Players from current FCS schools have been drafted into the NFL since the first time the league held one — 1936. That year, Ed Michaels of Villanova (see chart below) was drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bears, while 
Columbia, Fordham, Princeton, Colgate, Yale and Holy Cross also had players taken. Granted, college football has changed a ton in the 81 years since that first draft — with the inception of FCS/I-AA football coming in 1978. But the message remains the same — current FCS programs have been producing NFL-level talent for more than eight decades.
RELATED: How did the FCS rookie free agent class do in 2016? Take a look.
Today, we take a look at the Colonial Athletic Association and its current programs — and the all-time top 25 NFL picks from these schools. Villanova far surpasses any other program on the list with 12 of these 25 players — including NFL Hall of Famer Howie Long. Could Tanoh Kpassagnon add to this total in a few weeks when he will surely be drafted? Time will tell.
RELATED: How did the 20 NFL Draft picks out of the FCS ranks do as rookies last year?
Take a look at the top 25 NFL Draft Picks of all time from the Colonial Athletic Association. Think you knew them all?
NOTE: AFL Draft picks from the 1960s are included, and noted … since this league eventually merged with the NFL. Some prospects were drafted by both leagues.
| RK | PLAYER, POS | SCHOOL | RD-PICK | YR | BY | YRS | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ralph Pasquariello, FB | VILLANOVA | 1-9 | 1950 | Rams | 3 | WWII veteran |
| 2 | Art Jones, DB-RB | RICHMOND | 2-11 | 1941 | Eagles | 2 | 18 games, 5 TDs |
| T3 | Barty Smith, RB | RICHMOND | 1-12 | 1974 | Packers | 7 | 3,000-plus career yds |
| T3 | Rich Moore, DT | VILLANOVA | 1-12 | 1969 | Packers | 2 | Career ended by injury |
| T5 | Barry Redden, RB | RICHMOND | 1-14 | 1982 | Rams | 9 | 1,700 career rush yds |
| T5 | Eddie Michaels, G | VILLANOVA | 2-14 | 1936 | Chicago | 6 | Played in 62 games |
| 7 | Walker Gillette, WR | RICHMOND | 1-15 | 1970 | Chargers | 7 | 2,200 career receiving yds |
| T8 | Rich McGeorge, TE | ELON | 1-16 | 1970 | Packers | 9 | 2,400 career receive yds |
| T8 | Tommy Thompson, LB-C | WILLIAM & MARY | 3-16 | 1949 | Redskins | 5 | 1953 All-Pro first team |
| T10 | Joe Flacco, QB | DELAWARE | 1-18 | 2008 | Ravens | 9 | 32,000 career pass yds |
| T10 | John Sandusky, OL-DL | VILLANOVA | 2-18 | 1950 | Browns | 7 | 82 career games |
[divider]
Here are Nos. 12 through 25.
| RK | PLAYER, POS | SCHOOL | RD-Pick | YR | BY | YRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Mike Siani, WR | VILLANOVA | 1-21 | 1972 | Raiders | 9 |
| 13 | Chad Scott, DB | TOWSON | 1-24 | 1997 | Steelers | 9 |
| 14 | Lou Ferry, OL-DL | VILLANOVA | 3-25 | 1949 | Packers | 6 |
| 15 | Knox Ramsey, G | WILLIAM & MARY | 5-32 | 1948 | Bears | 6 |
| 16 | George Hughes, OL | WILLIAM & MARY | 3-34 | 1950 | Steelers | 5 |
| 17 | Steve Romanik, QB | VILLANOVA | 3-36 | 1950 | Bears | 5 |
| 18 | Bill Bowman, FB | WILLIAM & MARY | 3-37 | 1954 | Lions | 3 |
| 19 | Larry Glueck, DB | VILLANOVA | 3-38 | 1963 | Bears | 3 |
| 20 | John Babinecz, LB | VILLANOVA | 2-39 | 1972 | Cowboys | 3 |
| 21 | Tom Feamster, OL-DL | WILLIAM & MARY | 4-40 | 1956 | Rams | 1 |
| 22 | Ben Raimondi, RB | WILLIAM & MARY | 6-41 | 1947 | Cardinals | 1 |
| 23 | Harvey Johnson, RB | WILLIAM & MARY | 6-43 | 1946 | Brooklyn | 5 |
| 24 | Pete D'Alonzo, FB | VILLANOVA | 4-44 | 1951 | Lions | 2 |
| T25 | Howie Long, DL | VILLANOVA | 2-48 | 1981 | Raiders | 13 |
| T25 | Ed Berrang, DL | VILLANOVA | 5-48 | 1949 | Redskins | 4 |
