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Division III Players Who Could Be Selected In 2026 NFL Draft

Division III Players Who Could Be Selected In 2026 NFL Draft

The '26 NFL Draft is April 23-25, and there’s a chance we’ll see some Division III players, though that hasn’t happened since 2021. Here are some standouts.

Mar 18, 2026 by Matt Cannizzaro
Inside The Rise Of Curt Cignetti

For nearly a century, the NFL Draft has been making dreams come true for hundreds of athletes every year.

However, the stars of NCAA Division III football have only been huddled around their phones during draft weekend since the early 1970s, about the same time the introduction of call waiting would’ve allowed the lucky few to field calls from more than one team at a time. 

Why is this?

It’s because the NCAA didn’t move to its current three-division structure until 1973, with Wittenberg surviving the inaugural edition of the four-team, single-elimination NCAA Division III Football Championship (Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl) to become the first team to hoist the championship trophy. 

In the years since, despite Division III now being home to more teams than any other category – by a wide margin – less than 30 Division III players have found their way to the NFL through the draft.

When the 2026 NFL Draft takes place in Pittsburgh from April 23-25, hopeful standouts from more than 250 Division III programs will be waiting for the phone to ring.

To be clear, though, while the majority of the players selected in the NFL Draft are from NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision programs, the draft isn’t the only path to the pros. Also, being drafted doesn’t mean roster spots and big paychecks for every name called.

Most of the non-FBS players who have gone on to find success in the NFL have done so by signing as undrafted free agents, earning their spots with hard work and work ethic. There also may have been good reasons why they chose to play where they did collegiately, not because of a lack of talent. 

But, for so long, playing for a sports-forward Division I program with seemingly endless resources and national exposure was a detriment to those in other divisions and at smaller schools, regardless of ability. It’s much harder to get noticed when you’re not being seen.

Thanks to the internet, social media and livestreaming services, like FloFootball and FloCollege, every player can get the exposure he, or she, deserves, though the numbers still haven’t shown that the gap is closing. 


During the 2025-2026 season, there were 136 Division I FBS football programs, 129 FCS teams, 161 Division II squads and 239 Division III schools. 

The percentage of high school football players who get to play in college is small. The number who get to play at the NCAA Division I level is even smaller. And the number of players who get selected in the NFL Draft? Minuscule – around 1.5% of the eligible players, which is a few thousands each year.

With the 2026 NFL Draft just a few weeks away, we’d like to take a look at some Division III football players who stood out in 2025, or throughout their collegiate careers, and could possibly be among the 257 picks this year in Pittsburgh. 

We’ve already done the same for Division II and Non-FBS teams, and you can read those stories here:

In 2025, players in the NFL Draft represented 86 colleges. Ohio State, Georgia, Texas and Oregon all had 10 or more players picked, making up 49 of the 257 players chosen by the league’s 32 teams. 

Of all the selections, 150 of the players drafted finished their collegiate careers at SEC or Big Ten schools. Add in the ACC and Big 12, and that’s 233 of the 257. That doesn’t leave much room for anyone outside of the FBS during the seven rounds of the draft.

During last year’s NFL Draft, only eight FCS players and one HBCU standout were taken. No players from Division II or Division III got the call. 

In 2024, the draft included 11 FCS players, three international picks, one Division II athlete and no HBCU players. Again, no Division III selections. In fact, since 1990, only 21 Division III players have been drafted, with three in one year being the most. 

Quinn Meinerz from Wisconsin-Whitewater was the last Division III player drafted, going to the Denver Broncos in 2021.  

Is that going to change in 2026?

