With a normal NFL Draft process compared to the last two years, the FCS is eyeing a big increase in the number of draft picks in 2022. There is a chance we see more former FCS players selected in the first four rounds this year than the six overall picks in both 2020 and 2021.
One position group, in particular, is looking strong. And that’s the offensive linemen.
RELATED: How Many FCS Players Get Drafted Each Year?
The FCS has had success in sending multiple o-linemen to the draft in the last half-decade. Many of these guys share the same stories, whether it’s being from a small town or growing late in high school after FBS schools have their offers out and then signing/developing at an FCS school.
This year, seven FCS offensive linemen were invited to the NFL Combine: Chattanooga’s Cole Strange, Southern Utah’s Braxton Jones, Southern’s Ja’Tyre Carter, Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning, North Dakota State’s Cordell Volson, North Dakota’s Matt Waletzko, and Fordham’s Nick Zakelj.
While a combine invite doesn’t lock in one’s chances of being drafted, it does mean most NFL teams are interested in that player as a draft prospect.
Dating back to 2015, the FCS has had 19 offensive linemen drafted. Four players in the last four drafts were selected in the first three rounds.
2015:
Robert Myers, Tennessee State (5th round, Baltimore)
Anthony Morris, Tennessee State (7th round, Oakland)
Jake Rodgers, Eastern Washington (7th round, Atlanta)
2016:
Joe Haeg, North Dakota State (5th round, Indianapolis)
Cole Toner, Harvard (5th round, Arizona)
2017:
Julién Davenport, Bucknell (4th round, Houston)
Corey Levin, Chattanooga (6th round, Tennessee)
Jylan Ware, Alabama State (7th round, Oakland)
Brad Seaton, Villanova (7th round, Tennessee)
2018:
Brandon Parker, North Carolina A&T (3rd round, Oakland)
Jamil Demby, Maine (6th round, LA Rams)
Greg Senat, Wagner (6th round, Baltimore)
2019:
Tytus Howard, Alabama State (1st round, Houston)
Drew Forbes, SEMO (6th round, Cleveland)
Oli Udoh, Elon (6th round, Minnesota)
Joshua Miles, Morgan State (7th round, Arizona)
2020:
Lachavious Simmons, Tennessee State (7th round, Chicago)
2021:
Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State (2nd round, Tennessee)
Spencer Brown, Northern Iowa (3rd round, Buffalo)
Here are the top 2022 offensive line prospects from the FCS and how Draft Scout and PFF view them:
RELATED: Trevor Penning feature story
Northern Iowa OT Trevor Penning
PFF Overall Prospects Rank: No. 23
Draft Scout Overall Prospects Rank: No. 6
Draft Scout Projected Round: 1st
Chattanooga OG Cole Strange
PFF Overall Prospects Rank: No. 85
Draft Scout Overall Prospects Rank: No. 105
Draft Scout Projected Round: 3rd-4th
Southern Utah OT Braxton Jones
PFF Overall Prospects Rank: No. 159
Draft Scout Overall Prospects Rank: No. 141
Draft Scout Projected Round: 4th
North Dakota State OT Cordell Volson
PFF Overall Prospects Rank: No. 156
Draft Scout Overall Prospects Rank: No. 274
Draft Scout Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
North Dakota OT Matt Waletzko
PFF Overall Prospects Rank: No. 118
Draft Scout Overall Prospects Rank: No. 341
Draft Scout Projected Round: 7th-HPFA
Mercer OG Jason Poe
PFF Overall Prospects Rank: No. 209
Draft Scout Overall Prospects Rank: Outside Top 350
Draft Scout Projected Round: HPFA
Fordham OT Nick Zakelj
PFF Overall Prospects Rank: No. 245
Draft Scout Overall Prospects Rank: Outside Top 350
Draft Scout Projected Round: HPFA
Southern OT Ja’Tyre Carter
PFF Overall Prospects Rank: No. 281
Draft Scout Overall Prospects Rank: Outside Top 350
Draft Scout Projected Round: HPFA
NEXT: FCS Players On PFF’s Top 300 Big Board
