FCS Prospects in 2024 NFL Draft: A Preview of the Class

Offensive linemen are usually in demand among FCS prospects in the NFL Draft.

Over the last 10 years, 33 of the big boys up front have had their name called during the seven-round draft.

It’s no different this week with the likes of Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie and South Dakota State’s two-time national championship duo of Garret Greenfield and Mason McCormick as some of the FCS prospects projected to become NFL Draft selections.

A signing frenzy starts immediately after the draft, when well over 100 former FCS players are usually among the undrafted prospects who are signed by teams or invited to tryouts.

Heading toward the three-day event, which begins Thursday night, here is a breakdown of leading FCS prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft:

NFL Draft Particulars

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held at Campus Maritus Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit.

Thursday, April 25 (8-11:30 p.m. ET)

• TV: NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes
• Round 1: Picks 1-32 (10 minutes allotted to teams between selections)

Friday, April 26 (7-11:30 p.m. ET)

• TV: NFL Network, ABC, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes
• Round 2: Picks 33-64 (seven minutes)
• Round 3: Picks 65-100 (five minutes)

Saturday, April 27 (Noon-7 p.m. ET)

• TV: NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes
• Round 4: Picks 101-135 (five minutes)
• Round 5: Picks 136-176 (five minutes)
• Round 6: Picks 177-220 (five minutes)
• Round 7: Picks 221-257 (four minutes)

FCS Prospects in 2024 NFL Draft

The average round below is a comparison of Draft Scout, Draft Buzz, Josh Buchanan Scouting and Pro Football Focus:

Kiran Amegadjie, Yale, OT (6-5, 323)

• Rankings Projection: Round 3
• 2023 Stats Perform All-America: Third Team
• Notable: Amegadjie (pronounced Ahm-eh-ged-do) was limited to four games as a senior because of a quad injury, but the Ivy League left tackle is considered as a potential draft steal. He has the right frame, arm length (over 36 inches) and physical style for quick development.

Jalyx Hunt, Houston Christian, DE (6-4, 252)

• Rankings Projection: Round 4
• 2023 Stats Perform All-America: Second Team
• Notable: Former Cornell safety added good weight and strength for his two seasons as an edge rusher at HCU. He tied for the Southland Conference high in tackles for loss as a junior and finished second in sacks last season.

Mason McCormick, South Dakota State, OG (6-4, 305)

• Rankings Projection: Round 5
• 2023 Stats Perform All-America: First Team
• Notable: Strong performances at the East-West Shrine Bowl and NFL Combine have boosted the veteran of six seasons, 57 career starts and two FCS college football championships at SDSU. Has a knack for getting downfield as a run blocker and with finishing plays.

Dylan Laube, New Hampshire, RB (5-10, 206)

• Rankings Projection: Round 5 or 6
• 2023 Stats Perform All-America: First Team
• Notable: Ranked 12th (2019), fourth (2021), first (2022) and first (2023) in the FCS in all-purpose yards per game over his four full seasons. Set the subdivision record for a running back with 295 receiving yards against Central Michigan last season.

(FCS Prospects in 2024 NFL Draft: Dylan Laube hurdles adversity like tacklers)

Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State, RB (6-0, 218)

• Rankings Projection: Round 5 or 6
• 2023 Stats Perform All-America: First Team
• Notable: Big-game player used a bulldozer style to rush for 50 career touchdowns – the second-most in the FCS since 2020 (46 games). In 16 playoff games, he gained 100+ rushing yards 12 times and scored at least one touchdown 14 times.

Myles Harden, South Dakota, CB (5-11, 195)

• Rankings Projection: Round 6
• 2023 Stats Perform All-America: First Team
• Notable: A physical tackler, Harder has the athleticism to play in press or zone coverage. He collected 10 takeaways (six interceptions, four fumble recoveries) during his USD career.

Jalen Coker, Holy Cross, WR (6-1, 208)

• Rankings Projection: Round 6
• 2023 Stats Perform All-America: First Team
• Notable: His 42.5-inch vertical jump at the NFL Combine underscored Holy Cross’ all-time leading receiver’s ability to high point catches. He had the most touchdown receptions in the FCS both last season (15) and across the last two seasons combined (26).

Khristian Boyd, Northern Iowa, DT (6-2, 320)

• Rankings Projection: Round 6
• 2023 Stats Perform All-America: Third Team
• Notable: Surely the top-ranked FCS draft prospect who didn’t receive an NFL Combine invite, this burly defensive lineman impressed at the Hula Bowl, East-West Shrine Game and UNI pro day (38 reps on 225-pound bench press). He had 43 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss a year ago.

Ryan Flournoy, Southeast Missouri, WR (6-1, 202)

• Rankings Projection: Round 6
• 2023 Stats Perform All-America: Not Selected
• Notable: A versatile wide receiver who works well in traffic or space, Flournoy impressed during Senior Bowl week. He excelled against top opponents as a junior, including 256 and 161 receiving yards against Eastern Kentucky and Montana, respectively, but was limited to nine games by injury last season.

