The college football landscape has changed quite a bit in recent years with the expansion of the College Football Playoff, the availability of NIL money and the fluidity of the transfer portal.

Where years ago, playing NCAA Division II football might have been the end of the line for most players, there are more reasons to play longer and strive for the next level, whether that be straight to the NFL, or getting the opportunity to play for a Division I team as a potential stepping stone.

Just becoming draft-eligible or draft-worthy, let alone a contender for one of only 257 spots, is a major accomplishment in itself, regardless of where someone played college football, so being picked straight from a Division II program is rare, but certainly possible.

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The 2026 NFL Draft, which will be held in Pittsburgh for the first time since 1948, will be the 91st edition of the event and will take place at Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium from April 23-25.

Traditionally, from a pool of almost 80,000 collegiate football players, approximately 3,000 make the list of eligible players who must be confirmed by the NFL Player Personnel staff, along with those who apply to enter early. 

Among this year’s possible selections are 63 underclassmen (21 players who have completed their degrees and 42 who didn’t graduate but received special eligibility).

From the list of draft-eligible players, just over 300 had the opportunity to participate in the NFL Combine from Feb. 23 through March 2. 

Since 1985, the Combine has allowed the top prospects in the country, at every position, to showcase their talent and character for team representatives. The agenda also includes medical exams, interviews and even psychological testing. 

Now, all the players can do is wait to see if their names are called, though their stock can rise or fall during individual pro days or special invitations for top prospects.

The 257 picks at the 2026 NFL Draft will take place over seven rounds, with the initial selection order of the 32 teams being the reverse of how they finished in last season’s standings. 

The first round, the only one held on the opening night of the festivities, begins with the last-place team and ends with the Super Bowl champion.

According to the NCAA, using NFL Draft data from 2023, approximately 1.5% of the eligible players (17,156 from 77,000+) were drafted. From the 259 picks that year, 247 played at the FBS level (the highest tier of college football), 10 were FCS players (the lower tier of Division I) and two were selected from the Division II ranks.

More recently, at the start of the 2025 NFL season, this story from NCAA.com noted that of all the NFL and lengthy rosters, only 66 former Division II players were listed when training camps started, and that number fell to 39 at the start of the regular season.

Of those 39, three hailed from Division II powerhouse Ferris State, which has won four of the last five Division II national championships (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025).

Since the 2025 college football season officially came to a close in January with Indiana defeating Miami to win the College Football Playoff, the talk and attention turned to the NFL Combine and now the upcoming NFL Draft.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy and then helped the Hoosiers cap their undefeated championship season (16-0), is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the draft, which belongs to the Las Vegas Raiders.

But what we’re here to discuss, even if it took a while to finally get here, is who we might see going from Division II standout to NFL draftee in 2026. Are they the diamonds in the rough? 

While the NFL does publish a list of the players who are awarded early entry for the draft, the rest of the pool isn’t quite as crystal clear. That’s because there are thousands of players who are automatically eligible simply by meeting the requirements (more on that below). They aren’t required to formally register, so there’s technically no running list to reference.

Even with the endless mock drafts and predictions and speculations and possibilities, it’s very easy to just disappear into the mix if you’re not a top prospect, especially if you play for a program outside of the FBS.

However, there’s always chatter somewhere. And watch lists. 

So, with all of that in mind, here’s a look at some Division II players who have been on the radar, in the discussions and have a chance to continue their careers on the grid iron:

Division II Players Who Could Be Selected In 2026 NFL Draft

Offense

Curtis Allen, Virginia Union, RB 

Though things ultimately didn’t work out for Virginia Union as a team, senior running back Curtis Allen had an unforgettable season individually.

Allen is listed at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, and he barreled his way to the 2025 Harlon Hill Trophy, awarded annually to the most outstanding player in NCAA Division II football and often dominated by quarterbacks. 

The win was historic. He became the first player from Virginia Union and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association to earn the honor. He also was the first competitor from an HBCU to win the award.

Allen led Division II in rushing with 2,386 yards, and he danced into the end zone 30 times for 180 points, both the most at any level of college football in 2025.

