Nearly 200 former FCS players will open the 2024 season on NFL rosters. National championship programs North Dakota State and South Dakota State lead the way as we break down which programs have the most players on season-opening rosters.
North Dakota State once again leads FCS football programs in sending former players on to the NFL.
The nine-time FCS national champion since the 2011 season had 11 players on NFL rosters after all 32 teams reduced their rosters to 53 players earlier this week. That number doesn’t include cornerback Josh Hayes, who spent two seasons on the FBS level after his first three and a half campaigns were with the Bison.
South Dakota State, the two-time defending national champion, had the second-highest FCS total with eight former players on NFL rosters.
Players designated as injured reserve or physically unable to perform are included among the FCS in the NFL roster totals. The totals can fluctuate as NFL teams continue to make transactions. They’re also adding former FCS players to practice squads.
FCS in the NFL (3+ Players)
North Dakota State (11): Chris Board, LB (Ravens); Jake Kubas, OL (Giants); Trey Lance, QB (Cowboys); Hunter Luepke, FB (Cowboys); Cody Mauch, OL (Buccaneers); Dillon Radunz, OL (Titans); Easton Stick, QB (Chargers); Jalen Sundell, OL (Seahawks); Cordell Volson, OL (Bengals); Christian Watson, WR (Packers); Carson Wentz, QB (Chiefs)
South Dakota State (8): Isaiah Davis, RB (Jets); Dallas Goedert, TE (Eagles); Garret Greenfield, OL (Seahawks); Tucker Kraft, TE (Packers); Mason McCormick, OL (Steelers); Christian Rozeboom, LB (Rams); Isaiah Stalbird, LB (Saints); Pierre Strong Jr., RB (Browns)
Northern Iowa (5): Khristian Boyd, DT (Saints); Spencer Brown, OL (Bills); Elijah Campbell, S (Dolphins); Trevor Penning, OL (Saints); Elerson Smith, DE (Raiders)
Weber State (5): Taron Johnson, CB (Bills); Sua Opeta, OL (Buccaneers); Winston Reid, LB (Browns); Rashid Shaheed, WR (Saints); Jonah Williams, DE (Vikings)
Yale (5): Kiran Amegadjie, OL (Bears); Nick Gargiulo, OL (Broncos); Foyesade Oluokun, LB (Jaguars); Rodney Thomas II, S (Colts); Mason Tipton, WR (Saints)
Chattanooga (4): McClendon Curtis, OL (Seahawks); Tae Davis, LB (Panthers); Corey Levin, OL (Titans); Cole Strange, OL (Patriots)
Eastern Washington (4): Kendrick Bourne, WR (Patriots); Samson Ebukam, DE (Colts); Cooper Kupp, WR (Rams); Nsimba Webster, WR (Bears)
Florida A&M (4): Markquese Bell, S (Cowboys); Terrell Jennings, RB (Patriots); Isaiah Land, DE (Colts); Marcus Riley, WR (Jets)
Harvard (4): Truman Jones, DE (Chiefs); Kyle Juszczyk, FB (49ers); Tyler Ott, LS (Commanders); Chris Smith, DT (Lions)
Holy Cross (4): Liam Anderson, LB (Colts); C.J. Hanson, OL (Chiefs); Kalif Raymond, WR (Lions); Benton Whitley, LB (Giants)
Montana State (4): Troy Andersen, LB (Falcons); Daniel Hardy, LB (Bears); Ty Okada, S (Seahawks); Alex Singleton, LB (Broncos)
South Carolina State (4): Cobie Durant, CB (Rams); Antonio Hamilton Sr., CB (Falcons); Javon Hargrave, DT (49ers); Armani Taylor-Prioleau, LB (Commanders)
South Dakota (4): Kameron Cline, DE (Bills); Jack Cochrane, LB (Chiefs); Myles Harden, CB (Browns); Brock Mogensen, LB (Cowboys)
Villanova (4): Christian Benford, CB (Bills); Jaaron Hayek, WR (Chiefs); Jalen Jackson, RB (Jaguars); Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE (Saints)
William & Mary (4): Nate Lynn, DL (Lions); Bill Murray, OL (Bears); Luke Rhodes, LB/LB (Colts); Colby Sorsdal, OL (Lions)
Bryant (3): Joe Andreessen, LB (Bills); Kenny Dyson Jr., DE (Panthers); Tom Kennedy, WR (Lions)
Campbell (3): Mike Edwards, OL (Bills); Julian Hill, TE (Dolphins); Tyler McLellan, OL (Chargers)
Central Arkansas (3): George Odum, S (49ers); Robert Rochell, CB (Packers); Tremon Smith, CB (Broncos)
Delaware (3): Joe Flacco, QB (Colts); Bilal Nichols, DT (Cardinals); Troy Reeder, LB (Rams)
Illinois State (3): Cam Grandy, TE (Bengals); Shelby Harris, DT (Browns); John Ridgeway III, DT (Commanders)
Princeton (3): Henry Byrd, OL (Vikings); Stephen Carlson, TE (Bears); Andrei Iosivas, WR (Bengals)
Richmond (3): Ryan Coll, OL (Colts); Tyrek Funderburk, CB (Buccaneers); Kobie Turner, NT (Rams)
Sacramento State (3): DaRon Bland, CB (Cowboys); DeAndre Carter, WR (Bears); Marte Mapu, S (Patriots)
Samford (3): James Bradberry IV, CB (Eagles); Michael Pierce, DT (Ravens); Montrell Washington, WR (Chiefs)
San Diego (3): Michael Bandy, WR (Broncos); Ross Dwelley, TE (Falcons); Josh Johnson, QB (Ravens)
Southern Illinois (3): Jeremy Chinn, S (Commanders); PJ Jules, S (Bengals); MyCole Pruitt, TE(Steelers)
Youngstown State (3): Jaleel McLaughlin, RB (Broncos); Drew Ogletree, TE (Colts); Kevin Rader, TE (Saints)
Jesse Abrahams and Tom Paquette of Stats Perform’s U.S. Data Insights contributed research to this story. Follow all of our FCS football coverage, including on X, Facebook and Instagram.