Jalen Sundell, North Dakota State, C (6-5, 301)

• Rankings Projection: Round 6
• 2023 Stats Perform All-America: Third Team
• Notable: Sundell graded out 91% overall last year after returning from an injury that limited him to five games in 2022. NDSU’s offensive line has had a selection in each of the past three drafts and five times in the last 10 drafts.

C.J. Hanson, Holy Cross, OG (6-5, 300)

• Rankings Projection: Round 7
• 2023 Stats Perform All-America: Third Team
• Notable: Technically sound and one of the more athletic O-linemen in the NFL Draft class, Hanson still must add strength to his tall, lean frame. He joins Coker in seeking to give Holy Cross its first draft pick since 1989.

Jaden Shirden, Monmouth, RB (5-8, 187)

• Rankings Projection: Round 7
• 2023 Stats Perform All-America: First Team
• Notable: While finishing third for the Walter Payton Award in each of the past two seasons, the breakaway threat has averaged 48.4 yards on 23 touchdown runs. An early entry into the 2024 draft, he ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

Garret Greenfield, South Dakota State, OT (6-6, 311)

• Rankings Projection: Round 7
• 2023 Stats Perform All-America: First Team
• Notable: Greenfield made 55 career starts and gained three different first-team postseason selections on the Stats Perform FCS All-America Team. His 38.5-inch vertical jump at the NFL Combine for a record for an offensive lineman.

25 More FCS Prospects in 2024 NFL Draft (Alphabetical)

• Sundiata Anderson, Grambling State, DE (6-3½, 240)
• Joe Andreessen, Bryant/Buffalo, ILB (6-0, 240)
• McCallen Castles, UC Davis/Tennessee, TE (6-4, 250)
• Matthew Cook, Northern Iowa, PK (6-0, 196)
• Josiah Ezirim, Eastern Kentucky, OT (6-5, 329)
• Anim Dankwah, Howard, OT (6-8, 353)
• Levi Drake Rodriguez, Texas A&M-Commerce, DT (6-2½, 290)
• Nick Gargiulo, Yale/South Carolina, C/OG (6-5, 318)
• Owen Glascoe, LIU, TE (6-3, 244)
• Hayden Hatten, Idaho, WR (6-1, 210)
• Michael Hiers, Samford, QB (6-1, 205)
• Braxton Hill, Montana, LB (6-1½, 228)
• Ty James, Mercer, WR (6-0, 199)
• Jadon Janke, South Dakota State, WR (6-2, 212)
• Jaxon Janke, South Dakota State, WR (6-2, 206)
• PJ Jules, Southern Illinois, S (5-11½, 205)
• Nate Lynn, William & Mary, DE (6-3, 253)
• Marshel Martin IV, Sacramento State, WR/TE/H-back (6-1, 222)
• Isaiah Major, Florida A&M, ILB (5-11, 233)
• Mason Pline, Ferris State/Furman, TE (6-6, 251)
• Billy Schaeffer, Lafayette, OLB (6-3, 231)
• Isaiah Stalbird, South Dakota State, OLB/S (5-11½, 207)
• Lorenzo Thompson, Rhode Island, OT (6-6, 307)
• Mason Tipton, Yale, WR (5-10, 182)
• David White Jr., Western Carolina, WR (6-2, 195)

(FCS gems are even mined in the NFL Draft’s seventh round)

Buildup to the 2024 NFL Draft

While the college careers of FCS prospects are most important to NFL teams, the post-career buildup adds to their draft stock with the next level:

Former FCS standouts at major college all-star games and the all-star game risers

Former FCS standouts at the NFL Combine

FCS NFL Draft Picks Historically

Selections Per Year

Since the NFL Draft was reduced to seven rounds in 1994, here are the FCS picks by year (the number in parentheses reflects any grad transfer who completed his NCAA eligibility at an FBS program). Like offensive linemen, cornerbacks fare well from the FCS.            

• 1994: 25; 1995: 21; 1996: 30; 1997: 30; 1998: 20; 1999: 26                                                                     
• 2000: 28; 2001: 20; 2002: 18; 2003: 14; 2004: 15; 2005: 17; 2006: 16: 2007: 17; 2008: 24; 2009: 15
• 2010: 19; 2011: 21; 2012: 15; 2013: 19; 2014: 19; 2015: 18 (1); 2016: 20; 2017: 15; 2018: 19; 2019: 14 (1)
• 2020: 6; 2021: 6 (1); 2022: 24 (4); 2023: 11 (1)                                  

(Looking back to the 2023 FCS picks)       

NFL Draft First-Round Picks From FCS

The NCAA Division I split into FBS and FCS levels began in 1978. Since then, 23 FCS players have been first-round selections in the NFL Draft.

FCS Programs with Most NFL Draft Picks

During the FCS era, Jackson State leads the way with the most NFL Draft picks. Other HBCU programs also are among the leaders.

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