While leading the Panthers to a 9-3 record, a runner-up finish to Johnson C. Smith in the CIAA title game and a spot in the Division II Playoffs, Allen rushed for at least 100 yards in every game he played and surpassed the 200-yard mark four times. Oh, and one of those games featured a school-record 369 yards and five touchdowns. 

Allen also was named CIAA Offensive Player of the Year, 2025 HBCU GO Offensive Player of the Year, RVA Sports Male Athlete of the Year, All-CIAA, All-American, won the Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Year Award, earned a spot in the American Bowl and more.

Jack Strand, MSU Moorhead, QB

Jack Strand stands at a towering 6-foot-5 and weighs in at 240 pounds. Those stats are above average for an NFL quarterback and would give him exceptional visibility over opposing defenses and make him incredibly hard to tackle.

Strand’s bio and list off accolades got longer each year of his collegiate career at Minnesota State Moorhead. The phrase All-America shows up a lot. He was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy in 2025. He was the D2CCA Super Region 3 Offensive Player of the Year, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Offensive Player of the Year and he finished his career ranked No. 10 all-time in Division II passing yards, having thrown for 13,161 yards in 42 games.

In those 42 games, Strand was 1,247 for 1,953 with 126 touchdowns and an average of 313.4 yards per game. He also had 50 interceptions in his career.

A final hurrah saw Strand lead the Dragons to a season-ending 31-23 victory over playoff-bound Minnesota State, MSUM’s first win over the Mavericks since 1981, while Strand put the finishing touches on the NCIS’s passing record with 12,134 yards. 

The Dragons were 8-3 in 2025.

Braden Jay, Harding, RB

Braden Jay played in 53 games for Harding from 2022-2025 and rolled up just under 4,000 yards as a 5-foot-9, 190-pound running back, while scoring 52 touchdowns. Don’t be fooled, he’s more than just a strong set of legs – he also has capable hands as a potential receiver and even threw for a touchdown in 2024.

As a senior in 2025, Jay rushed 127 times for 1,514 yards and 22 scores, while catching four passes, including one for a touchdown.

At Harding, however, it sometimes is hard to stand out from the herd, as the Bisons continue to be one of the toughest teams in Division II. 

Harding was 9-2 in 2022, 15-0 in 2023 en route to the Division II national title, 12-2 and a national quarterfinalist in 2024 and 15-1 in 2025, losing the title game to Ferris State, 42-21.

Alex Johnson, Tiffin, QB

Johnson transferred from the University of Washington and played at Tiffin for two seasons – 2024 and 2025.

At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, he also is above average for a pro-level quarterback.

In 2025, Johnson completed 235 of 346 passes for 3,014 yards, with 31 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. On the ground, however, despite his size, he only rushed 26 times and was negative in yardage, by a lot (-87).

Johnson helped Tiffin to a 7-4 record in 2025, which ended with a 23-21 stunner over top-10 Findlay in November. It was the first loss of the year for the Oilers. 

After the season, Tiffin head coach Brett Ekkens announced he was leaving after two seasons in pursuit of NFL opportunities. He signed on in February as Offensive Quality Control for the Arizona Cardinals. 

Does that mean there’s a possibility Johnson could end up as part of the Cardinals offense down the road?

Joe Cooper, Slippery Rock, OG

The Slippery Rock football team almost went all the way in 2024, before falling to eventual national champion Ferris State in the national semifinals, but 2025 was a little less successful, ending with a 6-4 record and a pair of losses to end the season.

A big part of the team’s success has been offensive tackle Joe Cooper, who was the second Division II player to accept an invitation to play in the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl and the third player in program history to be invited to the game.

Getting to showcase his skills against many of the top FBS and FCS players in the country is a clear indication that the 6-foot-7, 320-pounder might be ready for the next level.

Cooper was a staple on the SRU offensive line in 2025, and the squad held opponents to just 10 sacks on the season. That ranked No. 1 in the PSAC West and No. 16 in Division II football.

In his career at Slippery Rock, Cooper played in 43 games, starting in 38 consecutive contests, and helped The Rock to the Division II Playoffs three times. He didn’t miss a start in 2023, 2024 or 2025.

In 2025, Cooper helped Slippery Rock to 217.8 rushing yards per game and 418.1 total yards of offense, along with 32.7 points per game. 

