Hidden Gems or Future Stars? Inside the 2026 FCS NFL Draft Class You Didn’t See Coming

From Southeastern Louisiana defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor on down, we’re reviewing the FCS football selections and storylines in the 2026 NFL Draft.

If you have the talent, they will might find you.

More than ever, that was a message given to prospects outside the Power-4 conferences at the 2026 NFL Draft.

Not just FCS football and levels below, even Group of 6 schools in the FBS felt the impact at the three-day draft in Pittsburgh.

Southeastern Louisiana defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor’s selection at No. 104 overall marked the latest first FCS pick ever in the draft – and by a whopping 26 spots (the previous latest was Western Illinois cornerback Will Peterson going 78th overall to the New York Giants in 2001).

By the time Arizona Cardinals got around to picking Proctor, the 103 selections ahead of him were from the FBS, and all but three of them were from Power-4 programs.

There were eight FCS draft picks overall, but only four directly from the subdivision (don’t even think about the Division II or III levels getting the call). The continued decline in FCS picks each decade is the result of both more subdivision programs joining the FBS and a huge increase in player transfers to the upper tier – many chasing NIL or the visibility of FBS for their NFL potential.

Five FCS NFL Draft Storylines

• Fourth-rounder Kaleb Proctor was Southeastern Louisiana’s first draft selection in 10 years, and he went to the same NFL team (Arizona Cardinals) as the school’s previous pick – cornerback Harlan Miller in the 2016 sixth round.
• With Cole Payton’s selection in the fifth round, North Dakota State joined FBS powers Alabama and Ohio State for the most quarterbacks (five) taken in the draft since 2016.
• In the previous 10 drafts, offensive tackle (21) and guard (14) provided the second- and fourth-most picks from the FCS, respectively. The O-line was only represented in 2026 by Evan Beernsten from South Dakota State and Northwestern.
• The 2025 Stats Perform FCS All-America first team was well represented with Payton, Proctor, Stephen F. Austin’s Charles Demmings and North Dakota State’s Bryce Lance. All of their teams participated in the 2025 FCS playoffs.
• Throughout the decade, the Missouri Valley has been the go-to conference for FCS NFL Draft picks with over one-third (28 of 82) overall. The Big Sky is second with 12 draft selections.

FCS Football Selections in 2026 NFL Draft

The list includes 2025 FCS players and, in accounting for the NCAA’s grad transfer era, those who spent the majority of their careers in the FCS but one final season in the FBS:

Arizona Cardinals: Kaleb Proctor, DT, Southeastern Louisiana

• Round: 4; Overall Pick: 104
• Height: 6-2; Weight: 291
• Notable: SLU’s first draft pick since 2016 was second among FCS interior defensive linemen last season with 13 tackles for loss, including three versus LSU.
• What They’re Saying: ”As an interior defender, Proctor is an elite athlete with rare playmaking range. He’s an elusive rusher with an explosive first step and the ability to unlock openings with varied approaches and angles. He’s also very undersized with limited recourse once linemen have him squared up and put hands on him.” – Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

New Orleans Saints: Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State

• Round: 4; Overall Pick: 136
• Height: 6-3; Weight: 204
• Notable: The only player in NDSU history to post multiple seasons with 1,000+ receiving yards caught a touchdown in each of his final five postseason games (eight total).
• What They’re Saying: “Overall, Lance is a good-sized athlete and natural hands-catcher who requires route polish but adjusts well to the ball with physicality and ball control. He projects as a rookie backup who should eventually compete for a starting role.” – Dane Brugler, The Athletic

Minnesota Vikings: Charlie Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin    

• Round: 5; Overall Pick: 163
• Height: 6-1; Weight: 193
• Notable: Had nine interceptions among a school-record 35 pass breakups in his career.
• What They’re Saying: “Demmings’ physical tools immediately stand out on tape. His tall, wiry frame with good length allows him to press, jam and disrupt wide receivers off the line of scrimmage, messing with their route timing. He’s not just physical playing press, either, as he plays with legitimate physicality at the catch point, in run support and in all phases of his game.” – Tyler Brooke, Yahoo! Sports

New England Patriots: Karon Prunty, CB, North Carolina A&T/Wake Forest

• Round: 5; Overall Pick: 171
• Height: 6-1½; Weight: 190
• Notable: Rangy cover corner allowed just a 44.4% catch rate in his one ACC season (second-best in the conference).
• What They’re Saying: “Alert defender for zone coverage, showing good understanding of route progressions occurring behind him and a quick burst downhill to break on underneath passes in front of him.” – NFLDraftBuzz.com

