The FCS has had a low number of NFL Draft picks the last couple of years. Six players were selected in both the 2021 and 2020 drafts, compared to 14 in 2019, 19 in 2018, 15 in 2017, and 20 in 2016.
The 2022 class appears to be stronger than the previous two. Using Draft Scout’s database HERO Sports subscribes to, several former FCS players are viewed as potential draft picks.
RELATED: How Many FCS Players Get Drafted Each Year?
Here are FCS prospects who Draft Scout currently has projected as 2022 NFL Draft picks or are in the 7th-to-HPFA (high priority free agent) range.
*Indicates players who transferred from the FCS
1. Trevor Penning
School: Northern Iowa
Position: OT
Projected Round: 1st
Position Rank: No. 3
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 29
*2. Zion Johnson
School: Boston College (2019 transfer from Davidson)
Position: OG
Projected Round: 2nd-3rd
Position Rank: No. 5
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 78
*3. Bailey Zappe
School: Western Kentucky (2021 transfer from Houston Baptist)
Position: QB
Projected Round: 3rd
Position Rank: No. 7
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 100
*4. Jaylan Foster
School: South Carolina (2017 transfer from Gardner-Webb)
Position: CB
Projected Round: 3rd-4th
Position Rank: No. 6
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 117
*5. John Ridgeway
School: Arkansas (2021 transfer from Illinois State)
Position: DT
Projected Round: 4th-5th
Position Rank: No. 12
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 153
6. Cole Kelley
School: Southeastern Louisiana University
Position: QB
Projected Round: 5th
Position Rank: No. 9
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 171
7. Braxton Jones
School: Southern Utah
Position: OT
Projected Round: 5th
Position Rank: No. 15
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 182
8. Markquese Bell
School: Florida A&M
Position: FS
Projected Round: 5th-6th
Position Rank: No. 7
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 190
9. Christian Watson
School: North Dakota State
Position: WR
Projected Round: 5th-6th
Position Rank: No. 19
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 203
*10. Bryan Cook
School: Cincinnati (2019 transfer from Howard)
Position: SS
Projected Round: 6th
Position Rank: No. 9
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 206
11. Pierre Strong Jr.
School: South Dakota State
Position: RB
Projected Round: 6th
Position Rank: No. 18
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 219
12. Cole Strange
School: Chattanooga
Position: OG
Projected Round: 6th-7th
Position Rank: No. 13
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 241
13. Cordell Volson
School: North Dakota State
Position: OG
Projected Round: 7th
Position Rank: No. 15
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 256
*14. Qwynnterrio Cole
School: Louisville (2021 transfer from Alcorn State)
Position: SS
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 12
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 285
15. Isaiah Weston
School: Northern Iowa
Position: WR
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 29
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 286
*16. Nick Muse
School: South Carolina (2019 transfer from William & Mary)
Position: TE
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 17
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 290
17. Zerrick Cooper
School: Jacksonville State
Position: QB
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 17
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 292
*18. Cody Roscoe
School: Syracuse (2020 transfer from McNeese)
Position: DE
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 30
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 293
19. Zyon McCollum
School: Sam Houston
Position: CB
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 36
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 310
20. Matt Waletzko
School: North Dakota
Position: OT
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 22
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 323
*21. Clint Ratkovich
School: Northern Illinois (2021 transfer from Western Illinois)
Position: FB
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 4
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 332
22. Dai’Jean Dixon
School: Nicholls
Position: WR
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 34
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 335
23. EJ Perry
School: Brown
Position: QB
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 20
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 345
*24. Jerreth Sterns
School: Western Kentucky (2021 transfer from Houston Baptist)
Position: WR
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 35
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 346
25. Ryan Greenhagen
School: Fordham
Position: ILB
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 22
Top 350 Overall Prospect Rank: No. 347
