Most college football stadiums don’t seat 100,000 people. Most college football programs don’t receive tens of millions of dollars from TV contracts. Most college football players don’t get to play in millions of living rooms every Saturday.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t equally talented student-athletes wowing 8,500 spectators at a Grand Valley State University home game or juking their way into the hearts of fans on a small set of metal bleachers at a 2,300-enrollment Division III school somewhere in Minnesota.

There’s no doubt that with modern technology, more hidden talent than ever is being seen, but there also will continue to be players who must proven themselves through hard work, networking and taking advantage of every opportunity that might get them on the radar of an NFL scout or team. 

When the 2026 NFL Draft takes place in Pittsburgh from April 23-25, history would dictate that the majority of the 257 names called will come from NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision programs, but that doesn’t mean the end of the line for hopeful players from the Division I Football Championship Subdivision, Division II or Division III. 

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The percentage of high school football players who get to play in college is small. The number who get to play at the NCAA Division I level is even smaller. And the number of players who get selected in the NFL Draft? Minuscule – around 1.5% of the eligible players.

But not all of the players who get selected will end up NFL rosters when the new season kicks off in the fall. 

At the same time, there still will be four months for undrafted players to prove themselves to one of the 31 teams looking to improve on last year’s performance, or the one team looking to stay on top. 

In recent weeks, we’ve taken a look at some of the noteworthy FCS, Division II and Division III players who could buck the trend and get a phone call during the draft, but if you haven’t had a chance to read each of those stories on FloFootball or FloCollege, we’ve got the highlights below.

How Does It Look For FCS, Division II And Division III For Upcoming NFL Draft?

In 2025, players in the NFL Draft represented 86 colleges. Ohio State, Georgia, Texas and Oregon all had 10 or more players picked, making up 49 of the 257 players chosen by the league’s 32 teams. 

Of all the selections, 150 of the players drafted finished their collegiate careers at SEC or Big Ten schools. Add in the ACC and Big 12, and that’s 233 of the 257. That doesn’t leave much room for anyone outside of the FBS to hear the phone ring during the seven rounds of the draft.

During last year’s NFL Draft, only eight FCS players and one HBCU standout were taken. No players from Division II or Division III got the call. 

In 2024, the draft included 11 FCS players, three international picks, one Division II athlete and no HBCU players. Again, no Division III selections. In fact, since 1990, only 21 Division III players have been drafted, with three in one year being the most. 

Since the debut of Division III in the early 1970s, and despite the fact that it’s home to more teams than any other category – by a wide margin – less than 30 Division III players have found their way to the NFL through the draft.

Quinn Meinerz from Wisconsin-Whitewater was the last Division III player drafted, going to the Denver Broncos in 2021.  

Even though the numbers are what they are after all these years, we’re still saying there’s a chance for the hard-working standouts lost within the ranks to become the sport’s next big success story.

Here are three lists of players we could see in the NFL someday:

• 10 Division II Players Who Could Be Selected In 2026 NFL Draft
• Non-FBS Players Who Could Be Selected In 2026 NFL Draft
• Division III Players Who Could Be Selected In 2026 NFL Draft

When The 2026 NFL Draft Is Over

There’s no doubt there are offices across the globe right now bustling with analysts and journalists and experts already working on future draft classes and making the next golden discovery.

As this year’s seven rounds unfold, it probably will be pretty close to the models and predictions, with a few shocks and surprises mixed in, of course. Otherwise, why would anyone tune in?

When it’s over, many of the superstars will go on to find success, just as expected. But those aren’t the stories anyone wants to see or hear.

• Who will be the next Mr. Irrelevant – the final pick in the draft – to turn that fate into a Super Bowl appearance?
• Which of the top picks will flame out?
• Will the seemingly slighted player get redemption on the field?
• Who will be the next Tom Brady, the “steal of the draft,” who goes on to accomplish amazing things?
• Who will emerge from the list of thousands of players to end up in the right place at the right time to secure an opportunity to play at the next level?
• Who will end up playing overseas or semi-pro and continue to knock on doors just for a chance to try out?
• Who will land a spot on a scout team and quietly climb the ranks and end up showered in confetti after being part of a championship?
• Will anyone from the Class of 2026 disappear from the sport after not getting drafted and then somehow get plucked from an unrelated career and find glory on the gridiron again?

About The 2026 NFL Draft

The 2026 NFL Draft, which will be held in Pittsburgh for the first time since 1948, will be the 91st edition of the event and will take place at Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium from April 23-25.

Traditionally, from a pool of almost 80,000 collegiate football players, approximately 3,000 make the list of eligible players who must be confirmed by the NFL Player Personnel staff, along with those who apply to enter early. 

