Even with the craziness of the spring FCS season, we haven’t forgotten about the NFL Draft prospects from the subdivision. Several star players decided to forgo playing in the spring and declared for the draft. Eleven standouts were invited to the virtual NFL Scouting Combine.
Utilizing Draft Scout’s database that HERO Sports subscribes to, here are the top 12 draft prospects from the FCS:
1. NDSU QB Trey Lance
Lance has a clear first-round projection from Draft Scout and is ranked the No. 14 overall prospect. With teams yearning for that franchise quarterback, Lance is a likely Top 10 overall draft pick with several NFL Draft analysts believing the 49ers trading up to No. 3 points to them taking the young signal-caller.
2. NDSU OT Dillon Radunz
The freakishly athletic Radunz is the No. 75 overall prospect and Draft Scout’s eighth-best offensive tackle. The 6-foot-6 and 300-pounder is projected to be selected in the second or third round.
3. Central Arkansas CB Robert Rochell
Rochell is a long cornerback at 6-foot-2. He’s just inside Draft Scout’s Top 100 at No. 98. Rochell is rated the No. 13 cornerback with a third-round projection.
4. UNI OT Spencer Brown
Brown is a big human being at 6-foot-9 and 321 pounds. The 118th-ranked prospect is Draft Scout’s No. 11 offensive tackle. He’s expected to be drafted in the third or fourth round.
5. Illinois State S Christian Uphoff
The athletic and rangy 6-foot-3 safety is the 10th-best strong safety and the No. 216 overall prospect. Draft Scout projects Uphoff as a sixth or seventh-rounder.
6. SDSU WR Cade Johnson
A playmaker on offense and special teams, Johnson is expected to be taken off the board in the sixth or seventh round, per Draft Scout. The 5-foot-10 strong route-runner is the No. 230 overall prospect and the No. 29 wide receiver.
7. Illinois State OT Drew Himmelman
Himmelman is listed on Draft Scout’s 2022 NFL Draft rankings, but the big man confirmed to HERO Sports that he has declared for the 2021 draft. The 6-foot-10 tackle is projected as a seventh-rounder by NFL Draft Bible and a high-priority free agent by The Draft Network.
8. NC Central CB Bryan Mills
Another big FCS cornerback at 6-foot-2, Mills is viewed by Draft Scout as the No. 293 prospect. The No. 31-ranked cornerback could be taken in the seventh round or sign a contract immediately after the draft as a high-priority free agent.
9. Grambling OG David Moore
Moore is a punishing blocker on the interior offensive line at 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds. He is another seventh round to HPFA guy that Draft Scout ranks as the No. 19 offensive guard and No. 298 overall prospect.
10. NC A&T RB Jah-Maine Martin
It’s hard for FCS running backs to rise on NFL Draft boards. But it worked out fine for former Illinois State RB and 2020 undrafted free agent James Robinson. Martin could find himself taken in the seventh round or have options as an undrafted free agent. He is ranked the No. 345 overall prospect and the No. 27 RB.
11. UNI DE Elerson Smith
Smith is a massive EDGE prospect at 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds. Draft Scout has him as a high-priority free agent, the No. 26 defensive end, and No. 356 overall.
12. Nicholls WR Dai’Jean Dixon
Dixon is currently playing this spring season and has 23 catches for 353 yards and five touchdowns in four games. The 6-foot-4 and 200-pounder is graded as a high-priority free agent. Draft Scout ranks Dixon No. 444 overall and the No. 58 wide receiver.
