025: 44 catches, 523 yards, 4 TDs
-2025 PFF No. 11 FCS TE
-2025 All-Ivy League 2nd Team
-2025 3-time All-American selection
85: Columbia WR Titus Evans
-2026 Senior
-6’2” 200 lbs
-2025: 46 catches, 584 yards, 6 TDs
-2025 PFF No. 42 FCS WR
84: Bucknell WR Sam Milligan
-2026 Senior
-6’3” 220 lbs
-2024: 19 catches, 281 yards, 5 TDs
-2025: 56 catches, 975 yards, 10 TDs
-2025 PFF No. 5 FCS WR
-2025 All-Patriot League 2nd Team
83: Villanova WR Braden Reed
-2026 Sophomore
-5’9″ 180 lbs
-2025: 34 catches, 518 yards, 3 TDs; 20 punt returns, 298 yards, 14.9 avg
-2025 All-CAA 3rd Team (PR)
-2025 Freshman All-American (PR)
82: South Dakota State TE Coleman Kuntz
-2026 Senior
-6’3” 240 lbs
-2025 transfer from Sac State
-2025: Limited to 6 games due to injury, 7 catches, 82 yards, 1 TD
-2024: 25 catches, 191 yards, 2 TDs
-2023: 20 catches, 236 yards, 4 rushing TDs
81: Austin Peay WR Jaden Robinson
-Wearing No. 8 in 2026
-2026 Junior
-6’1″ 191 lbs
-2025 transfer from Kennesaw State
-2025: 43 catches, 579 yards, 6 TDs
80: West Florida TE Jake Robinette
-2026 Senior
-6’6″ 245 lbs
-2025: 13 catches, 199 yards, 4 TDs
-2025 All-Gulf South Conference 1st Team
-2025 D2CCA All-Region 1st Team
79: Lehigh OL Aidan Palmer
-2026 Senior
-6’4” 300 lbs
-2x All-Conference
-2022: 10 starts at left tackle
-2023: 2 starts before injury
-2024: 11 starts at left tackle
-2024 All-Patriot League 2nd Team
-2025: 13 starts at left guard for No. 4 FCS rushing attack, 1 sack and 2 hits allowed (per PFF)
-2025 All-Patriot League 1st Team
-2025 AP All-American Honorable Mention
78: Youngstown State OL Desmeal Leigh
-2026 Senior
-6’7″ 325 lbs
-Starting left tackle since his redshirt freshman season in 2023
-2x All-Conference
-Nearly 2,400 career snaps
-2024 All-MVFC Honorable Mention
-2025: Allowed 0 sacks, 0 hits, and 6 hurries (per PFF)
-2025 All-MVFC 2nd Team
-2025 FCS Football Central 3rd Team All-American
77: Harvard OL Spencer Doan
-2026 Senior
-6’8″ 300 lbs
-2-year starter at left tackle, 1,270+ snaps
-2025: Allowed 0 sacks, 0 hits, and 4 hurries (per PFF)
-2025 All-Ivy League 1st Team
76: Youngstown State OL Nick Nielsen
-2026 Junior
-6’6″ 270 lbs
-2025: 540+ snaps, started 2nd half of season at right tackle
-2025: Allowed 0 sacks, 0 hits, and 10 hurries (per PFF)
-2025 PFF No. 8 FCS OT
75: Penn OL Luke Sacchetti
-2026 Senior
-6’3″ 315 lbs
-2-year starter at guard
-2025: Allowed 0 sacks, 0 hits, and 2 hurries (per PFF)
-2025 PFF No. 7 FCS OG
74: Rhode Island OL Tre Alexander
-2026 Senior
-6’2″ 321 lbs
-2x All-CAA
-2-year starter at center, 1,820+ snaps
-2024 All-CAA 3rd Team
-2025 All-CAA 2nd Team
-2025: Allowed 0 sacks, 2 hits, and 4 hurries (per PFF)
73: Alabama State OL Elijah Baker
-2026 Senior
-6’4” 323 lbs
-2025: 645+ snaps at right tackle; Allowed 2 sacks, 0 hits, and 8 hurries (per PFF)
-2025 All-SWAC 1st Team
-2025 BOXTOROW HBCU All-American
72: Austin Peay OL Joshua Sales Jr.
