The second tier of college football in the United States – the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision – has existed in its current iteration since 1978.

That means nearly half a century of history, memories, champions, records and standouts moving on to the next level. 

But if you were going to pick the 30 best players from that timespan, how would you do it?

Is it fair to compare players from decades ago to the stars of today, even though the game and equipment have changed and evolved? 

Do you base it off career stats? By who was on the most successful team? By who was drafted? By who went on to have the most success in the NFL or other professional league?

• Here’s More Information About How To Watch Football On FloCollege
• Are Ivy League Teams Eligible For The FCS Playoffs? Here's What To Know
• What Type Of Scholarships Do Division II, III And FCS Football Players Get?
• How Many Conferences Are There In FCS Football?
• The NCAA Made It More Expensive For FCS Schools To Join FBS. It's A Lot

The opinions and answers to the above questions will vary. If 100 people attempted to make the list, it’s likely that no two would be the same.

We’re going to try, though, and even if everyone doesn’t agree, the hope is to generate some good discussion, build hype for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft (April 23-25 in Pittsburgh) and get everyone thinking about the 2026 college football season, which is just five months away!

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. From that short list, there are some players and moments we’ll never forget.

Below, is a list of 30 players who definitely should be part of any conversation about the FCS. 

To kick it off, nine former FCS players went on to have illustrious NFL careers and made their way into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and another is going in this year. Should that count for automatic inclusion on this list, whether they starred throughout college or were late-bloomers?

Is that entirely fair? Should this be based completely on their collegiate performances? Or potential? Or overall impact in the game of football? What about the fact that two dozen FCS players have been first-round draft picks. Should they automatically be on the list? What about this year’s draft prospects? 

We’re glad to discuss and see who others would have on their own lists, as there are many thousands of players to choose from!

Former FCS Players In Pro Football Hall Of Fame

Jared Allen, DE, Idaho State (2000-2003)

Jared Allen became the first player from the Big Sky Conference to win the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the best defensive player in the FCS (2003). 

He made 41 appearances for the Bengals, starting 33 times, while collecting 250 tackles, 73 tackles for loss, 38.5 sacks, 26 passes defended, 13 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and one blocked kick. 

He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft and was inducted into the Pro Football HOF in 2025 after playing for multiple teams.

Richard Dent, DE, Tennessee State (1979-1982)

Richard Dent, a two-time All-American, closed his time at Tennessee State with 158 total tackles, 39.5 sacks and six fumble recoveries.

In February 2026, TSU announced that Dent would be returning to the program as a special advisor to the head coach. 

After finishing his career with the Tigers, Dent was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the eighth round of the 1983 NFL Draft. He played for four NFL teams over 14 years and was part of the unforgettable Bears defense in the mid-1980s. 

He was the MVP in Chicago’s win over New England in Super Bowl XX to conclude the 1985 NFL season. Dent was the first HBCU alum to be named Super Bowl MVP and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. 

Charles Haley, DE/LB, James Madison (1982-1985)

Charles Haley left James Madison as the school’s all-time leading tackler with 506 career stops, and that record still stands. He also had 17 sacks and three interceptions. 

He then became the school’s first first-team Division I-AA/FCS All-America selection in 1985.

Haley was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 1986 NFL Draft, making him James Madison’s first draft pick. 

He went on to become the first player to win more than four Super Bowl rings, winning two with the 49ers and three with the Dallas Cowboys. His five wins (in five opportunities) still ranks second behind quarterback Tom Brady, who has seven. 

Haley was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, College Football Hall of Fame and Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor in 2011 and the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, and he then earned another double honor in 2015, going into the San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Randy Moss, WR, Marshall (1996-1997) 

Randy Moss only spent two seasons at Marshall, which came after signing with Notre Dame and then planning to play at Florida State, but his stay was impactful, including helping the Thundering Herd to a 15-0 record and the 1996 FCS national title.

He played in 28 games for Marshall, scoring at least one touchdown in each, while setting records and earning many awards, including being named an All-American (multiple times in 1996 and 1997) and the Mid-American Conference MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and MAC Championship Game MVP in 1997. 

The same year, he also won the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top receiver, and the Paul Warfield Trophy, awarded to the country’s top wide receiver, while finishing fourth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. 

Over his two seasons at Marshall, Moss scored 55 touchdowns, including a school-record 29 in 1996, and 3,529 career receiving yards, including a record 1,820 in 1997.

He still owns the school record for points in a season with 174 (1996) and ranks third with 158 (1997), as well as most receiving yards in a game (eight catches for 288 yards), most touchdown receptions in a game (five) and others. 

He was selected 21st overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1998 NFL Draft.

Moss was inducted into the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010, West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2019, Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2024.

Terrell Owens, WR, Chattanooga (1992-1995)

During his career at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Terrell Owens caught 144 passes for 2,320 yards and 19 touchdowns, still ranking second and third in program history, respectively, for the latter two.

He once had four touchdown catches in a game and finished his college career with 16.1 yards per catch and six 100-yard games. He also was a standout for the Mocs on the basketball court. 

Owens was a third-round pick for the San Francisco 49ers in the 1996 NFL Draft.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018 and the 49ers Hall of Fame a year later.

Jerry Rice, WR, Mississippi Valley State (1981-1984)

In 41 games at Mississippi Valley State, Jerry Rice caught 301 passes for 4,693 yards (15.59 yards per catch) and 50 touchdowns. 

