NFL Analysis

11/7/24

13 min read

2025 NFL Draft: Ranking Top 10 FCS Prospects

By James Foster

NFL Analyst
UCF Knights tight end Randy Pittman (13) carries the ball against Villanova Wildcats defensive back Isas Waxter (0) during the second half at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

In the 2024 NFL Draft, 12 FCS players were selected, and an average of 14.5 are drafted each year. FCS prospects are particularly difficult to project, but these players get drafted, make rosters, and develop into good NFL starters, so they’re worth evaluating.

Here are my Top 10 FCS prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Ranking Top 2025 FCS Prospects

1. EDGE David Walker, Central Arkansas

GradeRankHeightWeightArm
Early 3rd37602026031.5

Central Arkansas edge rusher David Walker has the most dominant football tape I’ve ever seen.

He wins almost every pass-rushing rep and usually defeats his block in less than two seconds. The only reason he doesn’t have a roughly 50 percent pressure rate is that quarterbacks are consciously aware of his presence and force the ball out quickly to avoid getting flattened.

Aside from arm length, Walker rates as “great” to “elite” in every pass-rushing trait or skill. He has an explosive first step, overwhelming lateral quickness, and a rare bend for a player of his size. According to Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List, he runs a 4.59 40-yard dash, has a 36-inch vertical jump, and squats 645 pounds.

His build (6-foot-2, 260) is perfect for his rush style. He’s densely packed with excellent play strength, but his low center of gravity sinks his pad level and creates an automatic leverage advantage as a power rusher. Being short also makes it easier to dip underneath the tackle’s outside hand and forces blockers to lunge to make contact with his speed rush.

Walker has a diverse moveset and has unlocked every ability on the pass-rushing skill tree. He’s won multiple times with a bull rush, double swipe, cross-chop, ghost-rip, inside counter, and club-swim. His bull rush is a wrecking ball, his inside counter is blinding, and he bends around the corner at angles that seem physically impossible.

His one flaw is arm length. 31.5-inch arms are the fourth percentile for edge rushers. If Walker had just average length he’d be a top 10 player on my board.

Most of his strengths as a pass rusher translate to the run game. He rapidly slices through blocks and infiltrates the backfield in a blur. He’s also asked to drop into coverage occasionally and has more range than a lot of linebackers.

2. OT Charles Grant, William & Mary

GradeRankHeightWeightArm
Early 4th79604330135.625

Charles Grant has been on the NFL’s radar for several years and should be a mid-round pick this April. He’s just 301 pounds, which is the eighth percentile for NFL tackles, but his physical tools and movement skills are rare.

He has quick feet and 35-5/8 inch arms and could play guard or tackle at the next level. According to Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List, “Grant has clocked a fully automatic timed 1.44 10-yard split,” which is the exact same time as Xavier Worthy, which would be the fastest 10-yard split ever for an offensive tackle.

His rare explosiveness is on display whenever he’s asked to pull or block in space. Watch how immediate his gear-up is on this second-level climb from Week 8:

Grant’s tape looks exactly like a draftable FCS offensive lineman’s tape is supposed to look. He annihilates his competition to such a degree that it genuinely looks unsafe.

His physical dominance over inferior athletes is entertaining, but it makes his evaluation more difficult. He’s basically playing football in sandbox mode and is never threatened or punished for lapses in technique.

He'll likely need a redshirt year to develop his body and his skill set for NFL competition. He doesn’t lose to bull rushes in college, but he’s very light for an NFL tackle and frequently punches late, giving rushers access to his frame.

That’s a dangerous combination that would be exploited immediately in the NFL if he was forced into early action. However, athletes of his caliber don’t come around very often. If he can add 10-15 pounds and continue to develop his hand usage, he has Penei Sewell-like upside.

3. G Grey Zabel, North Dakota State

GradeRankHeightWeightArm
Mid 4th95605430432.25

Grey Zabel is the latest product of the North Dakota State offensive line factory. He’s having an outstanding season at left tackle, with just two pressures allowed on 253 pass-blocking snaps. He’s also developed into a force in the run game and has already accumulated a long reel of dominant finishes.

