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 |