Division III Players Selected In The NFL Draft

  • 2021 — Quinn Meinerz, OL, UW-Whitewater — Denver Broncos, Round 3 (No. 98 overall)
  • 2020 — Ben Bartch, OL, St. John’s — Jacksonville Jaguars, Round 4 (No. 116)
  • 2015 — Ali Marpet, OL, Hobart — Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Round 2 (No. 61)
  • 2012 — Chris Greenwood, CB, Albion — Detroit Lions, Round 5 (No. 148)
  • 2011 — Cecil Shorts, WR, Mount Union — Jacksonville Jaguars, Round 4 (No. 114)
  • 2008 — Andy Studebaker, DE/LB, Wheaton (Ill.) — Philadelphia Eagles, Round 6 (No. 203)
  • 2008 — Pierre Garçon, WR, Mount Union — Indianapolis Colts, Round 6 (No. 205)
  • 2007 — Michael Allan, TE, Whitworth — Kansas City Chiefs, Round 7 (No. 231)
  • 2007 — Derek Stanley, WR/RET, UW-Whitewater — St. Louis Rams, Round 7 (No. 249)
  • 2003 — Ryan Hoag, WR, Gustavus Adolphus — Oakland Raiders, Round 7 (No. 262)
  • 2002 — Tony Beckham, CB, UW-Stout — Tennessee Titans, Round 4 (No. 115)
  • 2002 — Michael Coleman, WR, Widener — Atlanta Falcons, Round 7 (No. 217)
  • 2000 — Tim Watson, DE, Rowan — Seattle Seahawks, Round 6 (No. 185)
  • 1999 — Clint Kriewaldt, LB, UW-Stevens Point — Detroit Lions, Round 6 (No. 177)
  • 1997 — Bill Schroeder, WR, UW-La Crosse — Green Bay Packers, Round 6 (No. 181)
  • 1996 — Ethan Brooks, OL, Williams — Atlanta Falcons, Round 7 (No. 229)
  • 1992 — Nate Kirtman, DB, Pomona-Pitzer — Dallas Cowboys, Round 9 (No. 248)
  • 1992 — Barry Rose, WR, UW-Stevens Point — Buffalo Bills, Round 10 (No. 279)
  • 1991 — Pete Lucas, OL, UW-Stevens Point — Atlanta Falcons, Round 10 (No. 258)
  • 1991 — Larry Wanke, QB, John Carroll — New York Giants, Round 12 (No. 334)
  • 1990 — Chris Warren, RB, Ferrum — Seattle Seahawks, Round 4 (No. 89)
  • 1990 — Kirk Baumgartner, QB, UW-Stevens Point — Green Bay Packers, Round 9 (No. 242)
  • 1988 — Aatron Kenny, WR, UW-Stevens Point — Indianapolis Colts, Round 12 (No. 308)
  • 1982 — Pete Metzelaars, TE, Wabash College — Seattle Seahawks, Round 3 (No. 75)
  • 1982 — Tom Deery, DB/KR, Widener College — Baltimore Colts, Round 10 (No. 252)
  • 1975 — Joe Fields, C, Widener College — New York Jets, Round 14 (No. 349)
  • 1974 — Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, WR/KR, Widener College — Houston Oilers, Round 15 (No. 365)

This And That About Division III Schools

Division III teams typically play at smaller colleges, with the median enrollment rate at about 2,750, but they can range from 400 to more than 38,000 students. 

Beyond football, Division III is the largest of the three division across the board, with 450 member institutions. 

What are some other differences at Division III schools?

While Division I schools are larger, have more resources, offer scholarships and expect their athletes to spend more time training and playing, Division III school don’t offer athletic scholarships, and the focus is more on academics and the non-athletic aspects of the collegiate experience. Division II falls in between. 

Additionally, most student-athletes at Division III schools do benefit from some form of financial aid or academic scholarships.

About The 2026 NFL Draft

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. 

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.

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.

Going back one more year, here’s a list of Division II and Division III players who made NFL rosters in 2024.

Now, here are just some of the Division III standouts who will be looking to begin their professional football journeys in 2026:

Division III Standouts Who Could Get A Look For Teams In 2026 NFL Draft

Offense

Montie Quinn, RB, Curry College

If ever there was a perfect time for a record-shattering performance, it might be as the final quarters of your collegiate career were ticking away.

Enter Curry College running back Montie Quinn. 

Don’t get us wrong, Quinn is no slouch in the backfield, as proven by his 6,881 yards over four seasons with the Colonels, but something he did in 2025 is the accomplishment for which he’ll be remembered – at least for now.

On Saturday, Oct. 18, during Curry’s homecoming game against Nichols College, the 5-foot-9, 180-pound Quinn became the first NCAA player in history to surpass 500 rushing yards in a single game. 

His 522-yard, seven-touchdown performance (on just 20 carries) helped his team to a 71-27 victory and likely earned him the chance to be part of a question during Double Jeopardy someday.

Quinn beat the previous Division III single-game rushing record of 465 yards, set in 2013, while also besting the Division I FBS record (427), the top Division I FCS mark (437) and the best effort in Division II (425).

The record-setting day wasn’t Quinn’s first time in the spotlight, nor was it his first time slicing apart the Nichols defense. In 2024, he rushed for a then program-record 381 yards on 27 carries with TD runs of 60, 31, 79 and 59 yards. 

While helping Curry to an 8-3 record in 2025, the team’s first winning season since 2017, Quinn earned multiple first-team All-America honors, was the Walter Camp Foundation Division III Player of the Year and was named D3football.com All-Region 1 Offensive Player of the Year.  

Quinn finished the year with a Division III-leading 2,446 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns in 11 games. He ranked fourth in carries with 249.

Over his career, Quinn ran the ball more than 200 times every year, and his yardage totals were 1,165 (2022), 1,618 (2023), 1,652 (2024) and an average of 222.4 yards per game for his career-best total in 2025.

Tyren Montgomery, John Carroll, WR

John Carroll University wide receiver Tyren Montgomery was invited to the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl. The Athletic called him an NFL Draft sleeper earlier this year.