He was a first-team All-American in 1984 while leading the nation in receiving and scoring and finished ninth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. He also was an All-American in 1983.

Rice helped the Delta Devils to a 21-9-1 record, including school-best 9-2 performance in 1984.

He set many school, conference and FCS records during his time at MVSU and left college as the all-time leader in multiple statistical categories. His name remains scattered across the NCAA FCS record book.

He still owns FCS records for touchdown receptions in a season (27), passes caught in a game (tied with 24) and most yards gained per game in a season (168.2).

Rice was a three-time All SWAC receiver and had 1,000 or more yards for three consecutive years.

He was selected 16th overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1985 NFL Draft, the only first-round pick in school history, and went on to be the MVP of Super Bowl XXIII. He won three Super Bowls with the 49ers

He was inducted into the SWAC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005, College Football Hall of Fame in 2006, Bay Area Sports and Mississippi Sports Halls of Fame in 2007 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

Michael Strahan, DE, Texas Southern (1989-1992)

Michael Strahan was dominant for the Texas South defense and was recognized nationally as the 1992 Division I-AA/FCS Defensive Player of the Year, as well as the Black College Defensive Player of the Year.

During that 1992 campaign, he tallied a school-record 19.5 sacks and 32 tackles for loss overall, and he finished his career at TSU with a school-record 41.5 sacks, 

He was a two-time first-team All-SWAC selection and two-time SWAC Player of the Year (1991, 1992).

Strahan was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft and played his entire career there, capping his time with a win in Super Bowl XLII and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2001. 

Strahan was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Giants Hall of Fame and the Black College Hall of Fame in 2014, the Texas Southern Hall of Fame in 2024 and College Football Hall of Fame in 2025.

Kurt Warner, QB, Northern Iowa (1990-1993)

Though Kurt Warner displayed clear talent in college, it wasn’t until his final year at the University of Northern Iowa that he broke out.

Sure, his name is all over the program’s record books, but not at the top of any lists. 

In 1993, his first year as the starting quarterback for the Panthers, he helped the team to an 8-4 record and a playoff spot, was named the Gateway Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year and earned first-team all-conference honors.  

In his career at UNI, his average yards per pass was 9.2 and his average yards per completion was 16.1. He completed 201 of 352 passes for 2,982 yards and 19 touchdowns, while throwing 16 interceptions. 

Warner still is ranked in the top-10 all-time at UNI in career passing efficiency, average yards per pass and average yards per completion. 

When he didn’t get drafted into the NFL, he worked locally and then returned to his alma mater to help as a graduate assistant. 

He then played arena football until making his NFL debut with the St. Louis Rams in 1998. A year later, he led the team to a win in the Super Bowl. 

He again proved his skills had not waned by helping the Arizona Cardinals (2008) to their first Super Bowl appearance, though they were defeated by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Is he the greatest undrafted player in NFL history? He certainly can back that up as the NFL’s MVP in 1999 and 2001, a Super Bowl title and MVP nod in SB XXXIV and spots in the Iowa Barnstormers Hall of Fame (2002), Arena Football Hall of Fame (2011) and Pro Football Hall of Fame (2017).

Aeneas Williams, DB, Southern University (1989-1990)

Aeneas Williams, a cornerback and safety, was a walk-on at Southern University, though he didn’t try to play until his junior year, when he chose to follow the athletic pursuits of his brother Achilles, who already was playing for Southern. 

Aeneas Williams was an All-Southwestern Conference selection in his second season – the first of two nods – as well as Black College All-American Defensive Player of the Year honors.

He chose to continue his career at Southern as a graduate student and fifth-year senior. 

In 1990, he led the nation in interceptions, tying the FCS record for INTs in a season with 11. He secured his second All-SWAC and Black College All-American nods.

He finished his three years of college football with 20 interceptions. 

Established in 2022, the Aeneas Williams Award is given to the top HBCU Division I defensive back each season. 

Williams was picked by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 1991 NFL Draft and played there for 10 seasons, before finishing his career with the St. Louis Rams. He made a Super Bowl appearance in SB XXXVI, where the Rams lost to the New England Patriots. 

Williams was a defense marvel in the NFL. 

He was the NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year for the 1991 season, an all-NFC player multiple times and was part of the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1990s. He earned eight Pro Bowl selections, among many other All-Pro honors and defensive accolades. 

He finished his career with 55 interceptions and once returned a fumble 104 yards for a touchdown. 

Williams was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

Adam Vinatieri, K, South Dakota State (1991-1994)

Adam Vinatieri was a star at South Dakota State, earning all-North Central Conference nods as a kicker (1992) and punter (1992-1994), as well as an NCAA Division II All-America selection as a punter in his final season with the Jackrabbits.

Though his records have since been broken, Vinatieri left his mark on the SDSU record books, departing with the single-season records for punting average (43.5 in 1994), longest field goal (51 yards, twice) and most points as a placekicker (195). 

Over his career, he became the school’s leader in PATs (104), points (185) and field goals (27).

Vinatieri was not drafted into the NFL and made his professional debut playing in NFL Europe. The stint was short, however, as he signed with the New England Patriots and played there from 1996-2005, winning three Super Bowl titles. 

