FCS and HBCU football prospects to know in the 2024 NFL draft

The 2024 NFL draft is from April 25-27 in Detroit, Michigan. Here are some FCS and HBCU players that should be on your radar.

FCS prospects that attended the NFL combine

Kiran Amegadjie | OL | Yale

Kiran Amegadjie didn't do on-field workouts at the combine after suffering a season-ending injury that only allowed him to play in four games in 2023. Still, the 6-foot-5, 323-pound offensive lineman remains one of the top FCS prospects in 2024. Amegadjie played left tackle primarily at Yale, earning All-Ivy honors every year he played and his length and athleticism make him an intriguing prospect that likely won't slip past Day 2.

Mason McCormick | OL | South Dakota State

One of the biggest risers in the pre-draft process from the FCS level is Mason McCormick. The 6-foot-4 offensive guard had an excellent week by most accounts at the East-West Shrine Bowl and followed that up with one of the most athletic performances — the most athletic in this draft cycle — of any offensive guard in NFL combine history.

Garret Greenfield | OL | South Dakota State

If you didn't know Garret Greenfield's name before the NFL combine, you should've, but you definitely know it now. The back-to-back FCS champion broke the combine vertical jump record for an offensive lineman with his 38.5-inch leap. He soared at 6-foot-6 and 311 pounds.

Anim Dankwah | OL | Howard

Anim Dankwah is the top FCS HBCU draft prospect in 2024, hoping his journey can go from Canada to Howard to the NFL. Dankwah was dominant in the MEAC at left tackle and his 6-foot-8 frame and 35-and-1/8 inch arms have long caught the attention of NFL scouts.

MORE: What happened in the 2023 HBCU football season | 2023 Celebration Bowl | Final 2023 Rankings

Jalen Sundell | OL | North Dakota State

Jalen Sundell looks to become the latest North Dakota State offensive lineman to hear his name called in the NFL draft. If Sundell is drafted he'll make it four straight years a Bison offensive lineman has been selected, joining Dillon Radunz (2021), Cordell Volson (2022) and Cody Mauch (2023). Sundell didn't participate in on-field workouts due to a knee injury, but at his pro day, he boosted his draft stock as a versatile offensive lineman who projects to be a center with a 5.19 40-yard dash and 4.58 shuttle.

C.J. Hanson | OL | Holy Cross

Holy Cross was a top 10 team in the FCS across the last two seasons, and C.J. Hanson was a big reason for that success. Hanson helped anchor the FCS's third-best rushing offense in 2023 and at the NFL combine he ran a 5.00 40-yard dash with a 1.76-second 10-yard split. 

Josiah Ezirim | OL | Eastern Kentucky

Josiah Ezirim is another FCS offensive lineman who didn't do on-field workouts at the combine, but the Eastern Kentucky prospect remains a potential draft pick with his 6-foot-6 329-pound frame. With 35-inch arms and an 85-and-1/4-inch wingspan, Ezirim projects as an offensive tackle for teams to develop at the next level.

Myles Harden | CB | South Dakota

The top FCS defensive back in this draft cycle is Myles Harden. Harden was a shutdown corner at South Dakota, with quarterbacks sparingly testing him during his final season. At the combine, he ran a 4.51 40-yard dash and had the No. 1 20-yard shuttle time — 3.98 seconds — of any athlete across positions in 2024. 

LOOKING AHEAD: 2024's post-transfer portal top 10 returning FCS quarterbacks

Willie Drew | CB | Virginia State

Willie Drew isn't an FCS prospect, instead, he hails from DII HBCU Virginia State. Yet, he's one of the top HBCU prospects in this draft class. Drew is a 5-foot-11, 191-pound cornerback that ran a 4.46 40-yard dash with a 1.49 10-yard split — the third-fastest in the combine. Drew got to show what he could do against higher-level competition at the Senior Bowl to give scouts a better look.

Dylan Laube | RB | New Hampshire

Dylan Laube caught the attention of the college football world when he set an all-divisions NCAA record with 295 receiving yards against FBS foe Central Michigan. Laube plays running back by the way. Laube's versatility is why he's on plenty of scout's radars entering the NFL draft. The 5-foot-10 206-pound Swiss army knife running back boosted his draft stock at the combine with his 4.54 40-yard dash — with a 1.52 10-yard split — and the No. 1 20-yard shuttle time of any running back at the combine in 4.02 seconds.

Jaden Shirden | RB | Monmouth

Two-time Walter Payton Award finalist Jaden Shirden is a rare FCS prospect who declared early for the NFL draft. Shirden is a 5-foot-8, 187-pound running back that was a touchdown threat every time he touched the football, averaging 7.3 yards per carry. His big-play ability was displayed at the NFL combine with his 4.45 40-yard dash.