-2026 Senior
-6’5″ 312 lbs
-2025 transfer from Purdue
-2025: Nearly 700 snaps at tackle; Allowed 0 sacks, 1 hit, and 11 hurries (per PFF)
-2025 All-UAC 1st Team
-2025 2x All-American (Stats Perform 1st Team, AP Honorable Mention)
71: Harvard OL Thomas O’Brien
-2026 Senior
-6’6″ 310 lbs
-2-year starter
-2025: Nearly 700 snaps at guard; Allowed 0 sacks, 1 hit, and 2 hurries (per PFF)
-2025 All-Ivy League 1st Team
-2025 PFF No. 18 FCS OG
70: Illinois State OL Logan Brasfield
-2026 Junior
-6’3″ 315 lbs
-2025 transfer from Coastal Carolina
-2025: 13 starts, 950+ snaps at guard; Allowed 1 sack, 1 hit, and 6 hurries (per PFF)
-2025 PFF No. 29 FCS OG
69: South Dakota State OL Quinten Christensen
-2026 Senior
-6’5″ 300 lbs
-2-year starter at left tackle, 1,750+ snaps
-2025: Allowed 3 sacks and 1 hit (per PFF)
-2025 All-MVFC 1st Team
-2025 4x All-American: FCS Football Central (3rd Team), Stats Perform (2nd Team), AP (1st Team), and Phil Steele (2nd Team)
68: Illinois State OL Landon Woodard
-2026 Senior
-6’5″ 330 lbs
-30 starts at guard in the last 2 seasons, 2,000+ snaps
-2025: Allowed 0 sacks, 0 hits, and 5 hurries (per PFF)
-2025 All-MVFC 2nd Team
-2025 FCS Football Central All-American (3rd Team)
-2025 PFF No. 48 FCS OG
67: North Dakota OL Liam Becher
-2026 Senior
-6’7″ 306 lbs
-2-year starter (2024 at LT, 2025 at LG), 1,700+ snaps
-2025: Allowed 1 sack, 1 hit, and 5 hurries (per PFF)
-2025 All-MVFC 2nd Team
66: Montana State OL Titan Fleischmann
-2026 Senior
-6’4″ 300 lbs
-2-year starter (2024 at RT, 2025 at RG), 1,900+ snaps
-2-year All-Big Sky and All-American selection
-2024 All-Big Sky 2nd Team
-2024 FCS Football Central All-American
-2025: Allowed 1 sack and 4 hits (per PFF)
-2025 All-Big Sky 1st Team
-2025 4x 1st Team All-American (FCS Football Central, Stats Perform, AP, Phil Steele)
65: Elon OL Timothy Hogan
-2026 Senior
-6’5” 293 lbs
-2-year starter at guard, 1,150+ snaps
-2025: Allowed 1 sack, 0 hits, and 6 hurries (per PFF)
-2025 All-CAA 2nd Team
64: Princeton OL Barrett Eddlemon
-2026 Senior
-6’3” 290 lbs
-2025: Allowed 1 sack, 0 hits, and 5 hurries (per PFF)
-2025 All-Ivy League 2nd Team
-2025 PFF No. 4 FCS OG
63: Butler OL Charles Mackley
-2026 Junior
-6’3″ 280 lbs
-1.5-year starter
-2025: Allowed 0 sacks, 0 hits, and 4 hurries (per PFF)
-2025 All-Pioneer Football League 1st Team
-2025 PFF No. 3 FCS OG
62: Abilene Christian OL Luke Roaten
-2026 Senior
-6’6” 300 lbs
-2025 transfer from Washington State
-2025: 14 starts at RT; Played 985+ snaps
-2025 All-UAC 1st Team
61: Holy Cross OL Cam Nolan
-2026 Senior
-6’3” 305 lbs
-2-year starter at guard, 1,465+ career snaps
-2-year All-Patriot League selection
-2024 All-Patriot League 2nd Team
-2025 All-Patriot League 1st Team
-2025: Allowed 0 sacks, 1 hit, and 0 hurries (per PFF)
-2025 PFF No. 26 FCS OG
60: Colgate OL Sean Haney
-2026 Senior
-6’2” 295 lbs
-2024: 310+ snaps
-2025: 800+ snaps