He finished his career with the Indianapolis Colts, won another Super Bowl and stopped playing after the 2019 campaign.

He retired from the NFL after 24 years as the league’s all-time leading scorer (2,673 points), but that’s just one of more than a dozen records. The list includes most field goals (599), most 100-point seasons (21), postseason points (238) and overtime field goals made (12).

Vinatieri was inducted into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame in 2025 and will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026. 

NFL Stars Not Yet In The Pro Football Hall Of Fame

Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington (2013-2016)

Cooper Kupp is a star of the current generation.

He recently became the sixth former FCS player to be named Super Bowl MVP in helping the Rams defeat the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. He added a second Super Bowl title this year with the Seattle Seahawks. 

Kupp redshirted the 2012 season and then set the all-time FCS freshman records for receptions (93), receiving yards (1,691) and touchdown catches (21), earning All-America honors and winning the Jerry Rice Award for the best freshman in FCS.

He earned FCS All-America honors in four consecutive seasons, was the ADA FCS National Offensive Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016, the 2015 Stats National Offensive Player of the Year. And the 2015 Walter Payton Award winner. In 2019, he was named the STATS LLC NCAA FCS Player of the Decade. 

He also helped the Eagles to three Big Sky titles and three appearances in the FCS Playoffs. 

By the time he left the EWU campus, Kupp had set 15 FCS records, 11 Big Sky Conference marks and 26 school records. He played 52 games, tallying 6,464 receiving yards and 73 touchdowns on 428 catches. He averaged 15.1 yards per catch and 124.3 yards per game. 

He remains in the top spot in the FCS record book for career receptions, career receiving yards, career yards per game and career touchdown receptions. His name actually appears in the document more than 30 times. 

Joe Flacco, QB, Delaware (now FBS) (2006-2007)

Joe Flacco honed his skills at the University of Delaware for two years, and while the Blue Hens have since moved on to the FBS level, they played FCS football during his time there.

In 2007, he helped the team to an 11-4 record and a runner-up finish in the FCS Playoffs, with Delaware losing to two-time defending national champion Appalachian State. 

Flacco left the school with 20 program records and still holds the top mark for passing yards in a season (4,263). Across the two seasons, he passed for more than 7,000 yards, with both efforts still ranking among the top 10. His two-year total is second overall for a career at UD.

He also tops the team’s list for passing yards per game in a season (284.2), passing yards per game in a career (271), passes completed in a season (331), passes completed in a career (595), pass attempts in a season (521), pass attempts in a career (938), 200-yard passing games in a season (13), consecutive 200-yard passing games (15), 300-yard passing games in a season (seven) and career (11), total yards in a season (4,285), most plays in a season (585), total yards per game in a season (385.7) and total yards per game in a career (273.9).

He was named the CAA Offensive Player of the Year and ECAC All-East Player of the Year in 2007, and he was inducted into the UD Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.

Flacco was a first-round draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 – No. 18, the highest ever by a Delaware player – and consistently led the team to the NFL Playoffs, including a Super Bowl title in 2012, while being named the game’s MVP.

Since being drafted, Flacco has played for seven teams, and he recently signed a one-year contract to play for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2026.

Steve McNair, QB, Alcorn State, (1991-1994)

During his time at Alcorn State, Steve McNair was a four-time SWAC Offensive Player of the Year – the only one in history – and set over a dozen records at the FCS level, including the career record for total offensive yards (16,823) and total yards in a season (5,799), both of which still stand. 

He also remains atop the FCS lists for career yards per game (400.5), total yards per game for a season (527.2), most yards gained in three (1,626) and four (2,159) consecutive games, most games gaining 200 yards or more (tied with 41), most games in a career gaining 300 yards or more (tied with 32), most seasons gaining 3,000 yards or more (tied with four), most games gaining 500 yards or more in a season (six) and career (nine), among others. 

He threw for 119 touchdowns, and his 14,496 passing yards was a record at the time, too, but it was topped in 2018.

McNair led the Braves to SWAC titles in 1992 and 1994.

In his historic 1994 season, he won the Walter Payton Award, the Eddie Robinson Trophy as the nation’s best HBCU player and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting.

McNair is arguably the best FCS quarterback to ever play, and his talent was rewarded as the No. 3 overall pick in 1995 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. 

After the team relocated, he led the newly named Tennessee Titans to the Super Bowl in 1999 and came up just short of getting the Titans past the St. Louis Rams, who made a goal-line stand in the final seconds. 

McNair played in the NFL for 11 seasons, made three Pro Bowls with the Titans and was the NFL MVP in 2003. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2021. 

McNair was killed in 2009. 

Nate Newton, OL/DL, Florida A&M (1979-1982)

Nate Newton found success early in his career playing on both the offensive and defensive lines, but he eventually settled into the offensive scheme at Florida A&M and found a home at right tackle. He was an All-MEAC selection in 1980.

Newton was not drafted to the NFL out of college, though he was picked by the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL. 

He decided to sign with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent, was cut from their training camp in 1983 and was injured in a car accident. 

Newton was able to play in the USFL for two seasons, and when the league shut down, he finally made it to the NFL, signing with the Dallas Cowboys in 1986, and that was the start of his legacy in the league. 

He had three Super Bowl wins with Cowboys from 1992-1995 and was a part of the team’s success for a dozen years. While he also was known for his speed, his immense size – over 6 feet tall and usually between 330-400 pounds – earned him the nickname “The Kitchen.”