Among this year’s possible selections are 63 underclassmen (21 players who have completed their degrees and 42 who didn’t graduate but received special eligibility).

From the list of draft-eligible players, just over 300 had the opportunity to participate in the NFL Combine from Feb. 23 through March 2. 

Since 1985, the Combine has allowed the top prospects in the country, at every position, to showcase their talent and character for team representatives. The agenda also includes medical exams, interviews and even psychological testing. 

In just over a month, dreams will come true for more than 250 athletes, who will at least have a chance to play in the NFL. That won’t be the end of the line for those who don’t get picked, but they’ll have to work a lot harder to get a team’s radar – and there’s a long list of players who have gone from undrafted to superstars and Super Bowl champions.

The 257 picks at the 2026 NFL Draft will take place over seven rounds, with the initial selection order of the 32 teams being the reverse of how they finished in last season’s standings. 

The first round, the only one held on the opening night of the festivities, begins with the last-place team and ends with the Super Bowl champion.

More recently, at the start of the 2025 NFL season, this story from NCAA.com noted that of all the NFL and lengthy rosters, only 66 former Division II players were listed when training camps started, and that number fell to 39 at the start of the regular season.

Going back one more year, here’s a list of Division II and Division III players who made NFL rosters in 2024.

How Does A Player Become Eligible For The NFL Draft?

From NFL.com:

To be eligible for the draft, players must have been out of high school for at least three years and must have used up their college eligibility before the start of the next college football season. 

Underclassmen and players who have graduated before using all their college eligibility may request the league’s approval to enter the draft early.

Players are draft-eligible only in the year after the end of their college eligibility. 

Before the draft, NFL Player Personnel staff members confirm the eligibility of draft prospects; that means researching the college backgrounds of approximately 3,000 college players each year. 

They work with NCAA compliance departments at schools across the country to verify the information for all prospects. They also check the rosters of college all-star games to make sure that only draft-eligible players play in the games.

The Player Personnel staff also review all of the applications submitted by players who want to enter the draft early. 

How To Watch The 2026 NFL Draft

The 2026 NFL Draft will take place April 23-25 at Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. 

Round 1 will take place April 23 (Thursday), Rounds 2-3 will be April 24 and Rounds 4-7 will be held April 25.

All of the excitement will be broadcast on ESPN, ABC and the NFL Network, while countless sites and experts, including FloFootball and FloCollege, will provide coverage and analysis from now until after the final pick on April 25.

Light Reading About Division II And Division III

• How Many D2 Football Teams Are There? Here’s A List
• List of Division II And Division III Football Alumni In 2025 To Make 53-Man Rosters
• 10 Division II Players Who Could Be Selected In 2026 NFL Draft
• Here's How The NCAA Division 3 Football Playoffs Work

2025 College Football Rankings 

Final AFCA FCS Coaches Poll For 2025 Season

1. Montana St. (14-2)
2. Illinois St. (12-5)
3. Montana (13-2)
4. Villanova (12-3)
5. North Dakota St. (12-1)
6. Tarleton St. (12-2)
7. Stephen F. Austin (11-3)
8. UC Davis (9-4)
9. Lehigh (12-1)
10. Rhode Island (11-3)
11. South Dakota (10-5)
12. ACU (9-5)
13. Yale (9-3)
14. South Dakota St. (9-5)
15. Tennessee Tech (11-2)
16. North Dakota (8-6)
17. Youngstown St. (8-5)
18. Mercer (9-3)
19. Southeastern Louisiana (9-4)
20. Monmouth (N.J.) (9-3)
21. Lamar (8-5)
22. Jackson St. (9-3)
23. Harvard (9-2)
24. West Georgia (8-3)
25. South Carolina St. (10-3)

Dropped Out: Southern Illinois (25)

Others Receiving Votes: New Hampshire, 35; Lafayette, 30; Southern Illinois, 29; Drake, 20; UT Rio Grande Valley, 20; Prairie View A&M, 16; Central Connecticut St., 15; Richmond, 15; Alabama St., 10; Presbyterian, 10; Southern Utah, 5; Austin Peay, 2.