Philadelphia Eagles: Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State

• Round: 5; Overall Pick: 178
• Height: 6-3; Weight: 232
• Notable: In his only season as a starter, Payton made the 2025 Stats Perform FCS All-America first team and finished third in the Walter Payton Award voting.
• What They’re Saying: “Going into the 2025 season, NFL teams saw Payton as an intriguing potential tight end convert because of his size, athleticism and toughness. But that changed as he showed his strong left arm and the stature and aggressive mindset to attack every level of the field.” – Dane Brugler, The Athletic

Philadelphia Eagles: Cole Wisniewski, SS, North Dakota State/Texas Tech

• Round: 7; Overall Pick: 244
• Height: 6-3½; Weight: 214
• Notable: Led all Division I players with eight interceptions and 239 interception return yards in his 2023 season at NDSU.
• What They’re Saying: “At his best, moving downhill where he can diagnose, trigger and make tackles. He’s a reliable open-field tackler with great size and length. … His instincts are better as a run defender, but he plays with good depth and play identification/route recognition in zone.” – Daniel Harms, Bleacher-Report

Philadelphia Eagles: Keyshawn James-Newby, Edge, Idaho/New Mexico

• Round: 7; Overall Pick: 252
• Height: 6-2; Weight: 240
• Notable: Had 9+ sacks in a season on three different levels: NAIA (Montana Tech), FCS and FBS.
• What They’re Saying: “He flashes good get-off, smart angles and efficient cornering that keeps him tight to the pocket as a rusher. James-Newby’s rush lacks diversity, but a dangerous stab move is waiting to be unlocked. His high motor and disruptive ability should make him a solid sub-package edge rusher.” – Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

Baltimore Ravens: Evan Beernsten, OG, South Dakota State/Northwestern

• Round: 7; Overall Pick: 253
• Height: 6-3½; Weight: 303
• Notable: Starter on SDSU’s back-to-back national championship teams (2022 and ’23) would turn 26 in his rookie season.
• What They’re Saying: “Beerntsen needs to be more consistent with his sustain skills, but he is a mean, aggressive blocker with functional quickness and toughness. Although his lack of positional versatility works against him, he will be ready to compete for a backup role from Day 1.” – Dane Brugler, The Athletic

Undrafted Free Agents

Jeff Caldwell, Lindenwood/Cincinnati, WR (6-5, 216)

J’Mari Taylor, North Carolina Central/Virginia, RB (5-10, 200)

Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State/Iowa, QB (6-2, 233)

Lance Mason, Missouri State/Wisconsin, TE (6-3, 246)

Erick Hunter, Morgan State, LB (6-2, 224)

Max Tomczak, Youngstown State, WR (6-0, 195)

Jalen Walthall, UIW, WR (6-1, 200)

Delby Lemieux, Dartmouth, OG/C (6-5, 305)

Declan Williams, Rhode Island/UIW, LB (6-0, 242)

A.J. Pena, Rhode Island, LB (6-1, 219)

Jarod Washington, South Carolina State, CB (6-0, 186)

Nick DeGennaro, Richmond/James Madison, WR (6-0, 195)

Michael Wortham Jr., Montana, WR/KR (5-8, 182)

Jalen Jones, William & Mary, CB (6-0, 195)

Gavin Ortega, Weber State, OG (65, 304)

Daniel Sobkowicz, Illinois State, WR, (6-2, 205)   

Rohan Jones, Maine/Montana State/Arkansas, TE (6-3, 236)

Maverick McIvor, Abilene Christian/Western Kentucky, QB (6-2, 209)

Sam Hagen, South Dakota State, OT (6-6, 327)

Barika Kpeenu, North Dakota State, RB (5-10, 213)           

Derek Robertson, Monmouth, QB (6-1½, 200)

Temi Ajirotutu, Villanova, OG (6-5, 310)

Michael Otty, Bryant, DT (5-11½, 281)

Shadwel Nkuba II, Illinois State, CB (5-11, 190)    

Ike Ojukwu, East Texas A&M, OG (6-4, 309)         

Isiah King, Idaho, OLB (6-2, 215)

Chris Mosley, North Carolina Central, RB (5-11, 180)        

Michael Briscoe, Cal Poly, WR (6-1, 205)

Top photo, from left, from NDSU Athletics, AP Photos and Lindsey Rizzo/SLU. For more FCS football coverage, follow on social media at X, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.

The post FCS NFL Draft Review: 2026 Class of Picks appeared first on Opta Analyst.

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