He made it to the Pro Bowl six times and was a two-time All-Pro selection. 

Newton was inducted into the Florida A&M Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2022. 

Phil Simms, QB, Morehead State (1975-1978)

While many athletes excel in college and then fail to see that translate to the professional ranks, many would argue that Phil Simms’ trajectory was the opposite. His stats at Morehead State were a bit unremarkable, but he went on to have an exemplary career in the NFL.

Additionally, from 1973 through 1977, the Eagles played at the NCAA Division II level, only moving up to NCAA Division I-AA/FCS for the final year of Simms’ collegiate career.   

Should that make him ineligible for this list? Or added to an addendum for players who played at FCS schools prior to the changes in NCAA football in the early 1970s?

If this counts, here are some details.

Simms threw for 5,545 yards and 32 touchdowns at Morehead State. He was an All-Ohio Valley Conference selection and the OVC Player of the Year in 1977.

Technically, when he was picked seventh overall by the New York Giants in the 1979 NFL Draft, he was being picked from an FCS program. 

He went on to play 14 seasons in the NFL and was named MVP during the team’s win over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI. He also was part of the team that went on to claim Super XXV, though he was sidelined with a broken bone in his foot late in the season.

Simms was inducted into the Morehead State University Athletic Hall of Fame and received a spot in the Giants Ring of Honor in 1995, and he was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

In 2025, Morehead’s home stadium was named in his honor – Phil Simms Stadium. 

Doug Williams, QB, Grambling State (1974-1977)

Doug Williams was a four-year starting quarterback at Grambling State and helped the Tigers to three Southwestern Athletic Conference titles and a 36-7 overall record.

He was an All-American and twice was named the Black College Player of the Year.

Williams departed Grambling State with a pair of NCAA records – 8,411 passing yards, 8,354 yards of total offense and 93 touchdowns.

After a spectacular 1977 campaign that saw him lead multiple offensive categories nationally, Williams finished fourth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.

Only one NFL team showed interest in Williams, but that’s all he needed. He was picked 17th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft, becoming the first Black quarterback ever taken in the opening round.

Williams briefly left the NFL to play in the USFL, but he returned to the former as a member of the Washington Redskins (now the Commanders). 

He became the first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl (SB XXII), and his performance in that win over the Denver Broncos earned him MVP honors.

After his professional career, Williams returned to Grambling State for two stints as the head football coach. 

Williams was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (1993), College Football Hall of Fame in 2001, Grambling Legends Hall of Fame (2025) and the Washington D.C. Sports Hall of Fame, and he is a contender for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

He also was added to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor and the Washington Redskins Ring of Fame in 2015.

Williams was a co-founder of the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2009 and was enshrined in it in 2011. 

The Latest Generation Of FCS Standouts

Some of the best FCS players in history didn’t go on to NFL greatness. Some didn’t even make it, or haven’t yet had the opportunity to get on the field.

Matt Cannon, QB, Southern Utah, (1997-2000)

Matt Cannon was a four-year starting quarterback at Southern Utah and ran his way into the FCS record book.

He’s third in FCS history (behind a tie at the top) with 69 rushing touchdowns. He rushed for more yards (as a quarterback) than any other FCS player since 1978 (4,852).

In all, not just from the QB position, Cannon ran the ball 757 times for 5,489 yards. At the time, he was the only Southern Utah player to rush for more than 1,000 yards three times. He played quarterback, slotback and punter. 

The first-team All-American finished his career with 8,390 total yards, and nearly three decades later, he still holds school records for rushing touchdowns in a season (23 and 22 in 1999 and 2000), most points in a season (138 in 1999 and 132 in 2000), career rushes (757), net rushing yards (5,489), rushing TDs (69) and career points (416).

Cannon went on to play professional for the Hamburg Blue Devils in Germany and led the team to the German Bowl (the championship game of the German Football League) in 2001. The Blue Devils won 31-13, and Cannon was named the game’s MVP.

Cannon was recognized in 2000 as a National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete and was inducted into the Southern Utah Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.

Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois (2016-2019)

Jeremy Chinn was a safety and cornerback during his time at Southern Illinois, where he racked up an FCS Freshman All-America first-team honor (2016), FCS All-America nod (2019) and added a handful of Missouri Valley Football Conference accolades over the years. 

In 38 games for the Salukis (27 starts), Chinn tallied 243 total tackles – five for a loss, plus one sack – 31 passes defended, 13 interceptions, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a blocked field goal. 

Perhaps unexpectedly, based on projections, Chinn was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the second-round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He played there from 2020-2023, went to the Washington Commanders in 2024 and now plays for the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Charles Grant, OL, William & Mary (2021-2024)

Charles Grant, an offensive tackle, just played his first season with the Las Vegas Raiders after a standout career at William & Mary, where he was a two-time first-team FCS All-American and a two-time CAA first-team selection. 

Grant was the first player to earn, and accept, an invitation to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl, he was invited to the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl, he was a Payton Award Watch List Finalist and was named the FCS National Offensive Lineman of the Year by Phil Steele after a breakout senior campaign in 2024.