Defense

Michael Shimek, Ashland, DE

Michael Shimek, a 6-foot-1, 246-pound senior, made his way into the Ashland record book with an unforgettable 2025 season that included a Division II-leading 17.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss (T6th), 60 total tackles, three forced fumbles and two blocked kicks. 

Unfortunately, Shimek and his team were in the way of eventual national champion Ferris State and were run over in the national quarterfinals, 56-24.

From 2022-2025, Shimek recorded 165 total tackles (43 for loss), 31.5 sacks, six pass deflections, six blocked kicks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Among his accolades in 2025 were: Division II Conference Commissioner's Association Ron Lenz national Defensive Player of the Year, Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America Team, D2Football.com Elite 100 Team (first team), finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award (NCAA Division II Senior Lineman of the Year), GMAC Player of the Year, first-team All-GMAC and Cliff Harris Award finalist. 

The Eagles were 10-2 in 2022, 9-3 in 2023, 9-4 in 2024 and 10-3 in 2025.

Ricky Freymond, Western Colorado, DE

Ricky Freymond made his presence known as a senior defensive end in 2025, earning his second consecutive All-America nod from the American Football Coaches Association. He was a first-teamer in 2024 and a second-team selection in 2025.

He’s listed at 6-foot-5, 265 pounds and played in 49 games for the Mountaineers in his career, collecting 102 solo tackles, 80 assists, 58 TFLs, 29 sacks, eight forced fumbles, four blocked kicks, four passes defended and an interception.

With his help, Western Colorado was 10-3 in 2025 and reached the second round of the Division II Playoffs. 

Khris Walton, Tiffin, DL

Khris Walton anchored the Tiffin defense and was named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 team. He also was a D2CCA All-Region second-team selection in 2025, while leading the Great Midwest Athletic Conference in sacks with 10.5.

In 11 games in 2025, Walton had 57 total tackles, including 13.5 tackles for loss. He played in 24 games for the Dragons from 2023-2025 and collected 121 total tackles. 

At 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds, and with his former head coach now coaching in the NFL, is there a spot for this defensive standout at the next level?

Daryl Taybron, Johnson C. Smith, Free Safety

Daryl Taybron was second for Johnson C. Smith with 28 solo tackles, 23 assists and 51 total tackles in 2025.

For his career (2022-2025), the 6-foot-2, 166-pound safety had 128 total tackles, four TFLs and three interceptions. 

He helped the Golden Bulls shine in 2025, going 10-2 overall, winning the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association title game over Virginia Union and reaching the Division II Playoffs, before suffering a first-round loss to Frostburg State (21-7).

Taybron was one of three Johnson C. Smith players, all All-CIAA selections, chosen to represent the team and CIAA in the 2025 All State HBCU Legacy Bowl in New Orleans in February. 

Justin Payoute, Ferris State, CB

It would be hard to accept that a team on a run like Ferris State has seen over the last five years wouldn’t have someone capable of playing elite football at the next level, though that does look a little different in the modern era.

After leading the Bulldogs to the 2024 Division II national championship, quarterback Trinidad Chambliss saw the next step as a move to Division I powerhouse Ole Miss, where he earned the starting role and nearly led the Rebels to the top. The Rebels bowed out in the CFP semifinals, falling to eventual runner-up Miami. 

While Chambliss is still going strong and has been awarded another year of eligibility with Ole Miss, it’s time for his former FSU teammate, defensive back Justin Payoute, to blaze his own path.

Payoute, just 5-foot-7 and 170 pounds, closed his collegiate career with the Cliff Harris Award as nation’s top defensive player in 2025 across Division II, Division III and the NAIA level. 

The first-team All-American played in 16 games, helping Ferris State to a 16-0 record and fourth national title in five years, while collecting 72 total tackles and nine interceptions.

For his career, Payoute has 214 tackles, 13 TFLs, 12 interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He leaves Big Rapids with the Bulldogs on a 30-game winning streak and looking to secure a national title three-peat in 2026.

How Does A Player Become Eligible For The NFL Draft?

From NFL.com:

To be eligible for the draft, players must have been out of high school for at least three years and must have used up their college eligibility before the start of the next college football season. 

Underclassmen and players who have graduated before using all their college eligibility may request the league’s approval to enter the draft early.

