Players from current FCS schools have been drafted into the NFL since the first time the league held one — 1936. Current Southern Conference programs have been getting players into the NFL Draft for nearly 80 years, beginning with The Citadel's Andy Sabados in 1939 when he was drafted by the then Chicago Cardinals.
Since then, hundreds more SoCon 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 for 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 Southern Conference and its current programs — and the all-time Top 25 NFL picks taken from these current schools. Could players like Chattanooga's Keionta Davis and Corey Levin be the next to add to their names to the list below when the 2017 draft 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 | PLAYER | FCS SCHOOL | YEAR | YRS | DRAFTED BY? | COMMENT |
| 2 | 1st | Joe Muha | VMI | 1946 | 5 | Eagles | Two-time All-Pro |
| 7 | 1st | Bobby Thomason | VMI | 1949 | 8 | Rams | 9,000+ career pass yds |
| 12 | 1st | John Small | THE CITADEL | 1970 | 5 | Falcons | Played in 47 games |
| 19 | 3rd | Rhoten Shetley | FURMAN | 1940 | 4 | Dodgers | Career wrapped WWII |
| 21 | 2nd | Sam Horner | VMI | 1960 | 3 | Redskins | Redskins & Giants – 3 yrs |
| 21 | 3rd | Dewey Proctor | FURMAN | 1946 | 4 | Giants | Played four seasons |
| 32 | 3rd | Pete Johnson | VMI | 1959 | 1 | Bears | Played for Bears in 1959 |
| 46 | 2nd | Jaquiski Tartt | SAMFORD | 2015 | 1 | 49ers | 87 tackles in 2 seasons |
| 46 | 2nd | Drayton Florence | CHATTANOOGA | 2003 | 11 | Chargers | 414 career tackles, 20 INTs |
| 50 | 5th | Tom Wham | FURMAN | 1949 | 3 | Cardinals | Pro Bowl in 1951 |
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Here are Nos. 11 through 25.
| 56 | 8th | Ralph Hutchinson | CHATTANOOGA | 1949 | 1 | Giants |
| 58 | 8th | Charley Long | CHATTANOOGA | 1961 | 9 | Patriots |
| 62 | 2nd | James Bradberry | SAMFORD | 2016 | 1 | Panthers |
| 65 | 3rd | Stanford Jennings | FURMAN | 1984 | 9 | Bengals |
| 65 | 8th | Gene Roberts | CHATTANOOGA | 1947 | 4 | Giants |
| 71 | 6th | Al Bansavage | THE CITADEL | 1960 | 2 | Colts |
| 80 | 7th | Joe Fortunato | VMI | 1955 | 12 | Bears |
| 88 | 3rd | Andre Roberts | THE CITADEL | 2010 | 6 | Cardinals |
| 89 | 3rd | Terrell Owens | CHATTANOOGA | 1996 | 15 | 49ers |
| 90 | 4th | Chas Fox | FURMAN | 1986 | 1 | Chiefs |
| 101 | 4th | Travis McNeal | CHATTANOOGA | 1989 | 5 | Seahawks |
| 104 | 9th | Hal Ledyard | CHATTANOOGA | 1953 | 1 | 49ers |
| 108 | 4th | John Keith | FURMAN | 2000 | 4 | 49ers |
| 108 | 4th | Tony Hill | CHATTANOOGA | 1991 | 2 | Cowboys |
| 111 | 13th | Andy Sabados | THE CITADEL | 1939 | 2 | Cardinals |
