The FCS — once known as the I-AA level — began in 1978.
Since then, hundreds of FCS/I-AA products have been drafted into the NFL.
Here’s a list of the first players drafted each year since the I-AA/FCS was created.
RELATED: FCS First-Round Picks
RELATED: # Of Draft Picks Per Year
First FCS Player Drafted Each Year
All players listed are from present-day FCS programs, even though some schools have moved up from D-II since 1978, and others — like Appalachian State or Georgia Southern — have moved up to FBS.
1978
Grambling QB Doug Williams
1st round, Pick 17, Bucs
1979
Morehead State QB Phil Simms
1st round, Pick 7, Giants
1980
Alcorn State DB Roynell Young
1st round, Pick 23, Eagles
1981
Portland State QB Neil Lomax
2nd round, Pick 33, Cardinals
1982
Richmond RB Barry Redden
1st round, Pick 14, Rams
1983
McNeese State DB Leonard Smith
1st round, Pick 17, Cardinals
1984
Southern Illinois DB Terry Taylor
1st round, Pick 22, Seahawks
1985
Mississippi Valley State WR Jerry Rice
1st round, Pick 16, 49ers
1986
Jackson State LB/TE Jackie Walker
2nd round, Pick 28, Bucs
1987
Southern Illinois DB Adrian White
2nd round, Pick 55, Giants
1988
Northwestern State RB John Stephens
1st round, Pick 17, Patriots
1989
Northern Arizona WR Shawn Collins
1st round, Pick 27, Falcons
1990
Liberty TE Eric Green
1st round, Pick 21, Steelers
1991
North Dakota State DE Phil Hansen
2nd round, Pick 54, Bills
1992
South Carolina State State DE/DT Robert Porcher
1st round, Pick 26, Lions
1993
Tennessee State DE/DT Dan Williams
1st round, Pick 11, Broncos
1994
Alcorn State DE John Thierry
1st round, Pick 11, Bears
1995
Alcorn State QB Steve McNair
1st round, Pick 3, Oilers
1996
McNeese State DE Kavika Pittman
2nd round, Pick 37, Cowboys
1997
Towson DB Chad Scott
1st round, Pick 24, Steelers
1998
Hampton DB Cordell Taylor
2nd round, Pick 57, Jaguars
1999
North Dakota TE/FB Jim Kleinsasser
2nd round, Pick 44, Vikings
2000
Jackson State WR Sylvester Morris
1st round, Pick 21, Chiefs
2001
Western Illinois DB Will Peterson
3rd round, Pick 78, Giants
2002
Sam Houston State QB Josh McCown
3rd round, Pick 81, Cardinals
2003
Bethune-Cookman DB Rashean Mathis
2nd round, Pick 39, Jaguars
2004
Towson DB Madieu Williams
2nd round, Pick 56, Bengals
2005
Eastern Washington OT Michael Roos
2nd round, Pick 41, Titans
2006
Abilene Christian DB Danieal Manning
2nd round, Pick 42, Bears
2007
Hampton LB Justin Durant
2nd round, Pick 48, Jaguars
2008
Tennessee State DB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
1st round, Pick 16, Cardinals
2009
Western Illinois LB Jason Williams
3rd round, Pick 69, Cowboys
2010
Idaho OG Mike Iupati
1st round, Pick 17, 49ers
2011
Villanova OL Ben Ijalana
2nd round, Pick 49, Colts
2012
Montana CB Trumaine Johnson
3rd round, Pick 65, Rams
2013
Southeastern Louisiana CB Robert Alford
2nd round, Pick 60, Falcons
2014
Eastern Illinois QB Jimmy Garoppolo
2nd round, Pick 62, Patriots
2015
Samford SS Jaquiski Tartt
2nd round, Pick 46, 49ers
2016
North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz
1st round, Pick 2, Eagles
2017
Villanova DE Tanoh Kpassagnon
2nd round, Pick 59, Chiefs
2018
South Carolina State LB Darius Leonard
2nd round, Pick 36, Colts
2019
Alabama State OL Tytus Howard
1st round, Pick 23, Texans
2020
Southern Illinois SS Jeremy Chinn
2nd round, Pick 64, Panthers
2021
North Dakota State QB Trey Lance
1st round, Pick 3, 49ers
