• About Us
  • Contact
HERO Sports
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • ASUN
    • Big Sky
    • Big South
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • OVC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • WAC
  • FBS
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • ASUN
    • Big Sky
    • Big South
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • OVC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • WAC
  • FBS
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
HERO Sports
No Result
View All Result

FCS Top Prospects In The 2022 NFL Draft & Undrafted Free Agency

Sam Herder by Sam Herder
April 27, 2022
0
FCS Top Prospects 2022 (April)

UNI, NDSU, Montana State, Chattanooga Athletics

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

Previous Post

Cole Strange Stays Confident, But Humble As His NFL Draft Stock Has Skyrocketed

Next Post

FCS Podcast: Montana, Montana State Football Returning To National Prominence w/ Colter Nuanez

Next Post
FCS Podcast

FCS Podcast: Montana, Montana State Football Returning To National Prominence w/ Colter Nuanez

No Result
View All Result

Recent Posts

  • FCS Podcast: SoCon Talk & National FCS Storylines w/ FCS Nation Radio’s Kevin Marshall
  • FCS: ASUN, WAC Renew Football Alliance For 1 Playoff Auto-Bid
  • 2022 HERO Sports FCS Preseason Top 25

HERO Sports is the go-to website for FCS football news, analysis, and predictions.

  • About HERO Sports
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 HERO SPORTS.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • ASUN
    • Big Sky
    • Big South
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • OVC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • WAC
  • FBS
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact

© 2022 HERO SPORTS.