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FCS: Which Players From Current SoCon Schools Had The Best NFL Careers?

Brian McLaughlin by Brian McLaughlin
April 14, 2020
FCS Betting Lines: Week 11 – EKU-UCA, WCU-Liberty, Gardner-Webb-Charlotte

The FCS has had hundreds of standout players move on to have special NFL careers, and a good number have made it to the NFL Hall of Fame. We decided to break down the “FCS-to-NFL” ranks by conference … leading up to a final national ranking of the top FCS products to finish a career in the NFL on April 20. We only ranked individuals who played for current FCS conference schools (no Appalachian States or Marshalls, for instance … and just because the player may have actually played D-2 football when they were in college, that doesn’t disqualify).

This ranking will be using the Pro Football Reference criteria for AV – “Approximate Value”, which uses an algorithm that measures a player’s statistics, honors, awards, you name it — on an annual basis dating back to 1960 when all of this statistical material was more easily attainable/tracked. It takes into account that an offensive lineman can’t put up stats like a quarterback, obviously, but an O-lineman with Pro Bowl credentials and being a cornerstone on a Super Bowl team will be rewarded too. Then … the annual points are added up to create a “career AV” which is a total reflecting the “Approximate Value” of a player’s career.

Obviously, Hall of Fame players do well in this rating, but you may be surprised at times at the rating given to a player who had a long career … with some true highlights … who did not make the Hall of Fame. It happens. See the list below.[divider]

TOP NFL CAREERS: Each Conference Linked

TOP NFL CAREERS – SOCON

(according to Pro-Football-Reference.com)

ABBREVIATIONS: PB — Career Pro Bowls; AV — site’s “Approximate Value” point system used by Pro Football Reference to quantify a player, based on statistics, honors, etc awarded by year back to 1960 – and taking position into consideration; YRS — Total years in the league

RKFCS SCHOOLPOSPLAYERPBAVYRSSPANCAREER NFL STATS
1CHATTANOOGAWRTerrell Owens (*)6165151996-201015,934 rec yds, 153 TDs
2WEST. CAROLINADLClyde Simmons2114151986-2000121.5 sacks, 966 tackles
3WEST. CAROLINAOLTony Jones197131988-2000174 career starts
4CHATTANOOGADLJack Gregory278131967-1979158 career starts
5VMILBJoe Fortunato575121955-1966153 career starts, 16 INTs
6ETSUDBDonnie Abraham16391996-2004442 tackles, 38 INTs
7SAMFORDDBCortland Finnegan159102006-2015662 tackles, 18 INTs
8WEST. CAROLINADBWillie Williams056131993-2005626 tackles, 26 INTs
9THE CITADELLB-PPaul Maguire255111960-197041.7 punt avg., 151 games
10CHATTANOOGAOLCharley Long25191961-1969124 career games
11THE CITADELRBStump Mitchell05091981-198911,985 all purpose yds
12CHATTANOOGADBDrayton Florence047112003-2013488 tackles, 20 INTs
13WEST. CAROLINAWRDavid Patten046121997-20084,715 rec yds, 24 TDs
14CHATTANOOGADBBuster Skrine03792011-2019507 tackles
15ETSUDBGerald Sensabaugh03582005-2012411 tackles, 14 INTs
16ETSURBEarl Ferrell03381982-19894,578 total yds, 32 TDs
17WEST. CAROLINAKDean Biasucci131111984-1995185 FGs made
18THE CITADELWRAndre Roberts227102010-20193,010 rec. yds, 15 TDs
19FURMANLBOrlando Ruff02571999-2005360 tackles
20SAMFORDDBJames Bradberry02242016-2019279 tackles

(*) – Denotes an NFL Hall of Famer

SOCON – TOP CURRENT NFL PLAYERS

ABBREVIATIONS: PB — Career Pro Bowls; AV — site’s “Approximate Value” point system used by Pro Football Reference to quantify a player, based on statistics, honors, etc and taking position into consideration; YRS — Total years in the league

RKFCS SCHOOLPOSPLAYERPBAVYRSSPANCAREER NFL STATS
1CHATTANOOGADBBuster Skrine03792011-2019507 tackles
2THE CITADELWRAndre Roberts227102010-20193,010 rec. yds, 15 TDs
3SAMFORDDBJames Bradberry02242016-2019279 tackles
4SAMFORDDLMichael Pierce02142016-2019151 tackles, 13 TFLs
5SAMFORDSSJaquiski Tartt01752015-2019271 tackles, 15 TFLs
6FURMANOLDakota Dozier0762014-201952 games, 11 starts
7SAMFORDDLNick Williams0752014-201960 tackles, 6 sacks
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