The most impressive aspect of Zabel’s tape is his anchor. It’s hard to compare it to other FBS offensive linemen who are facing superior competition, but Zabel’s anchor has been flawless through the first nine weeks. He has surprising play strength at just 304 pounds, but his technique makes him a brick wall.

Every offensive lineman who struggles to anchor against power should watch Zabel’s tape; it doesn’t matter what game you watch because every rep looks the same. He squares up to the bull rush with an even base so the rusher’s force is evenly distributed. He delivers a firm two-hand strike to counter his opponent’s momentum and lift his pad level.

Zabel has the lower-body flexibility to sink his anchor and redirect the power rush into the ground. He's also highly alert, picking up stunts, and can mirror quick inside counters and seal off the B-gap.

He's made significant improvements as a run blocker this year and has the athleticism and technique to fit any blocking scheme. He seizes early control with a jarring initial strike, drives his legs through the sustain phase, and steers defenders into the ground. Zabel is an explosive puller and has plenty of range to reach difficult shades on zone runs.

He’s played more than 200 snaps at every offensive line position except center and has started every game at left tackle this season, but I view him as a guard in the NFL and don’t see him as a player with tackle versatility.

His arm length is in the 10th percentile for guards and falls well below most teams’ thresholds for tackles. This results in some minor vulnerabilities that would be magnified in the NFL.

He frequently loses the edge to speed rushers and doesn’t have the extra length to impede them as they turn the corner. None of these plays were charted as pressures since the ball was out quickly, but he’s hanging on by a thread against FCS pass rushers:

4. HB Lan Larison, UC Davis

GradeRankHeightWeight
Mid 5th1345106209

Lan Larison is the Swiss Army Knife of the FCS and a truly one-of-a-kind player. He’s UC Davis’ best running back and receiver, he takes snaps at Wildcat QB, and he returned kicks in his first two seasons. Last year, he led all college running backs in rushing yards per game, and this year, he leads the FCS in receiving yards per game.

He’s a patient and efficient inside rusher and a home-run hitter when he breaks runs outside. Larison has above-average contact balance, uses a stiff arm and hurdle to shed tackles, and has a lethal jump cut to shake the last line of defense.

However, his ball security has been disappointing this year. Fumbles weren't an issue for Larison before, but he already has four in his first eight games.

His receiving skill set is equally well-rounded. Larison is a stingy pass blocker with reliable hands, who can play the role of stabilizing third down back, but he’s also a dynamic downfield weapon. He can run the wide receiver route tree and separate from defensive backs on deep corner routes.

He can stretch the field vertically with wheel routes and slot fades and tracks the ball over his shoulder better than some receivers in this class. Larison has also flashed the ability to high-point jump balls and win through contact at the catch point.  

I think NFL teams will value Larison’s skill set and ability to add value in multiple phases, whether it’s as a feature back or complementary weapon.

5. S TaMuarion Wilson, Central Arkansas

GradeRankHeightWeight
Late 5th1486020215

TaMuarion Wilson is a throwback safety with elite size and play strength. His closing burst, power, and tenacity make him an oppressive tackler, and any throw within his vicinity qualifies as a hospital ball. Wilson has the downhill explosiveness to patrol the flats and decimate screens and checkdowns.

He’s also an enforcer over the middle of the field and should be avoided if he’s in robber coverage.

Based on his physical profile, I expected some athletic limitations, but Wilson’s top gear is NFL-caliber. When he turns on the jets, he can track down just about anyone. His ideal role in the NFL is a box safety or dime linebacker who can bring a physical edge to both phases.

6. LB Aaron Smith, South Carolina State

GradeHeightWeight
Late 6th6006226

The program that produced Shaq Leonard in 2018 could have another linebacker drafted this year. South Carolina State’s Aaron Smith is a ferocious run-and-hit linebacker, who I view as a mid-Day 3 pick.

After watching several hours of FCS linebacker tape, Smith is the only player who has anything close to NFL speed. He has excellent range to chase stretch runs to the sideline and is a violent but secure tackler. His coverage tape from last season was rough, but he has plenty of upside and seems to have taken a step forward in that phase this year.