Final AFCA Division II Coaches Poll For 2025 Season

1. Ferris St. (16-0)
2. Harding (15-1)
3. Kutztown (14-1)
4. Newberry (12-2)
5. UT Permian Basin (11-3)
6. Pittsburg St. (10-3)
7. Albany St. (12-2)
8. Minnesota St. (10-4)
9. West Florida (10-2)
10. UIndy (11-2)
11. Colorado St.-Pueblo (10-2)
12. Western Colorado (10-3)
13. Central Washington (10-2)
14. Frostburg St. (11-3)
15. Ashland (10-3)
16. Minnesota-Duluth (10-2)
17. Northwest Missouri St. (9-3)
18. Johnson C. Smith (10-2)
19. Findlay (10-2)
20. Benedict (10-3)
21. Virginia Union (9-3)
22. California (Pa.) (9-4)
23. Chadron St. (8-4)
24. Assumption (9-3)
25. Augustana (S.D.) (9-2)

Dropped Out: Grand Valley St. (20), Western Oregon (25)

Others Receiving Votes: Grand Valley St., 71; Wingate, 28; Western Oregon, 26; Valdosta St., 12; Slippery Rock, 8; Upper Iowa, 8; Indiana (Pa.), 4; Delta St., 3; Kentucky St., 3; West Texas A&M, 3; Charleston, 1; Southern Arkansas, 1.

FloCollege D2 Football Rankings: Through Week 11

1. Ferris State (Prev. 1)
2. Harding (Prev. 2)
3. Kutztown (Prev. 3)
4. West Florida (Prev. 4)
5. CSU Pueblo (Prev. 5)
6. Central Washington (Prev. 6)
7. Indianapolis (Prev. 8)
8. Virginia Union (Prev. 7)
9. Findlay (Prev. 11)
10. Minnesota State (Prev. 15)
11. Pittsburg State (Prev. 13)
12. Northwest Missouri State (Prev. 14)
13. Minnesota Duluth (Prev. 12)
14. Albany State (Prev. 21)
15. Augustana (SD) (Prev. 9)
16. Western Colorado (Prev. 10)
17. UT Permian Basin (Prev. 20)
18. Johnson C. Smith (Prev. 22)
19. Western Oregon (Prev. 25)
20. Ashland (Prev. 16)
21. Grand Valley State (Prev. 24)
22. Chadron State (Prev. RV)
23. Northwood (Prev. RV)
24. Newberry (Prev. RV)
25. Wingate (Prev. RV)

Also Received Votes: Delta State, Frostburg State, Slippery Rock, Michigan Tech, UNC Pembroke, Upper Iowa, Benedict, Kentucky State, Angelo State, Emory & Henry, Assumption, Northeastern State.

Final AFCA Division III Coaches Poll For 2025 Season

1. UW-River Falls (14-1)
2. North Central (14-1)
3. John Carroll (12-2)
4. Johns Hopkins (12-2)
5. Bethel (Minn.) (12-1)
6. Mount Union (11-1)
7. Wheaton (11-3)
8. St. John’s (Minn.) (10-2)
9. Berry (11-2)
10. UW-La Crosse (8-3)
11. UW-Platteville (9-3)
12. Salisbury (10-2)
13. DePauw (10-2)
14. Wartburg (10-1)
15. Susquehanna (11-3)
16. Trinity (Tex.) (10-2)
17. Hope (9-2)
18. Christopher Newport (10-1)
19. Hardin-Simmons (9-2)
20. UW-Whitewater (8-3)
21. Randolph-Macon (9-2)
22. Franklin & Marshall (9-2)
23. Eastern (10-2)
24. Endicott (9-2)
25. Alma (8-3)

Dropped Out: Cortland (22), Monmouth (Ill.) (25)

Others Receiving Votes: Monmouth (Ill.), 76; Springfield, 74; Coe, 55; Hanover, 49; LaGrange, 35; Cortland, 34; Washington & Jefferson, 27; Chapman, 22; Muhlenberg, 20; Mary Hardin-Baylor, 19; Wabash, 8; Whitworth, 8; Framingham St, 6; Grove City, 6; Adrian, 3; Linfield, 3; Central (Iowa), 2; Wesleyan, 2; Ursinus, 1.

Who Won The Each Football National Championship For The 2025-2026 Season?

• Division I FBS – Indiana def. Miami, 27-21
• Division I FCS – Montana State def. Illinois State 35-34 (OT)
• Division II – Ferris State def. Harding, 42-21
• Division III – University of Wisconsin-River Falls def. North Central (Ill.), 24-14

Grand Valley State vs. Ferris State Football | 2025 Anchor-Bone Classic Full Replay

Watch Grand Valley State vs. Ferris State Football in the 2025 Anchor-Bone Classic 

We won’t spoil it and tell you who won. Watch and find out!

Archived Footage On FloCollege

Video footage from all games will be archived and stored in a video library for FloCollege subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

Watch The 2025 College Football Season On FloCollege

FloCollege is the home of the best FCS, Division II and Division III football action all season long. 

Don't miss the latest college football action by bookmarking the FloCollege schedule page for the latest games. 

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