NFL Draft: Top 10 small school prospects

Despite having played their college careers at non-FBS schools, these players should be on your radar before this year’s NFL Draft.

One might normally consider the only college talent pool worth noticing to be the NCAA’s Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). It’s logical in terms of exposure, top-flight competition, coaches, and facilities; all of these factors swing in favor of FBS schools over their lower-tier Division Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) counterparts.

Yet somehow, FCS players and other small-school gridiron stars still find their way onto NFL rosters. In fact, as recently as 2017, 13 percent of all NFL players hailed from FCS schools, a total of 160 players. Some notable names in this group of pros include Carson Wentz, Joe Flacco, Adam Vinatieri, Cooper Kupp, David Johnson, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

The point is, don’t sleep on these guys when the NFL Draft rolls around. Future NFL stars can end up at smaller, lesser known schools for many reasons.

They may have been late bloomers in high school or they may have flown under the radar due to geography or high school size. Some may have only tapped into their true potential at the college level. Some may have struggled academically or behaviorally, and some may have simply wanted a change of environment from a big-time Division I program. Some may have been attracted to a culture of winning, even if it’s at the FCS level: for example, would you choose the upper-level mediocrity of playing for UTEP or would you like the mid-level dominance of North Dakota State?

19 FCS players were drafted last year by NFL teams, including four in the first three rounds. Don’t sleep on these guys before this year’s NFL Draft.