-2025: Allowed 1 sack, 1 hit, and 1 hurry (per PFF)
-2025 PFF No. 8 FCS OG
59: Marist LB James Kratochvil
-2026 Junior
-6’1″ 225 lbs
-2024: 55 tackles, 4 INT
-2024 FCS Freshman All-American
-2024 All-Pioneer Football League Honorable Mention
-2024 PFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
-2025: 44 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 4 pass breakups
58: Montana LB Solomon Tuliaupupu
-2026 Senior
-6’3” 242 lbs
-2025 transfer from USC
-2025: 43 tackles, 5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
-2025 All-Big Sky 2nd Team
57: Mercer OL Tyler Murray
-2026 Junior
-6’2” 300 lbs
-2-year starter at guard, 1,650 snaps
-2-year All-SoCon selection
-2024 All-SoCon 2nd Team
-2024 FCS Freshman All-American
-2025 All-SoCon 2nd Team
-26 starts in 2 seasons
56: Western Carolina OL Aaron McIver
-2026 Senior
-6’2” 290 lbs
-2026 transfer from Gardner-Webb
-24 career stats, 1,560 snaps
-2025 All-OVC-Big South 2nd Team
-2025: Allowed 0 sacks, 1 hit, and 4 hurries (per PFF)
55: Stephen F. Austin OL Erik Gray
-2026 Senior
-6’1” 256 lbs
-2-year starter at center, 1,050 snaps
-2025: Allowed 0 sacks, 0 hits, and 3 hurries (per PFF)
-2025 All-Southland 1st Team
-2025 Southland Offensive Lineman of the Year
-2025 4x All-American
-2025 PFF No. 5 FCS center
54: Northern Colorado LB Hudson Voggesser
-2026 Junior
-6’3” 220 lbs
-2024 transfer from New Mexico State
-2025: 83 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 2 pass breakups
-2025 All-Big Sky Honorable Mention
53: Rhode Island LB Moses Meus
-2026 Junior
-6’3” 230 lbs
-2025: 110 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 5 sacks, 8 QB hurries, 2 forced fumbles, 1 INT
-2025 All-CAA 3rd Team
52: UC Davis OL Zaire Collier
-2026 Senior
-6’4” 320 lbs
-2-year starter at center, 1,960+ snaps
-2025: Allowed 2 sacks, 1 hit, and 5 hurries (per PFF)
-2025 All-Big Sky 2nd Team
-2025 PFF No. 38 FCS center
51: Idaho State OL Stryker Rashid
-2026 Senior
-6’5” 295 lbs
-3-year starter, 2,190+ career snaps
-2024 transfer from Utah Tech
-2-year All-Big Sky selection
-2024 All-Big Sky 2nd Team
-2025 at RT: Allowed 0 sacks, 1 hit, and 7 hurries (per PFF)
-2025 All-Big Sky 1st Team
-2025 4x FCS All-American
50: South Dakota DT Chris Dixon
-2026 Senior
-6’2” 310 lbs
-2024: 190 snaps, 20 tackles
-2025: 740+ snaps, 69 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 3 QB hurries, 4 pass breakups
49: South Dakota LB Wade Abrams
-2026 Senior
-6’0″ 235 lbs
-2024 transfer from Valparaiso
-2025: 400+ snaps, 49 tackles, 2 TFLs
-2025 team captain
48: Alabama State DE Myles Richardson
-2026 Senior
-6’4” 247 lbs
-2025: 525+ snaps, 28 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1 sack, 2 QB hurries, 2 pass breakups
47: Northern Iowa LB Kolben Miller
-Wearing No. 10 in 2026
-2026 Senior
-6’2” 220 lbs
-2025: 295+ snaps, 57 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups
46: Illinois State LB Tye Niekamp
