FCS

2023 NFL Draft: Average Round Projections for Top 50 FCS Prospects

Apr 12, 2023

There’s likely an increased focus on this year’s FCS prospects in the NFL Draft after last year’s 24 selections were the most since 2008.

The three-day 2023 draft will be held from April 27-29 in Kansas City, Missouri – the first round Thursday night, second and third rounds Friday night, and fourth through seven rounds on Saturday.

To see how the leading FCS prospects may stack up in the draft, we’ve ranked 50 by the average round projections of five different evaluators: Draft Scout, NFL Draft Bible, The Draft Network, NFL Draft Buzz and Pro Football Focus.

Note grad transfers who left FCS programs to complete their careers on the FBS level are included in the list (a PFA grade is Priority Free Agent, which is more coveted than an FA grade, or Free Agent).

This year's NFL Draft will tie for the fourth-most picks since the seven-round format was instituted in 1994:

2003 and 2022 – 262 picks each
2002 – 261 picks
2012 and 2023 – 259 picks each
— Craig Haley (@CraigHaley) April 6, 2023

Draftable Grades

1. Cody Mauch, North Dakota State, OT/OG, 6-5, 302

Average Projection: Round 1-2 (1-2 Draft Scout, 1 Draft Bible, 2 Draft Network, 2 Draft Buzz, 2 Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Had a 94% overall grade, no sacks allowed and one penalty on 622 snaps during the 2022 regular season

cody-mauch-north-dakota-state-bison — North Dakota State’s Cody Mauch was voted the National Team’s offensive lineman practice player of the week at the 2023 Senior Bowl. (AP photo)

2. Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State, TE, 6-5, 254

Average Projection: Round 2-3 (2-3 Draft Scout, 3 Draft Bible, 2 Draft Network, 3 Draft Buzz, 3 Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Considerable blocking skills add to 93 receptions and nine touchdowns over college career’s final 24 games

tucker-kraft-sdsu-jackrabbits — South Dakota State tight end Tucker Kraft had two or more receptions in 25 of his final 30 college games. (Dave Eggen/Inertia)

3. Andrei Iosivas, Princeton, WR, 6-3, 205

Average Projection: Round 5 (4 Draft Scout, 6 Draft Bible, 4 Draft Network, 3-4 Draft Buzz, 7-PFA Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Recorded Ivy League’s receiving Triple Crown as a senior; clocked 4.43 seconds in 40-yard dash at NFL Combine

4. Isaiah Land, Florida A&M, OLB, 6-3 1/2, 236

Average Projection: Round 5-6 (6 Draft Scout, 3 Draft Bible, 7 Draft Network, 6 Draft Buzz, 6 Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Led FCS in sacks and tackles for loss while earning the 2021 Buck Buchanan Award

That's Florida A&M's @IsaiahLand716, the 2021 Buck Buchanan Award recipient, with the sack at the @seniorbowl.

Land had 28.5 sacks in 29 career games with @FAMU_FB. pic.twitter.com/7r7VR9g0uc
— FCS Football (@FCS_STATS) February 4, 2023

5. Hunter Luepke, North Dakota State, FB, 6-1, 230

Average Projection: Round 5-6 (4-5 Draft Scout, 6 Draft Bible, 6 Draft Network, 7 Draft Buzz, 7 Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Versatile rushing/receiving/blocking back who averaged 15.5 yards on 33 career touchdowns from scrimmage

6. Kobie Turner, Richmond/Wake Forest, DT, 6-3, 299

Average Projection: Round 5-6 (FA Draft Scout, 6 Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, 4 Draft Buzz, 3 Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Two first-team All-CAA standout averaged over one TFL over his final 40 college games

kobie-turner-richmond — In 51 career games, Kobie Turner totaled 196 tackles, 43.5 tackles for loss, 18 sacks, seven forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. (Keith Lucas/Richmond Athletics)