He was selected by the Raiders in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Boomer Grigsby, LB, Illinois State (2001-2004)

If Illinois State looks familiar, it’s because the Redbirds recently were in the headlines for reaching the championship game of the 2025 NCAA FCS Championship, where they lost a 35-34 overtime heartbreaker to Montana State.

But before that result, or the team’s runner-up finish to North Dakota State in 2014, there was linebacker Boomer Grigsby.

Grigsby played 44 games for Illinois State and still is among the FCS record-holders.

Since 2000, he owns the FCS mark for solo tackles per game in a season (9.8) and career solo tackles (325). His 16.27 total tackles per game in a season and 550 career total tackles also rank first. 

At ISU, he holds or shares the record for most tackles in a Missouri Valley Football Conference contest (26), most total tackles in season by a freshman (93) and junior (179), total tackles in career (580), unassisted tackles in a season (109), average tackles per game in a season (16.3) and career (13.2).

The three-time first-team All-American’s continued success helped him become the first player to be named the MVFC Defensive Player of the Year three times. 

Grigsby was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played for the Chiefs from 2005-2007, the Miami Dolphins in 2008 and attempted to earn a roster spot with the Houston Texans in 2009.

He was inducted into the Illinois State Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame in 2010 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022.

Devlin Hodges, QB, Samford (2015-2018)

Devlin Hodges had an extended career at Samford that spanned 2014-2018 but included two redshirt seasons.

During the 2018 campaign, Hodges became the FCS’ all-time leader in career passing yards with 14,584 yards. He’s also the FCS career leader in most passes attempted (1,896), most passes completed per game in a season (35.3) and most completions for a career (1,310).

Hodges owns the top marks for yards gained against one opponent (2,010 vs. Western Carolina) and most yards per game against one opponent (502.5, Western Carolina).

His milestone-making 2018 season helped him lock up that year’s Walter Payton Award (first in school history) and the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year honor for the third consecutive season.

His final year with the Bulldogs included single-season school records for completions (388), attempts (550), passing yards (4,283) and total offense (4,596). He already owned the school record for touchdown passes in a season (36). He left Samford with nearly two dozen school records.

Along with his record-setting numbers, Hodges tallied 111 touchdown passes, 15,601 total yards and 2,266 plays.

He even had multiple games with six touchdown passes and was responsible for seven TDs in a game on two occasions in 2018.

Hodges signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019 as an undrafted free agent, but not much transpired for him professionally, as he was signed and released by multiple NFL teams. He then took his talents to the Canadian Football League in late 2021, but he officially retired from professional football in April 2022. 

He was inducted into the Samford Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024.

Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State (2022-2025)

Bryce Lance is an overwhelming favorite among experts and bloggers when it comes to the top talent in the FCS, and that has him in the discussion for potentially being selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

If his name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the younger brother of Trey Lance, the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The younger Lance burst out of his brother’s shadow in 2024 as a redshirt junior, and if you pull up an All-America list now, he’s likely on it. 

Bryce Lance led the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2025 with 83 receiving yards per game and became the first receiver in Bison history with multiple 1,000-yard seasons.

For the year, he totaled 1,079 yards (11th in FCS) and eight touchdowns on 51 catches. 

He entered the 2024 campaign with one reception for 7 yards in 28 appearances for North Dakota State across 2022 and 2023. His breakout season included 75 receptions for 1,071 yards and 17 touchdowns in 16 games. 

NDSU was 12-1 in 2025, with the loss coming in the second round of the FCS Playoffs to eventual national runner-up Illinois State.

Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State (2018-2020)

If there was an award to win or a first-team to be named to, Trey Lance definitely was in the conversation, if not the one collecting the hardware.

Among the highlights from the lengthy list of his accolades are: 

• MVFC Honor Roll (2018, 2019)
• MVFC Freshman of the Year (2019)
• MVFC Newcomer of the Year (2019)
• MVFC Offensive Player of the Year (2019)
• Phil Steele FCS Offensive Player of the Year (2019)
• FCS/ADA Offensive Player of the Year (2019)
• FCS/ADA Offensive Player of the Year (2019)
• CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year (2019)
• STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award (2019)
• STATS FCS Walter Payton Award (2019)
• NCAA Division I FCS Football Championship title game MVP (2020)
• Plus, first- and second-team honors from multiple organizations.

Even more impressive is that Lance only played in 19 games for North Dakota State – two in 2018, 16 in 2019 and one in 2020 – and the Bison were 19-0 with him on the field, including a pair of FCS national championships in 2018 and 2019. 

His NDSU career stats as a passer included completing 208 of 318 passes for 2,947 yards and 30 touchdowns. He only threw one interception in his collegiate career, and that came in his lone game in 2020. He also ran for 1,325 yards and 18 touchdowns on 192 carries. 

From the list above, it’s clear that 2019 is the year that defined the Trey Lance legacy, and his dominance on the gridiron included going the entire season, 287 pass attempts, without throwing an interception.  

Lance owns school records for career passing efficiency (173.8), total offense per play (8.38 yards), passing efficiency in a season (180.6) and total yards in a season (3,886). 

With COVID-19 wreaking havoc on his collegiate career, Lance decided his path was leading to the NFL, and he was a first-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 NFL Draft. 

So far, Lance has been hindered by a season-ending ankle injury in 2022 and has appeared in just 16 NFL games, while playing for three teams. In 2026, he’ll be playing for the Los Angeles Chargers. 

