Ten FCS Prospects to Watch for 2026 Pro Days and NFL Draft

This is an evergreen scout’s watchlist of 10 FCS players most likely to draw NFL pro-day traffic and late-round to priority-free-agent looks in 2026. These capsules are representative examples rather than breaking news, pulled from season production, positional traits and draft-scout projections by Theanalyst, SI draft analyst Gerald J. Huggins II, and Herosports.

Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State Cole Payton sits on NFL radars as a pro-ready FCS quarterback with measurable draft interest: he appears on SI’s top-10 list and carries a Herosports projection of a 5th-round selection with a Draft Scout position rank of No. 8 and overall No. 171. That combination of league recognition and draft-scout standing makes him a blue-chip pro-day name for QB coaches looking for accuracy, decision-making and pocket feel from the FCS level. Expect teams to prioritize his throwing velocity, shuttle times and medical checks at pro day.

Daniel Sobkowicz, WR, Illinois State Daniel Sobkowicz is the clear production story on this list: Theanalyst calls him an “excellent route runner” and records show he ranks first in Redbirds history with 262 receptions and 41 touchdown catches, and second with 3,559 receiving yards. Herosports pegs him in the 6th-7th round range with a Draft Scout position rank of No. 30 and overall No. 235, which frames him as a late-round target who could climb with clean testing. For evaluators, his steady volume and route polish translate to immediate special teams upside and a possible situational slot role as a rookie.

Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin Charles Demmings is the defensive name that catches a scout’s eye: SI labels him “widely regarded as the top defensive prospect in the FCS for the 2026 draft” and lists a season line of 18 tackles, four interceptions and nine pass breakups in 12 games. A separate data line in the research also records 1,731 career snaps, nine career interceptions and a school-record 35 pass breakups, which, if confirmed in full context, would underline a rare level of ball production and experience. Expect Demmings to face heavy slot and boundary coverage testing at pro day and to be measured closely for length, recovery speed and catch-point savvy.

Kaleb Proctor, DL, Southeastern Louisiana Kaleb Proctor is the FCS interior disruptor on the checklist: SI says he “had the best season of his career in 2025” with totals of 43 tackles, 13 for loss, nine sacks and 41 pressures in 13 games, and calls him the top defensive-line prospect in the FCS. Herosports projects Proctor in the 5th-6th round window with a Draft Scout position rank of No. 20 and overall No. 186, which positions him as the kind of down-lineman teams will scout for conversion to a rotational NFL pass-rush role. His pressure numbers make him a pro-day must-see for clubs that value interior quickness and pass-rush rep production.

Christian Thomas, LB, Maine Christian Thomas is a high-volume, modern linebacker whose 2025 numbers read like an every-down résumé: SI records 120 tackles, 12 for loss, five sacks, three passes defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in his best season. SI’s placement of Thomas among the top-10 FCS prospects reflects his combination of tackle production and playmaking in space, traits that translate to box-and-zone packages at the next level. Expect NFL evaluators to test his athletic profile, short-area burst and versatility between run defense and coverage.

Erick Hunter, LB, Morgan State Erick Hunter is the comeback narrative with pro traits: after missing most of 2024 with injury, SI reports he returned in 2025 for 102 tackles, 14 for loss, four sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles and four pass breakups; Herosports classifies him as a 7th-HPFA prospect with a Draft Scout position rank of No. 25 and overall No. 347. That 2025 production, combined with his HBCU profile, makes Hunter an intriguing priority-free-agent candidate for teams seeking physical edge play and special teams snaps. Medical clearance at pro day and strong positional drills will be decisive for his stock.

Caden Pinnick, QB, UC Davis Caden Pinnick brings dual-threat upside and immediate name recognition for pro-day watchers: the 6-foot, 180-pound passer led a top-10 FCS offense in 2025 with 3,206 passing yards and 437 rushing yards, finished as a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, and in the FCS playoffs threw five touchdowns and rushed for 99 yards against Rhode Island. He is also a transfer target to Washington State for 2026, which raises his exposure ahead of pro days and NFL interest. Scouts will key on his processing, velocity and how his athletic traits convert to pro timing, with pro day testing likely to determine whether his profile projects as a developmental NFL QB.

Barika Kpeenu, RB, North Dakota State Barika Kpeenu is a between-the-tackles runner with scoring juice: Theanalyst notes his “between-the-tackle ability” and that he tied for fourth in the FCS with 20 rushing touchdowns as a senior, while measuring 5-10 and 213 pounds. Herosports frames him as a late-round or high-priority free-agent option with a Draft Scout position rank of No. 18 and overall No. 260. For evaluators, Kpeenu’s pro-day value will hinge on burst scores, short-area change of direction and pass-pro testing that speak to his ability to handle third-down and red-zone work at the next level.

Langston Jones, IOL, Lehigh Langston Jones is the unsung mauler who shows a pro interior profile: SI’s scouting line reads, “Jones is not a hot name in the draft community, but he is a true mauling interior offensive lineman from Lehigh. He only surrendered three pressures in 325 pass blocking reps in 2025, while being a dominant run defender.” That kind of pass protection consistency across 325 reps is the precise tape trait small-market OLs use to earn looks from NFL interior coaches. Pro-day and private workouts will be about athletic testing and positional handwork; if his measurables check out, Jones projects as a depth signing with early opportunity on zone-heavy run fronts.

Jarod Washington, CB, South Carolina State Jarod Washington is the HBCU boundary-play standout whose ball-defense numbers jump off the chart: Theanalyst lists him at 6-0 and 186 pounds and reports he “led the FCS in passes defended (23) and pass breakups (21) in his final season,” a profile that draws immediate attention from teams hunting for press-coverage instincts. Theanalyst marks Washington as a PFA-level prospect, which means a polished pro day and strong testing could convert that status into an undrafted contract with real camp upside. Expect teams to evaluate his length, recovery speed and how well he mirrors NFL route concepts.

Closing note These ten capsules blend SI’s scouting eye, Theanalyst’s positional detail and Herosports’ draft-scout grades to form a pragmatic watchlist for pro days and late-draft evaluations. What will separate the late-round picks from the priority free agents is measurable testing, medical clarity and the small but telling details on tape: contested-catch technique for receivers, interior burst for DL, and processing for quarterbacks. Track these names through pro-day measurements and private workouts; the film says they belong on NFL radars, and the testing will tell us which ones carry that promise to the next level.