Players are draft-eligible only in the year after the end of their college eligibility. 

Before the draft, NFL Player Personnel staff members confirm the eligibility of draft prospects; that means researching the college backgrounds of approximately 3,000 college players each year. 

They work with NCAA compliance departments at schools across the country to verify the information for all prospects. They also check the rosters of college all-star games to make sure that only draft-eligible players play in the games.

The Player Personnel staff also review all of the applications submitted by players who want to enter the draft early. 

How To Watch The 2026 NFL Draft

The 2026 NFL Draft will take place April 23-25 at Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. 

Round 1 will take place April 23 (Thursday), Rounds 2-3 will be April 24 and Rounds 4-7 will be held April 25.

All of the excitement will be broadcast on ESPN, ABC and the NFL Network, while countless sites and experts, including FloFootball and FloCollege, will provide coverage and analysis from now until after the final pick on April 25.

2025 Division II Rankings 

Final AFCA Division II Coaches Poll For 2025 Season

1. Ferris St. (16-0)
2. Harding (15-1)
3. Kutztown (14-1)
4. Newberry (12-2)
5. UT Permian Basin (11-3)
6. Pittsburg St. (10-3)
7. Albany St. (12-2)
8. Minnesota St. (10-4)
9. West Florida (10-2)
10. UIndy (11-2)
11. Colorado St.-Pueblo (10-2)
12. Western Colorado (10-3)
13. Central Washington (10-2)
14. Frostburg St. (11-3)
15. Ashland (10-3)
16. Minnesota-Duluth (10-2)
17. Northwest Missouri St. (9-3)
18. Johnson C. Smith (10-2)
19. Findlay (10-2)
20. Benedict (10-3)
21. Virginia Union (9-3)
22. California (Pa.) (9-4)
23. Chadron St. (8-4)
24. Assumption (9-3)
25. Augustana (S.D.) (9-2)

Dropped Out: Grand Valley St. (20), Western Oregon (25)

Others Receiving Votes: Grand Valley St., 71; Wingate, 28; Western Oregon, 26; Valdosta St., 12; Slippery Rock, 8; Upper Iowa, 8; Indiana (Pa.), 4; Delta St., 3; Kentucky St., 3; West Texas A&M, 3; Charleston, 1; Southern Arkansas, 1.

FloCollege D2 Football Rankings: Through Week 11

1. Ferris State (Prev. 1)
2. Harding (Prev. 2)
3. Kutztown (Prev. 3)
4. West Florida (Prev. 4)
5. CSU Pueblo (Prev. 5)
6. Central Washington (Prev. 6)
7. Indianapolis (Prev. 8)
8. Virginia Union (Prev. 7)
9. Findlay (Prev. 11)
10. Minnesota State (Prev. 15)
11. Pittsburg State (Prev. 13)
12. Northwest Missouri State (Prev. 14)
13. Minnesota Duluth (Prev. 12)
14. Albany State (Prev. 21)
15. Augustana (SD) (Prev. 9)
16. Western Colorado (Prev. 10)
17. UT Permian Basin (Prev. 20)
18. Johnson C. Smith (Prev. 22)
19. Western Oregon (Prev. 25)
20. Ashland (Prev. 16)
21. Grand Valley State (Prev. 24)
22. Chadron State (Prev. RV)
23. Northwood (Prev. RV)
24. Newberry (Prev. RV)
25. Wingate (Prev. RV)

Also Received Votes: Delta State, Frostburg State, Slippery Rock, Michigan Tech, UNC Pembroke, Upper Iowa, Benedict, Kentucky State, Angelo State, Emory & Henry, Assumption, Northeastern State.

Who Won The 2025 NCAA Division II Football Championship?

The 2026 Division II Football Championship title game was played Dec. 20, 2025, at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas.

Ferris State, under head coach Tony Annese, won the title for the fourth time in five years (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025).

The latest triumph was a 42-21 victory over Harding, the 2023 Division II national champion.

Grand Valley State vs. Ferris State Football | 2025 Anchor-Bone Classic Full Replay

Watch Grand Valley State vs. Ferris State in the 2025 Anchor-Bone Classic on FloCollege.

Spoiler: Ferris State won 38-31

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