Rashean Mathis, DB/CB, Bethune-Cookman (1999-2002) 

Rashean Mathis is known as one of the best defensive players who ever played at Bethune-Cookman University, as well as professionally for the nearby Jacksonville Jaguars.

Mathis recorded four interceptions in a game against Delaware State in 2000 and three interceptions in a game against Florida Atlantic in 2002. 

He owns the school record for interceptions in a season with 14 and is second in career INTs with 31, behind only Alvin Wyatt Sr., who had 34 in the 1960s prior to the restructuring of NCAA football and the Wildcats brief move to Division II. 

Mathis also owns the Bethune-Cookman marks for interception return yards in a game (188), season (455) and career (682). His longest return was 100 yards. His season and career numbers are FCS records. 

His 14 interceptions in 2002 remains the highest at the FCS level since 2000, his 31 career picks still is a record and his 682 return yards also is a FCS-best.

Mathis earned three All-MEAC honors and one All-America selection in his time at BCU. He was the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2002 and took home the Buck Buchanan Award the same year as the best defensive player in the FCS. 

After leaving Bethune-Cookman, Mathis was selected by the Jaguars in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played 10 seasons in Jacksonville and three years for the Detroit Lions, officially retiring in 2016.

Mathis was inducted into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2025.

Arnold Mickens Jr., RB, Butler (1994-1995)

Nowadays, we see a lot of discussion about players moving up a level to continue their college football journeys. They’re usually looking to hone their skills, increase their visibility and play against tougher competition.

Arnold Mickens Jr. took a much different path, but he was able to go from limited playing time to getting the chance to spend a season in the NFL.

Mickens started his college football career with three years at Indiana University – one redshirt and two on the defensive side of the ball, though he shined defensively and offensively in high school.

After his time at IU, during which he played in the elite Big Ten Conference and top-tier FBS, he moved to Butler University, also in Indiana, and starred for two years as a running back.

The Bulldogs had only just moved to the FCS level from Division II for the 1993 season, and Mickens helped them find their footing during the 1994 and 1995 campaigns. 

His time at Butler may have been brief, but it was impactful and saw him earn All-America honors both seasons, while leading the nation in rushing in 1994 with 2,255 yards.

He set 18 FCS records, some of which still stand: most rushes in a quarter (20), half (tied with 32) and game (56); most rushes per game in a season (40.9); most rushes per game in a career (38.2); most rushes in two consecutive games (110); most consecutive carries by the same player (26); most yards gained per game in a season (225.5); most 200-yard games in a season (eight); most consecutive 200-yard games (eight); most yards gained in four consecutive games (tied with 1,109); earliest game to 1,000 yards (tied – fifth); yards per game in a career (190.7).

Though he was not drafted into the NFL, Mickens’ strategy earned him the chance to sign with the Indianapolis Colts in 1996. He was in the league for just one season and appeared in three games. 

Mickens was inducted into the Butler Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009. He died in 2022 at the age of 49.

Adrian Peterson, RB, Georgia Southern (1998-2001)

If you happen to name your child Adrian Peterson, make sure to get a football in his (or her) hands as early as possible, as he/she likely is all but a shoe-in for elite football.

We’re joking, but also not. 

Adrian Peterson was a standout running back for six NFL teams after an award-winning career at FBS standout Oklahoma. He’s best known for the success he found with the Minnesota Vikings from 2007-2016.

HOWEVER – this isn’t him! 

This Adrian Peterson is six years older and also enjoyed a stint in the NFL, and while his pro career wasn’t as decorated, he became a FCS legend during his time at Georgia Southern.

From the backfield at GSU, Peterson rushed for 9,161 yards and 114 touchdowns on 1,378 carries. He added 29 receptions for 259 yards and another three scores. 

Not counting the playoffs, his 6,559 rushing yards on 996 carries remains a FCS record for career yards, and he’s tied for No. 1 in career rushing touchdowns with 84. 

He’s also second in career yards per game (156.2), career points for non-kickers (524), career points per game (12.48).

His name appears in the FCS records nearly two dozen times. 

During his time with the Eagles, they were the national runners-up to Massachusetts in 1998 and then won consecutive FCS national championships in 1999 and 2000. In 1999, he earned the Walter Payton Award.

Peterson was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. After almost a decade with the Bears, he attempted to earn a roster spot for the Seattle Seahawks and then jumped briefly to the United Football League.

The four-time All-American and two-time conference Offensive Player of the Year was an inaugural member of the Southern Conference Hall of Fame in 2009, was inducted into the Georgia Southern Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

Kaleb Proctor, DT, Southeastern Louisiana (2022-2025)

After leading Southeastern Louisiana to the 2025 FCS Playoffs, defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor had the opportunity to showcase his skills at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, making him the fifth Lion to earn that chance since the program returned in 2003 from an 18-year hiatus.

Proctor is looking to become the school’s third NFL draft pick since the team returned. 

In 2025, he helped the Lions to a 9-4 record and their sixth FCS playoff appearance. Proctor was one of the leaders on a defense that was among the top 12 in the FCS in seven categories. 

Individually, he earned multiple All-America honors and was the 2025 Southland Conference Player of the Year.

He had 43 total tackles with 13 TFLs and nine sacks, with the first-round playoff loss to Illinois State included. He finished his career with 134 total tackles, featuring 26 TFLs and 16 sacks.

