The average number of FCS prospects who get drafted in the seven-round format of the NFL Draft from 1994-2021 is 19. That average has a good chance to be exceeded in 2022. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has 21 FCS players getting selected in his mock draft. ESPN’s Jordan Reid has 23.
With the draft one day away, here is the last look at the top FCS prospects using Draft Scout’s database HERO Sports subscribes to (including those who played their final year at an FBS program).
Getting drafted isn’t the only way to reach the NFL, though. Below the top prospects is a list of FCS players who may not be drafted but will get an NFL shot via an undrafted free agent contract or a rookie minicamp tryout.
Top FCS Draft Prospects
Trevor Penning
School: Northern Iowa
Position: OT
Projected Round: 1st
Position Rank: No. 4
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 18
RELATED: Trevor Penning feature story
Christian Watson
School: North Dakota State
Position: WR
Projected Round: 1st-2nd
Position Rank: No. 7
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 37
Troy Andersen
School: Montana State
Position: OLB
Projected Round: 2nd
Position Rank: No. 4
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 58
Cole Strange
School: Chattanooga
Position: OG/OC
Projected Round: 2nd-3rd
Position Rank: No. 5
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 74
RELATED: Cole Strange feature story
Pierre Strong Jr.
School: South Dakota State
Position: RB
Projected Round: 3rd
Position Rank: No. 6
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 97
RELATED: Pierre Strong Jr. feature story
Zyon McCollum
School: Sam Houston
Position: CB
Projected Round: 3rd
Position Rank: No. 13
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 103
RELATED: Zyon McCollum feature story
Braxton Jones
School: Southern Utah
Position: OT
Projected Round: 3rd-4th
Position Rank: No. 10
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 116
Eric Johnson
School: Missouri State
Position: DT
Projected Round: 4th
Position Rank: No. 11
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 131
Matt Waletzko
School: North Dakota
Position: OT
Projected Round: 4th
Position Rank: No. 12
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 134
John Ridgeway
School: Arkansas (2021 transfer from Illinois State)
Position: DT
Projected Round: 5th-6th
Position Rank: No. 14
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 180
Isaiah Weston
School: Northern Iowa
Position: WR
Projected Round: 5th-6th
Position Rank: No. 24
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 192
Bailey Zappe
School: Western Kentucky (2021 transfer from Houston Baptist)
Position: QB
Projected Round: 6th
Position Rank: No. 8
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 208
Samori Toure
School: Nebraska (2021 transfer from Montana)
Position: WR
Projected Round: 6th-7th
Position Rank: No. 28
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 222
Cole Kelley
School: Southeastern Louisiana University
Position: QB
Projected Round: 7th
Position Rank: No. 9
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 248
Jack Cochrane
School: South Dakota
Position: OLB
Projected Round: 7th
Position Rank: No. 23
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 251
Markquese Bell
School: Florida A&M
Position: SS
Projected Round: 7th
Position Rank: No. 12
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 253
Jason Poe
School: Mercer
Position: OG
Projected Round: 7th
Position Rank: No. 16
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 258
RELATED: Jason Poe feature story
Jequez Ezzard
School: Sam Houston
Position: WR
Projected Round: 7th
Position Rank: No. 32
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 259
De’Shaan Dixon
School: Norfolk State
Position: DE
Projected Round: 7th
Position Rank: No. 22
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 261
EJ Perry
School: Brown
Position: QB
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 10
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 268
Andrew Ogletree
School: Youngstown State
Position: TE
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 15
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 274
Noah Elliss
School: Idaho
Position: DT
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 24
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 277
Daniel Hardy
School: Montana State
Position: OLB
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 26
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 283
James Houston
School: Jackson State
Position: OLB
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 27
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 292
Cordell Volson
School: North Dakota State
Position: OG
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 19
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 300
Jerreth Sterns
School: Western Kentucky (2021 transfer from Houston Baptist)
Position: WR
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 41
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 333
Christian Benford
School: Villanova
Position: CB
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 36
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 340
Decobie Durant
School: South Carolina State
Position: CB
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 37
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 347
DaRon Bland
School: Fresno State (2021 transfer from Sac State)
Position: CB
Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Position Rank: No. 38
Overall Prospect Rank: No. 349
Top FCS Undrafted Free Agents
In 2018 and 2019 (before COVID interrupted the 2020 and 2021 draft process), a combined 350+ FCS players got a shot at the NFL as rookies, a majority of which were undrafted free agents who signed a team contract or guys who received rookie minicamp tryout invites.
Below are FCS prospects who may or may not get drafted. But they will get an opportunity to earn a spot on a team as a UDFA or a tryout invite if they are undrafted, per Draft Scout’s database.
Western Illinois/Northern Illinois FB Clint Ratkovich
Southern OG Ja’Tyre Carter
James Madison QB Cole Johnson
Alcorn State/Louisville SS Qwynnterrio Cole
Fordham OG Nick Zakelj
Western Illinois WR Dennis Houston
Idaho State WR Tanner Conner
Eastern Washington OT Tristen Taylor
Yale SS Rodney Thomas II
Nicholls WR Dai’Jean Dixon
Sam Houston FS Tristin McCollum
Alabama A&M WR Dee Anderson
Incarnate Word RB Kevin Brown
Penn DT Prince Emili
Alabama A&M QB Aqeel Glass
UT Martin TE Rodney Williams II
South Dakota State QB Chris Oladokun
Prairie View A&M/Liberty OLB Storey Jackson
South Dakota State SS Michael Griffin II
Samford WR Montrell Washington
Northern Arizona DE Carson Taylor
Northern Iowa DT Jared Brinkman
Fordham/Iowa State K Andrew Mevis
Tarleton State CB Devin Hafford
Jacksonville State QB Zerrick Cooper
Villanova ILB Forrest Rhyne
Morehead State WR BJ Byrd
James Madison OG Liam Fornadel
Eastern Washington QB Eric Barriere
Central Arkansas WR Lujuan Winningham
Dayton SS Brandon Easterling
Montana State WR Lance McCutcheon
Southern Illinois DE Anthony Knighton
Western Illinois FS Michael Lawson
Central Connecticut State WR Tyshaun James
North Dakota State TE Josh Babicz
Duquesne WR Cyrus Holder
Southeastern Louisiana University TE Nolan Givan
Idaho ILB Tre Walker
Northern Iowa/Iowa CB Xavior Williams
Jackson State DT Antwan Owens
Holy Cross DE Benton Whitley
Eastern Washington WR Talolo Limu-Jones
Weber State WR Rashid Shaheed
SEMO CB Shabari Davis
Montana OT Dylan Cook
Elon QB Davis Cheek
Nicholls OG Jair Joseph
North Dakota State DE Brayden Thomas
Jacksonville State/Boston College TE Trae Barry
The Citadel WR Raleigh Webb
Maine WR Andre Miller
Montana CB Omar Hicks Onu
Tarleton State CB Benjie Franklin
Richmond OLB Tyler Dressler
Southern Illinois ILB Bryce Notree
James Madison DE Bryce Carter
Southern Illinois OG ZeVeyon Furcron
Montana State OT Lewis Kidd
Southern Illinois WR Landon Lenoir
SEMO/Auburn SS Bydarrius Knighten
Harvard RB Aaron Shampklin
South Dakota State CB Don Gardner
Jackson State WR Keith Corbin III
Villanova DE Malik Fisher
NEXT: Eric Barriere feature story