-2026 Senior
-6’3” 240 lbs
-2,515+ career snaps, 346 career tackles, 3-year All-MVFC selection, 3-year All-American
-2023: 74 tackles, 9 TFLs, 7 pass breakups
-2023 MVFC Freshman of the Year
-2023 All-MVFC 2nd Team
-2023 Freshman All-American
-2024: 112 tackles, 11 TFLs, 3 sacks, 4 INT, 8 pass breakups
-2024 All-MVFC 1st Team
-2024 4x All-American
-2025: 160 tackles, 16 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 4 QB hurries, 1 INT, 9 pass breakups
-2025 MVFC Defensive Player of the Year
-2025 All-MVFC 1st Team
-2025 consensus 1st Team All-American
45: UTRGV LB Spencer Rich
-2026 Senior
-6’2″ 232 lbs
-Spent 2021-23 at Memphis
-2024 at Utah Tech: 485+ snaps, 52 tackles
-2025 at UTRGV: 620+ snaps, 98 tackles, 3 TFLs, 3 fumble recoveries, 3 QB hurries
-2025 Phil Steele All-Southland 3rd Team
-2025 PFF No. 26 FCS LB
44: Cal Poly LB Mikey D’Amato
-2026 Senior
-6’0” 230 lbs
-2024 transfer from Saddleback Community College
-2024: 45 tackles, 5 TFLs
-2025: 137 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 6 sacks, 3 QB hurries, 1 INT
-2025 All-Big Sky 1st Team
-2025 3x All-American
43: Alabama A&M DE Arenza Davis
-2026 Junior
-5’10” 229 lbs
-820+ career snaps
-2024: 21 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 1 sack, 7 QB hurries
-2024 FCS Football Central Freshman All-American
-2025: 31 tackles, 5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 4 QB hurries
-2026 Preseason All-SWAC 1st Team
42: Stony Brook LB Anthony Ferrelli
-2026 Senior
-6’0” 225 lbs
-1,725+ career snaps, 225 career tackles
-2023: 31 tackles, 3.5 TFLs
-2024: 84 tackles, 5.5 TFLs
-2025: 109 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT
-2025 Team Captain
-2025 All-CAA 2nd Team
41: North Carolina Central DB/LB Isaiah Lawson
-2026 Senior
-6’1” 208 lbs
-1,155+ career snaps, 131 career tackles
-2025: 71 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 sack
-2025 All-MEAC 2nd Team
40: Southeastern DE Evan Aubrey
-2026 Sophomore
-6’4” 250 lbs
-2025: 27 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks
-2025 FCS Football Central Freshman All-American
-2025 PFF No. 23 FCS DE
39: CCSU S Chris Jean
-2026 Junior
-5’10” 180 lbs
-2x All-Conference
-2024: 34 tackles, 10 pass breakups, 4 INT
-2024 All-NEC 1st Team
-2024 NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year
-2024 Freshman All-American
-2025: 69 tackles, 13 pass breakups, 4 INT
-2025 All-NEC 1st Team
-2025 FCS Football Central 3rd Team All-American
-2025 PFF No. 6 FCS safety
38: Holy Cross LB Adam Due
-Wearing No. 8 in 2026
-2026 Senior
-6’2” 220 lbs
-2025: 47 tackles, 5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 INT, 2 QB hurries, 3 pass breakups, 2 blocked kicks
37: Penn S Ty Cortes
-Wearing No. 5 in 2026
-2026 Junior
-6’0” 200 lbs
-2025: 72 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1 INT, 6 pass breakups
-2025 All-Ivy League Honorable Mention