He missed three weeks with an injury and has only played in four games this year, so I still need more tape to make a full evaluation. Smith does seem more decisive when fitting the run this year from a limited sample size. At 226 pounds, his take-on responsibilities should be limited, but Smith is the kind of athlete I want flying into the opposing backfield unblocked.

With a bit more polish, Smith could find a role as a disruptive will linebacker, and his special teams ability should keep him on a roster while he develops:

7. EDGE Keyshawn James-Newby, Idaho

GradeHeightWeight
Early 7th6020240

Keyshawn James-Newby is a technically refined edge defender with good length and skilled hand usage. He leads FCS defenders with 39 pressures and has the second-most pressures since 2023 (82).

He also maintained his production against better competition, recording two sacks against Oregon in Week 1.

James-Newby’s go-to pass-rushing move is the cross-chop, which he has the length, timing, and bend to execute at a high level. He rarely deviates from this move and hasn’t needed to because it’s been so effective, but he’ll have to add some counters to win against NFL tackles.

If he develops more of a multifaceted pass-rushing plan, James-Newby could establish himself as a Day 3 pick.

8. CB Isas Waxter, Villanova

GradeHeightWeightArm
Mid 7th601220432

Isas Waxter is a physically imposing cornerback best suited for a press-Cover-3 scheme. In 2023, he recorded six pass breakups and three interceptions, but his ball production has decreased this year as quarterbacks have targeted him less often.

He’s a verified 6012, 204 with 32-inch arms and has the size and length profile to be a smothering press corner, but his playstyle is actually more patient than you would expect.

Instead of jamming aggressively, he prefers to play soft-shoe press, mirroring the receiver’s initial release without making contact. For a player of his size, he’s surprisingly fluid and has the change-of-direction skills to succeed in man coverage.

While rarely tested by FCS competition, his speed is a bit of a concern. In his 2023 matchup with UCF, Javon Baker left him in the dust on multiple occasions. I gave him a seventh-round grade because of my speed concerns, but a good 40-time and/or an impressive bowl performance could boost his stock to early Day 3.

9. G Marcus Wehr, Montana State

GradeHeightWeight
Mid 7th6040300

Marcus Wehr has gotten some draft hype after finishing 2023 with several elite run-blocking performances. This year, he moved from right tackle to right guard, the position he’ll most likely play in the NFL, and I was intrigued by some of the flashes he showed last season.

However, his tape this year has been fairly underwhelming, and he’s graded as a fringe Day 3 pick. He hasn’t been bad by any stretch, but he is nowhere near the level of dominance I want to see from an FCS offensive lineman.

Due to the low level of competition and Montana State’s offensive scheme, he's rarely exposed in pass protection, so I need to see him in the all-star circuit before making a final evaluation.

10. WR JaVonnie Gibson, Arkansas Pine-Bluff

GradeHeightWeight
Mid 7th6030205

JaVonnie Gibson is an intriguing prospect and a good example of non-linear development. He started his career at Arkansas-Monticello, a Division 2 school, where he didn't record any stats.

But he transferred to Arkansas Pine-Bluff in 2024 and currently leads the FCS with 937 receiving yards. Listed at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Gibson has an enticing blend of size, speed, and quickness. He’s an explosive deep threat who can stretch the field and track the ball through contact.

Through Week 9, he leads the FBS and FCS with 18 receptions of 20 or more yards.

He isn’t just a linear receiver; he has a creative release package and sudden change of direction ability to separate as an intermediate route runner. His inexperience is obvious on tape, but Gibson could be a high-upside lottery ticket for a team that’s willing to be patient.

Best of the Rest

These are the other players I scouted that I gave at least a Priority Free Agent grade

11. S Tommy McCormick, Idaho - Mid 7th

12. S Mike Smith Jr., Eastern Kentucky - Late 7th

13. WR Seven McGee, Albany - PFA

14. CB Kendall Bohler, Florida A&M - PFA

15. WR Ja'Seem Reed, San Diego - PFA

16. CB Dalys Beanum, South Dakota State - PFA

Tags: 2025 NFL Draft, Aaron Smith, Charles Grant See More

James Foster

NFL Analyst

James Foster is an NFL writer who creates film-based analysis of NFL players and teams. He previously worked for A to Z Sports.

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