FCS Quarterbacks Can Earn NFL Draft Attention With Proper Development

Quarterbacks from FCS programs regularly earn draft attention and NFL roster spots when development is handled correctly. North Dakota State has quietly become a pipeline for quarterback prospects, with Carson Wentz, Easton Stick and Trey Lance all spending multiple years in the NFL, and Cam Miller is next in line.

Looking at the 2025 class, North Dakota State's Grey Zabel is the headliner among those who didn't play at the FBS level. The versatile blocker is often projected as a first-rounder, but he's far from the only small-school prospect who will hear his name called, particularly along the offensive line. Bleacher Report has identified eight other incoming prospects with a strong chance of being drafted outside the opening frame, contributing at the next level and possibly developing into far more.

Offensive-line development is a frequent companion to quarterback projections; one example in the notes is a prospect labeled Grant. At 6'5" and 311 pounds with nearly 35-inch arms, Grant is described as a developmental option who "has something that could make a long-term starter on a quarterback's blind side." "In pass protection, Grant is a loose, twitchy mover with the range to and redirect skills to mirror and protect his edges with a good understanding of how to play long, keep rushers at his fingertips, and keep his head out of the block," B/R Scout Brandon Thorn wrote. Thorn added, "Grant shows strong hands to clench with very good lower-half mobility to get into his anchor. He will drift and get manipulated out of position by stutters and hesitations due to still raw, jerky footwork." The process may take a few years before the FCS standout can be a reliable option, but a patient franchise just might end up with an outstanding offensive lineman with the right mentoring.

Interior-line versatility also shows up in small-school tape. Sacramento State's Jackson Slater started 44 games at left guard, "which is exactly where he could eventually earn a starting role." However, the possibility of moving to center remains a viable option as well, reinforcing that prolonged starter reps at a single position can still translate to multiple fits at the NFL level.

Small-school quarterbacks are similarly on scouts' radars. Nfldraftdiamonds notes that small-school QBs from FCS programs or less well-known Group of 5 colleges are increasingly catching the eye of scouts because their lower profile does not mean lower potential. Joey Aguilar, a transfer to Tennessee from App State listed at 6'3", 225 lbs, draws attention for production in a high-tempo offense while evaluators still ask how much of his output is system-driven. Seth Henigan at Memphis has "already built a strong resume with thousands of passing yards, solid accuracy, and a clear command of his offense" and is listed as a possible mid-round name for 2026. Jaylen Raynor has quietly started at Arkansas State since 2023 and "throws with a good arm, shows solid pocket awareness, and brings athleticism some might not expect from a small-school starter."

The recurring lesson from these profiles is concrete: sustained starting reps, measurable traits such as size and arm length, and demonstrable technical growth can convert FCS tape into draft capital. Teams willing to invest time in coaching - and to tolerate the "few years" of development cited for prospects like Grant - often harvest starting-caliber players, whether at quarterback or along the offensive line. For NFL front offices and evaluators focused on value, the small-school pipeline remains a source of draft-day upside.