7. McClendon Curtis, Chattanooga, OG, 6-6, 324

Average Projection: Round 6 (5 Draft Scout, 5 Draft Bible, 7-PFA Draft Network, 6 Draft Buzz, 7 Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Played four seasons on the same Chattanooga O-line as Cole Strange, the New England Patriots’ 2022 first-round draft pick

8. Marte Mapu, Sacramento State, OLB/SS, 6-2 1/2, 217

Average Projection: Round 6 (FA Draft Scout, PFA Draft Bible, 4-5 Draft Network, FA Draft Buzz, 4-5 Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Hybrid linebacker had surgery for a torn pectoral muscle suffered during a bench press in February

9. Mark Evans II, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, OG/C, 6-2 1/2, 303

Average Projection: Round 6-7 (6 Draft Scout, 6 Draft Bible, PFA Draft Network, PFA Draft Buzz, PFA Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Had a 93% overall grade while allowing only two sacks in 521 snaps as a senior

10. B.J. Thompson, Stephen F. Austin, OLB, 6-5, 238

Average Projection: Round 7 (FA Draft Scout, 6 Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, 6 Draft Buzz, 7 Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Thompson has added quality weight to a lanky frame; already had an impressive 82.5-inch wingspan

Stephen F. Austin edge B.J. Thompson builds on a big week of practices at the @ShrineBowl with a sack in the game.

pic.twitter.com/MfvqdVPyMm
— FCS Football (@FCS_STATS) February 3, 2023

11. Aubrey Miller Jr., Jackson State, ILB, 6-2, 225

Average Projection: Round 7 (FA Draft Scout, 7 Draft Bible, 7-PFA Draft Network, 7 Draft Buzz, 7 Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Posted back-to-back 100-tackle seasons for SWAC championship teams

12. Myles Brooks, Stephen F. Austin/Louisiana Tech, CB, 6-1, 201

Average Projection: Round 7-PFA (7-PFA Draft Scout, PFA Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, 7 Draft Buzz, PFA Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Brooks uses size and strength to disrupt receivers at the line of scrimmage

13. Noah Gindorff, North Dakota State, TE, 6-6, 263

Average Projection: Round 7-PFA (FA Draft Scout, PFA Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, 7 Draft Buzz, PFA Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Gindorff, whose final two seasons were ended early by injuries, had only 44 career receptions, but 12 went for touchdowns

14. Zeke Vandenburgh, Illinois State, OLB, 6-4, 234

Average Projection: Round 7-PFA (7 Draft Scout, 7 Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, FA Draft Buzz, FA Pro Football Focus)

Notable: The 2022 Buck Buchanan Award recipient led the FCS with 14 sacks as a senior

15. Devonnsha Maxwell, Chattanooga, DT, 6-2, 299

Average Projection: Round 7–PFA (7-PFA Draft Scout, PFA Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, PFA Draft Buzz, PFA Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Maxwell’s 37.5 career sacks set a Southern Conference record, and he had 55.5 TFLs as well

16. Ty Scott, Missouri State, WR, 6-3, 212

Average Projection: Round 7-PFA (FA Draft Scout, 6 Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, FA Draft Buzz, FA Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Has ability to win contested passes and stretch the field

Priority Free Agents

17. Titus Leo, Wagner, DE, 6-3 1/2, 243

Average Projection: PFA (7-PFA Draft Scout, 7 Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, FA Draft Buzz, FA Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Two-time Northeast Conference defensive player of the year overpowered his competition with 36.5 TFLs in his final 24 career games

18. Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham, ILB, 6-1, 243

Average Projection: PFA (FA Draft Scout, FA Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, 7 Draft Buzz, 7-PFA Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Posted 31 tackles against Nebraska in 2021 – the most by a Division I player since the NCAA’s individual defensive record-keeping began in 2000

19. Jadakis Bonds, Hampton, WR, 6-2 1/2, 205

Average Projection: PFA (FA Draft Scout, PFA Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, PFA Draft Buzz, 7 Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Red-zone producer with good hands and leaping ability had 34 career TD receptions