Isaiah Davis | RB | South Dakota State

Another one of the best running backs in the FCS is entering the NFL draft in Isaiah Davis. Davis was pivotal in leading South Dakota State to back-to-back FCS titles rushing for 4,548 career yards and 50 touchdowns. At the combine, he ran a 4.57 40-yard dash and now hopes to go from lifting the FCS championship trophy to an NFL helmet.

2023 FCS PLAYOFF RECAP: See everything that happened in the 2023 FCS playoffs from start to finish

Ryan Flournoy | WR | Southeast Missouri State

Ryan Flournoy put on a show at the NFL combine, running a 4.44 40-yard dash and jumping 39.5 inches in the vertical. Flournoy's speed and explosiveness stand out at 6-foot-1 and 202 pounds, especially after making 118 catches for 1823 yards and 13 touchdowns in his two years at Southeast Missouri State.

Jalen Coker | WR | Holy Cross

The highest vertical at the NFL combine belonged to Jalen Coker, who leaped 42.50 inches off the ground. Coker can do more than just jump though; he finished his career with 2,715 receiving yards and 31 receiving touchdowns. To get a glimpse of what Coker's bringing to the next level, look at him catching a Hail Mary to land an FCS-over-FBS upset.

WATCH: Jalen Coker catches Hail Mary to knock off Buffalo

Jalyx Hunt | Edge | Houston Christian

The top FCS edge defender prospect by most accounts is Jaylx Hunt. Hunt played defensive end at Houston Christian, but he began his career as a safety at Cornell. Hunt still has that athleticism, even standing at 6-foot-4 and 252 pounds, running the eighth-fastest 40-yard dash among defensive ends at the combine at 4.64 seconds.

FCS prospects that didn't get combine invites

Khristian Boyd | DT | Northern Iowa

The most likely FCS player among draft pundits who will get drafted without a combine invite is Khristian Boyd. The defensive tackle played his way from the Hula Bowl to earn an East-West Shrine Bowl invite and had a stellar pre-draft process. Boyd is a 6-foot-3 325-pound interior defensive lineman that could hear his name called as early as Day 2.

HISTORY: Schools with the most FCS titles | 9 winningest FCS programs all-time | Championship history

Sundiata Anderson | Edge | Grambling State

Sundiata Anderson has long been on the radar of NFL scouts. Anderson is a lengthy edge rusher with a great mix of speed and power. Anderson put his talents on display at the East-West Shrine Bowl and his pro day among NFL scouts with a 38.5-inch vertical.

"Somebody who's going to give everything he has for the team to win..." defensive lineman on what type of player he is. Anderson (who is 250 lbs) put on a show at Grambling's/La Tech's pro day. He finished with a 38.5" vertical and a 10'3" in the broad…

— Brendon Fairbairn (@FairbairnTV)

Davius Richard | QB | North Carolina Central

Davius Richard might've been the first HBCU quarterback drafted since the late Tarvaris Jackson out of Alabama State in 2006 if not for an injury in the HBCU Legacy Bowl. Richard had a prolific career at North Carolina Central, winning a Celebration Bowl. Pre-injury he was arguably the top non-FBS quarterback prospect after impressing scouts at the HBCU combine and during Legacy Bowl practices.

🏆: HBCU football championship history

Zareon Hayes, Edge, Alabama A&M

Winning the Defensive MVP of the HBCU Legacy Bowl will garner you the attention of NFL scouts and Zareon Hayes did just that. Hayes finished with four sacks in the HBCU all-star game. Hayes continued to add to his pre-draft resume with a 4.7 40-yard dash at UAB's pro day.

NEXT SEASON: Here's when the 2024 college football season starts

Other notable FCS prospects

• Jarveon Howard | RB | Alcorn State
• Jaxon Janke | WR | South Dakota State
• Jadon Janke | WR | South Dakota State
• Mason Tipton | WR | Yale
• Ty James | WR | Mercer
• Zach Heins | TE | South Dakota State
• Nick Correia | OL | Rhode Island
• Evan Gregory | OL | Norfolk State
• Nate Lynn | DE | William & Mary
• AJ Simon |  Edge | UAlbany*
• Winston Reid | LB | Weber State
• Devan Hebron | LB | Morgan State
• Lawrence Richardson | LB | Morgan State
• Mikey Victor | CB | Alabama State
• Jordan Colbert | Safety | Rhode Island
• PJ Jules | Safety | Southern Illinois
• John Huggins | Safety | Jackson State

*AJ Simon was originally included on this list when it was published on April 12. , one week before the draft.