Ethan Ratke, K, James Madison (2017-2021) 

It may not seem like the most glamorous or highest-paid position, but every team needs a kicker. 

How many games end up coming down to a last-minute field goal? How many teams don’t put enough thought into this position until after something bad happens?

Should the numbers Ethan Ratke put up during his time at James Madison have earned him the opportunity to play at the next level?

Not only did Ratke play through the effects of COVID-19 and a global shutdown, he managed to put up record numbers, including most points scored by kicking in a season (150), per game in a season (10.7), in a career (542) and per game in a career (9.3).

Oh, and don’t forget most field goals attempted in a career (117), most field goals made in a season (tied with 29), most field goals made in a career (101), highest percentage of field goals over 40 yards made (tied with 75%), most times kicking two or more field goals in a game (31) and most times kicking three or more field goals in a game (13).

Ratke, who played in 58 games for James Madison, earned multiple All-America honors, was the CAA Special Teams Player of the Year, broke the CAA record for career field goals and scoring and won the 2021 Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place Kicker Award as the top kicker during the 2021 season. 

Ratke might’ve squeaked into the top 10 list of the best kickers in his draft class. The NFL didn’t come calling. An XFL tryout and free-agent camp also led nowhere. 

Finally, he was given an opportunity to play for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League, two years later, in 2023. He was released by the team less than a month later, and that seems to be where his football journey ended.

Terrance West, RB, Towson (2011-2013)

After considering multiple universities, Terrance West decided on Towson University and went on to have a record-setting collegiate career with the Tigers as a running back.

His impact was immediate, and he helped Towson to an epic turnaround as a freshman that saw the Tigers go from 1-10 in 2010 to 9-3 in 2011, including their first Coastal Athletic Association championship and a trip to the FCS Playoffs. 

West’s efforts helped him earn the inaugural Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman at the FCS level. 

West was a three-time All-American, including a first-team nod in 2013 when he led all of college football with 2,519 rushing yards (413 carries) and 41 rushing touchdowns, both FCS single-season records that still stand, along with most total touchdowns in a season (42). He also was a three-time All-CAA first-team selection.

During his final campaign at Towson, West scored at least one touchdown in all 16 games the team played, led the Tigers to the title game of the 2013 FCS Football Championship, where they fell to powerhouse North Dakota State 35-7, and was named the FCS Player of the Year.

In Towson’s quarterfinal win over Eastern Illinois that year, West ran for a playoff-record 354 yards and found the end zone five times. 

In his three years with the Tigers, West rumbled for 4,849 yards on 802 carries and scored 84 touchdowns, tying the FCS record for TDs. He still shares the record with Georgia Southern’s Adrian Peterson, though Peterson needed five more games.

With his two receiving touchdowns added in, West ranks third all time for total touchdowns. 

He remains atop the all-time list for most points scored in a season (252), points per game over a career (13.95), most touchdowns per game over a career (2.32), most touchdowns by a freshman (29)

West was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He was the fifth player in Towson history to be drafted and was the team’s highest overall selection at No. 94.

His NFL career lasted four seasons and saw him play for three teams. He then signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2018, but he was cut before the regular season began. 

Brian Westbrook, Villanova (1997-2001)

Villanova’s Brian Westbrook certainly left his mark on the FCS record book as a running back/kick returner.

He owns the following records:

• Most all-purpose yards gained in a season (3,026) (He’s No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 on this list)
• Most yards per game in a season (275.1) (He’s No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 on this list)
• Most all-purpose yards gained in a career (9,512)
• Most yards gained per game in a career (216.2)
• Only player with 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season (1998)
• Most passes caught by a running back in a season (89)
• Most points scored in a career as a non-kicker (544)
• Most touchdowns scored in a career (89)

While playing for the Wildcats, Westbrook was a three-time first-team All-American, a three-time all-conference selection, a two-time Atlantic 10 Conference Offensive Player of the Year and the winner of the Walter Payton Award as the top player in the FCS in 2001. 

Westbrook was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played eight seasons for the Eagles, while being selected to the Pro Bowl twice. He finished his career in 2010, playing one season for the San Francisco 49ers, though he officially retired as an Eagle in 2012. 

He was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame in 2015, the Villanova University Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2016 and the College Football Hall of Fame and Senior Bowl Hall of Fame in 2023. He’s also a member of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame and the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame.

Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State (2020-2024)

Because of the pandemic, Grey Zabel was able to ease into his collegiate career at North Dakota State and comfortably become part of the team’s growing legacy.

More often than not, the offense linemen get overlooked for the spotlight and headlines because they don’t rack up any insane stats, but they’re the ones responsible for protecting the quarterback and opening the holes for the players in the backfield.

And his hard work didn’t go unnoticed or unrewarded. 

He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks with the 18th pick of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft – the highest spot in history for a lineman from the FCS, and he’s already a Super Bowl champion. The Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots in SB LX in February 2026.

As an offensive tackle (left tackle, right tackle, left guard, right guard) for the Bison, Zabel played in five games in 2020 and then 11, 15, 15 and 16 over the next four seasons (62 games total). He became a starter in 2022 and started 36 consecutive contests. 

He helped NDSU to two of the 10 FCS national championships the team has won since 2011. The Bison defeated Montana State in 2021 and 2024 and fell to South Dakota State in the 2022 championship game. 