20. Robert Soderholm, VMI, LS, 5-11, 242

Average Projection: PFA (7-PFA Draft Scout, FA Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, FA Draft Buzz, FA Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Demonstrated polished snapping skills and an ability to break out for tackles in college

21. Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin, WR, 5-10, 189

Average Projection: PFA (7-PFA Draft Scout, PFA Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, FA Draft Buzz, FA Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Breakaway threat averaged 39.5 yards on 37 career TD catches and scored on four of his 36 punt returns

xavier-gipson-stephen-f-austin — Stephen F. Austin’s Xavier Gipson had over 50 receptions and 800 receiving yards in each of his four seasons. (SFA Athletics)

22. Thomas Greaney, UAlbany, TE, 6-6, 249

Average Projection: PFA (7-PFA Draft Scout, FA Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, PFA Draft Buzz, FA Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Burly late bloomer who had 50 receptions and nine TD catches as a senior

23. Patrick O’Connell, Montana, OLB, 6-1, 221

Average Projection: PFA (7-PFA Draft Scout, PFA Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, FA Draft Buzz, FA Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Racked up 28 sacks and 45 TFLs in decorated college career

24. Brevin Allen, Campbell, DE, 6-4, 262

Average Projection: PFA (7-PFA Draft Scout, PFA Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, FA Draft Buzz, FA Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Big South defensive player of the year earned a callup to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl after a standout performance at the Hula Bowl

T25. Shaq Davis, South Carolina State, WR, 6-5, 217

Average Projection: PFA (FA Draft Scout, FA Draft Bible, PFA Draft Network, PFA Draft Buzz, PFA Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Averaged over 20 yards per reception in each of his four seasons, leading the MEAC in receptions, receiving yards and TD catches as a senior

T25. Truman Jones, Harvard, OLB, 6-2 1/2, 251

Average Projection: PFA (FA Draft Scout, PFA Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, PFA Draft Buzz, PFA Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Ivy League’s co-defensive player of the year blocked kicks in three consecutive games

T25. Dallas Daniels, Western Illinois/Jackson State, WR, 5-10 1/2, 176

Average Projection: PFA (FA Draft Scout, PFA Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, PFA Draft Buzz, PFA Pro Football Focus)

Notable: Slot receiver with excellent cutback moves who rarely goes a game without a reception

Top Undrafted Free Agents

Owen Wright, Monmouth, RB, 5-9, 215

Average Projection: FA (FA Draft Scout, 7 Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, FA Draft Buzz, FA Pro Football Focus)

Kemari Averett, Bethune-Cookman, TE, 6-5 1/2, 260

Average Projection: FA (FA Draft Scout, 7 Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, FA Draft Buzz, FA Pro Football Focus)

Tim DeMorat, Fordham, QB, 6-4, 219

Average Projection: FA (7-PFA Draft Scout, PFA Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, FA Draft Buzz, FA Pro Football Focus)

2023 @OrlandoHulaBowl

Fordham QB Tim DeMorat throws downfield for a 75-yard touchdown pass. @FORDHAMFOOTBALL

The 2022 Walter Payton Award runner-up set Patriot League career records for passing yards (13,454), TD passes (123) and completions (1,032). pic.twitter.com/ksIN6mcHRz
— FCS Football (@FCS_STATS) January 14, 2023

Keenan Isaac, Alabama State, CB, 6-2, 186

Average Projection: FA (FA Draft Scout, PFA Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, PFA Draft Buzz, FA Pro Football Focus)

Tyler Hudson, Central Arkansas/Louisville, WR, 6-1, 193

Average Projection: FA (FA Draft Scout, PFA Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, PFA Draft Buzz, FA Pro Football Focus)

EJ Jenkins, Saint Francis/South Carolina/Georgia Tech, TE, 6-5 1/2, 247

Average Projection: FA (FA Draft Scout, PFA Draft Bible, FA Draft Network, FA Draft Buzz, PFA-FA Pro Football Focus)

Lindsey Scott Jr., UIW, QB, 5-10, 228