The FCS — once known as the I-AA level — began in 1978. But many current FCS schools have played college football for more than 100 years, and used to go to Bowl Games and go toe-to-toe with the Notre Dames, Penn States, Southern Cals and Alabamas.
RELATED: Top NFL Draft Picks from the FCS level since the FCS/I-AA began in 1978
Not surprisingly, if you go back before the FCS/I-AA beginning in 1978, there were also some pretty high draft picks. We've pointed out that Carson Wentz of North Dakota State was the highest NFL Draft pick of the FCS/I-AA era (since 1978), but did you know two No. 1 draft picks have come from schools that are now in the FCS?
Take a look at the 17 players who have been taken within the first five picks and attended current FCS schools.
| PICK | POS | PLAYER | SCHOOL | YRS | DFT YR | NFL TEAM | NOTEWORTHY |
| No. 1 | LB-C | Chuck Bednarik | PENN | 14 | 1949 | Philadelphia | NFL Hall of Famer |
| 1 | DE | Too Tall Jones | TENNESSEE STATE | 15 | 1974 | Dallas | 106 career sacks |
| 2 | BACK | Sid Luckman | COLUMBIA | 12 | 1939 | Chicago | NFL Hall of Famer |
| 2 | FB-LB | Joe Muha | VMI | 5 | 1946 | Phil/Pitt. | Two time All Pro |
| 2 | HB | Skippy Minisi | PENN | 1 | 1948 | N.Y. Giants | Only played one season |
| 2 | QB | Carson Wentz | NORTH DAKOTA STATE | 1 | 2016 | Philadelphia | 3,700 pass yds in 2016 |
| 3 | B | Boyd Brumbaugh | DUQUESNE | 4 | 1938 | Brooklyn | 800 yds in 5 seasons |
| 3 | G | Fritz Barzilauskas | YALE | 4 | 1947 | Boston Yanks | 36 career games |
| 3 | DE | Claude Humphrey | TENNESSEE STATE | 13 | 1968 | Atlanta | NFL Hall of Famer |
| 3 | T | Lionel Antoine | SOUTHERN ILLINOIS | 6 | 1972 | Chicago | 68 career games |
| 3 | QB | Steve McNair | ALCORN STATE | 13 | 1995 | Houston | 31,000 yds passing |
| 4 | QB-TB | Paul Governali | COLUMBIA | 3 | 1946 | Brooklyn | 3,300 pass yds, 4 yrs |
| 4 | LB | Waymond Bryant | TENNESSEE STATE | 4 | 1974 | Chicago | 3 yr starter for Bears |
| 4 | RB | Walter Payton | JACKSON STATE | 13 | 1975 | Chicago | NFL Hall of Famer |
| 5 | C | Mike Basrak | DUQUESNE | 2 | 1937 | Pittsburgh | 1937 Orange Bowl MVP |
| 5 | HB | Bob MacLeod | DARTMOUTH | 1 | 1939 | Brooklyn | Also played Pro Hoops |
| 5 | DL | Richard Harris | GRAMBLING | 7 | 1971 | Philadelphia | 856 career games |
