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NFL DRAFT: The Top 25 All-Time Picks from Big Sky Conference

HERO Sports by HERO Sports
March 30, 2017
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Players from current FCS schools have been drafted into the NFL since the first time the league held one — 1936. In fact, one of the players selected in the first draft was Verne Oech, who began his playing career at the University of Montana before finishing with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He was selected by the Bears in the 5th round of that initial draft.

Since then, hundreds more Big Sky products have been drafted. College football has changed a ton in the 81 years since the first draft — and the inception of FCS/I-AA football in 1978. But the message remains the same — current FCS programs have been producing NFL-level talent 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 Big Sky Conference and its current programs — and the all-time Top 25 NFL picks taken from these current schools. Could players like Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington) and Xavier Coleman (Portland State​) add to the list below when the 2017 comes along? Time will tell. April 27 is less than one month away.

NOTE: These are in order based on what spot they were picked, and for the time being North Dakota is being included and Idaho isn’t (they’ll switch in the near future). 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 DFT YR PLAYER SCHOOL YRS PICKED BY? COMMENT
15 2nd 1938 Milt Popovich
MONTANA
5 Cardinals Five yrs with Chicago Cardinals
16 2nd 1945 Mike Lazetich
MONTANA
6 Rams Played 59 games for Rams
17 1st 1968 Lee White
WEBER STATE
5 Jets On N.J. Jets’ Super Bowl III team
23 1st 1974 Bill Kollar
MONTANA STATE
8 Bengals Eight year playing career
27 1st 1989 Shawn Collins
NORTHERN ARIZONA
5 Falcons Four teams in five seasons
33 2nd 1981 Neil Lomax
PORTLAND STATE
8 Cardinals 22,000+ passing yds in career
40 2nd 1967 Ron McCall
WEBER STATE
2 Chargers Two seasons with the Chargers
41 2nd 2005 Michael Roos
EASTERN WASHINGTON
10 Titans Still going strong in NFL after 10 yrs
41 2nd 1972 Steve Okoniewski
MONTANA
6 Falcons Logged 52 games in the NFL
42 5th 1936 Verne Oech
MONTANA
2 Bears Two seasons with the Bears

Here are Nos. 11 through 25.

PK RD DFT YR PLAYER SCHOOL YRS PICKED BY?
44 2nd 1999 Jim Kleinsasser NORTH DAKOTA 13 Vikings
47 2nd 1984 Pete Mandley NORTHERN ARIZONA 7 Lions
48 2nd 1967 Bob Howard CAL-POLY 13 Chargers
54 2nd 1995 Scott Gragg MONTANA 11 Giants
54 3rd 1972 Jim LeClair NORTH DAKOTA 12 Bengals
56 7th 1938 Paul Szakash MONTANA 4 Lions
59 2nd 1999 Scott Shields WEBER STATE 2 Steelers
61 2nd 2005 Vincent Jackson NORTHERN COLORADO 11 Chargers
62 3rd 1979 Jon Borchardt MONTANA STATE 9 Bills
63 8th 1938 Len Noyes MONTANA 1 Dodgers
65 3rd 2012 Trumaine Johnson MONTANA 4 Rams
69 3rd 2006 Paul McQuistan WEBER STATE 8 Raiders
70 3rd 2004 Joey Thomas MONTANA STATE 3 Packers
71 3rd 2007 Chris Gocong CAL-POLY 6 Eagles
72 3rd 1971 Al Clark NORTHERN ARIZONA 6 Lions
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