In the 2024 regular season, he played 752 reps with a 93% overall grade, one sack allowed and two penalties. NDSU led the FCS in first downs (361) and team passing efficiency (178.6), ranked second in completion percentage (.718) and was third in third-down conversion percentage (.545) and scoring offense (38.1).

Zabel earned multiple first-team All-America honors and was an All-MVFC first-teamer in 2024. He was invited to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl and the 2025 NFL Combine.

Timeline Of College Football

The first collegiate football championship was shared by Princeton and Rutgers in 1869, with Princeton winning again in 1870, 1872 and 1873. No title was awarded in 1871.

From early 1900s to 1955, there was no divisional structure.

From 1956-1972, schools were broken into two categories – University Division and College Division.

In 1973, the University Division became known as Division I, which happened simultaneously with the creation of Division II and Division III.

The first Division II and Division III football titles were earned in 1973, claimed by Louisiana Tech (Division II) and Wittenberg (Division III).

Five years later, in time for the 1978 season, Division I was divided into Division I-A and Division I-AA (only for football), and the first Division I-AA/FCS national title was awarded. It went to Florida A&M, which defeated Massachusetts 35-28.

Prior to the 2006 season, the Division I categories were renamed to Division I FBS and Division I FCS.

What Makes FCS Teams Different Than FBS?

The FBS is the highest level of collegiate football and features the biggest, most sports-forward schools in the nation, most of which come from the most prolific conferences, have the biggest budgets, media contracts and stadiums, meet minimum requirements for attendance and offer 85 full scholarships. 

The FBS gets the most exposure, generally attracts the top talent and sends the most players to the NFL.

The FBS includes 129 schools, 10 conferences and a 1% chance of getting recruited.

In 2025, the FCS also featured 129 teams, and they were spread across 13 conferences. 

FCS schools generally are smaller academically and athletically, they emphasize regional competition and conference-based scheduling, they play in smaller stadiums, generate less media revenue and they can only offer 63 scholarships, though they can be divided amongst more than 63 players. 

The FCS postseason also is different, as it features a 24-team playoff bracket – 11 automatic qualifiers from conferences and 13 at-large bids selected by the FCS Championship Committee. Wait, that doesn’t add up. It’s because two of the conferences choose not to participate in the playoffs and have their own postseason events. 

The FBS uses the College Football Playoff, which as of 2024, includes 12 teams selected by a committee.

Of the 257 selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, 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 didn’t leave much room for the other FBS conferences, FCS, Division II and Division III players. 

Only eight FCS players and one HBCU standout were taken in 2025. 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. 

Since 2010, there have been 20 or more FCS players drafted just three times, with the number as low as five in 2021. 

Since 1990, only 22 Division III players have been drafted, with three in one year being the most. 

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

Ali Marpet, drafted 61st overall in 2015 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is the highest Division III draftee in history. He played at Hobart College in Geneva, New York. 

Here Are The Eight FCS Players Who Were Drafted In 2025

• Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State — Seattle Seahawks, Round 1
• Charles Grant, OL, William & Mary — Las Vegas Raiders, Round 3
• David Walker, Edge, Central Arkansas — Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Round 4
• Carson Vinson, OL, Alabama A&M — Baltimore Ravens, Round 5
• Jackson Slater, OL, Sacramento State — Tennessee Titans, Round 5
• Tommy Mellott, QB/WR, Montana State — Las Vegas Raiders, Round 6
• Cam Miller, QB, North Dakota State — Las Vegas Raiders, Round 6
• Junior Bergen, WR, Montana — San Francisco 49ers, Round 7
• Isaiah Bolden, CB, Jackson State University — New England Patriots, Round 7

Number Of FCS Players Drafted In Recent Years

From NCAA.com:

• 2025 — 8
• 2024 — 11
• 2023 — 10
• 2022 — 20
• 2021 — 5
• 2020 — 6
• 2019 — 13
• 2018 — 19
• 2017 — 15
• 2016 — 20
• 2015 — 1
• 2014 — 19
• 2013 — 19
• 2012 — 15
• 2011 — 21
• 2010 — 19

2025 FCS 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.

About The NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs 

The FCS Playoffs feature a 24-team bracket. The top 16 teams are seeded, and the top eight seeds receive first-round byes. 

The rest of the field (the remaining 16 teams) play in the first round, with the No. 9 through No. 16 expected to host, if possible. Their opponents are selected by regional proximity, if possible, to ensure the shortest trip possible for the teams. 

However, the first round also tries to avoid any matchups featuring conference teams that have played each other.

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.

Of those 39, three hailed from Division II powerhouse Ferris State, which has won four of the last five Division II national championships (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025).

But who has what it takes this year?

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

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 To 2025 Make 53-Man Rosters
• Here's How The NCAA Division 3 Football Playoffs Work

Inside The Rise Of JMU Football With Head Coach Curt Cignetti

Before moving on to the FBS, James Madison football was built in the CAA under head coach Curt Cignetti, who recently led Indiana to the 2026 national championship.

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. 

Join The College Football Conversation

• Follow us on Twitter @FloCollegeFB
• Follow us on Instagram @FloCollegeFootball
• Follow us on TikTok @FloCollegeFootball
• Watch us on YouTube
• Like us on Facebook