Players from current FCS schools have been drafted into the NFL since the first time the league held one — 1936. While great players like future NFL Hall of Famer Marion Motley (South Carolina State) signed on with 
NFL teams in the 1940s, the first present-day MEAC program to have an NFL Draft Pick was Bob Jackson out of North Carolina A&T, as he was selected by the New York Giants with the 202nd pick in 1950.
Since then, hundreds of MEAC products have been drafted. College football has changed a ton in the 81 years since the 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.
RELATED: How did the 20 NFL Draft picks out of the FCS ranks do as rookies last year?
Today, we take a look at the MEAC and its current programs — and the all-time Top 20 NFL picks taken from these schools. Could players like Tarik Cohen (NC A&T) and Jervarius Leamon (S.C. State) add to the list below when the 2017 comes along? Time will tell. April 27 is one month away.
NOTE: These are in order based on what spot they were picked. 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.
| PK | RD | YR | PLAYER | SCHOOL | YRS | DRAFTED BY? | NOTES |
| 14 | 1st | 1970 | Doug Wilkerson, OL | N.C. CENTRAL | 15 | Oilers | Three Pro Bowls |
| 17 | 2nd | 1964 | Chuck Hinton, DT | N.C. CENTRAL | 9 | Browns | Started for 8 years |
| 19 | 1st | 1974 | Henry Lawrence, OL | FAMU | 13 | Raiders | 3 Super Bowls, 2 Pro Bowls |
| 24 | 1st | 1970 | Raymond Chester, TE | MORGAN STATE | 12 | Raiders | 4 Pro Bowls; 48 career TDs |
| 26 | 1st | 1992 | Robert Porcher, DL | S.C. STATE | 12 | Lions | 3 Pro Bowls; 95.5 career sacks |
| 29 | 1st | 1997 | Jamain Stephens, OL | N.C. A&T | 5 | Steelers | Played w/Steelers, Bengals |
| 29 | 2nd | 1968 | Carlton Dabney, DT | MORGAN STATE | 1 | Falcons | Played one yr. for Falcons |
| 32 | 2nd | 1982 | Booker Reese, DE | BETH.-COOKMAN | 4 | Bucs | Off the field problems hurt |
| 35 | 2nd | 1995 | Anthony Cook, DL | S.C. STATE | 5 | Oilers | 17 career sacks |
| 36 | 2nd | 1973 | Barney Chavous, DL | S.C. STATE | 13 | Broncos | Starter for 13 seasons |
[divider]
Here are Nos. 11 through 20.
| 37 | 2nd | 1988 | Terry Williams, DB | BETH.-COOKMAN | 2 | Jets |
| 39 | 2nd | 2003 | Rashean Mathis, DB | BETH.-COOKMAN | 13 | Jaguars |
| 46 | 2nd | 1989 | Robert Massey, DB | N.C. CENTRAL | 9 | Saints |
| 48 | 2nd | 2007 | Justin Durant, LB | HAMPTON | 9 | Jaguars |
| 48 | 2nd | 1976 | Leroy Jones, DE | NORFOLK STATE | 8 | Rams |
| 49 | 4th | 1966 | Ken Reaves, DB | NORFOLK STATE | 12 | Falcons |
| 50 | 2nd | 2005 | Ronald Bartell, DB | HOWARD | 8 | Rams |
| 50 | 2nd | 1967 | Willie Lanier, LB | MORGAN STATE | 11 | Chiefs |
| 51 | 2nd | 2005 | Nick Collins, DB | BETH.-COOKMAN | 7 | Packers |
| 52 | 2nd | 1967 | John Gilliam, WR | S.C. STATE | 11 | Saints |