Montgomery was a D3football.com first-team All-American and a second-team AFCA and Associated Press All-America selection in 2025. 

In January, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound receiver had the opportunity to play in the American Bowl, where the stands are filled with NFL scouts. 

The graduate student set new John Carroll single-season standards for receptions (119) and receiving yards (1,528). He also had 15 receiving touchdowns, just shy of the program-record 17 he had in 2024.

In the 2025 FCS Playoffs, Montgomery had 38 receptions for 440 yards and two touchdowns, with nine or more catches in all four games. 

In two years as a John Carroll receiver, Montgomery played in 26 games. He had 176 receptions for 2,599 yards and 32 touchdowns. 

Montgomery, who started his career at Nicholls State, is looking to become John Carroll’s first NFL draft pick since 1991 and the fourth player since then to play in the NFL.

John Carroll finished the 2025 season at 12-2 overall, which included three playoffs wins and an appearance in the national semifinals, where the Blue Streaks lost to North Central, 41-21. 

On the way to the playoffs, the Blue Streaks celebrated their first year in the North Coast Athletic Conference by going 8-0 and winning the conference championship – the team’s first since 2016.

Bay Harvey, QB, Johns Hopkins

Johns Hopkins was 12-2 in 2025 and reached the semifinals of the Division III Football Championship, where the Blue Jays saw their season come to an end in the final two minutes of their showdown with eventual national champion UW-River Falls. 

The 48-41 nailbiter ended with a 79-yard touchdown pass from Falcons quarterback Kaleb Blaha (more below).

John Hopkins gunslinger Bay Harvey didn’t have the better performance that day, but his success over the entire 2025 campaign was enough to earn him the D3football.com All-Region 2 Offensive Player of the Year nod.

Harvey, 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, completed 233 of 349 passes during the season for 3,304 yards (11th in Division III) and 33 touchdowns (top 10 in Division III), along with five interceptions, one of which came in the season finale. 

For his career (2021-2025), Harvey played in 46 games, completed 584 of 867 passes for 7,822 yards and 81 touchdowns and threw just 13 interceptions. He also rushed for another 1,556 yards and 28 scores. 

Giovanni Kennedy, Mount Union, OL

Since 1993, the Mount Union football team has played for the Division III national championship 23 times, winning in 13 of those opportunities, including three in a row two times (1996-1998 and 2000-2002). 

However, the Purple Raiders are 0-3 in title games since 2018, meaning that offensive lineman Giovanni Kennedy is one of the few Mount Union standouts in the last 30 years to leave town without a championship ring.

The 6-foot-1, 275-pound guard played for Mount Union from 2022-2025, while the team reached the national final in 2022 and 2024, losing to North Central (Ill.) both times.

The Purple Raiders had a little quicker exit in 2025, falling to John Carroll 10-7 in the third round. It was a double-overtime thriller that ended with a 39-yard John Carroll field goal.

Kennedy earned multiple All-America honors in 2025 as the anchor of a Mount Union offensive line that helped the Purple Raiders lead the Ohio Athletic Conference with 43.5 points per game and 476 yards per contest. The team also was among the top 15 teams in multiple Division III categories. 

The premier recognition for Kennedy came in early February, when he was named to the College Sports Communicators NCAA Division III Academic All-America first team for his efforts on the field and in the classroom.

For his career, he was a three-time All-OAC first-team selection, and he ended his time at Mount Union as a 2025 American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team nominee due to his volunteer work off the field.

Kaleb Blaha, UW-River Falls, QB

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls defeated powerhouse North Central (Illinois) 24-14 to win its first NCAA Division III national championship. It was the team’s first playoff appearance since 1996, while North Central won the Stagg Bowl in 2019, 2022 and 2024 and finished as the runner-up in 2021 and 2023.

In the 2025 title game, quarterback Kaleb Blaha finished with 419 total yards and three touchdowns, which helped him break the all-time single-season total yards record set by Heisman Trophy winner and FBS national champion Joe Burrow in 2019. Burrow set the record with 6,039 yards, and Blaha raised the bar with 6,189. 

Blaha capped the UW-River Falls scoring against North Central with a 12-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter. 

UW-River Falls finished the year at 14-1 overall, and Blaha earned a plethora of postseason awards and accolades.

He was the Stagg Bowl MVP, D3football.com and Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year, D3FB Huddle Player of the Year, first-team All-American from multiple organizations, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and more.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder then took home the 2025 Gagliardi Trophy, given since 1993 to the most outstanding player in NCAA Division III football, while also recognizing academics and community service. 

He led Division III in 2025 with 4,971 passing yards, 611 pass attempts and 415 completions.

Blaha finished his career a 938-for-1,442 passing performance, 11,004 yards, 92 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. 

Defense

Kaleb Brown, Mount Union, OLB

All of the team-related facts about Mount Union revealed above also are true for 6-foot-2, 220-pound defensive lineman Kaleb Brown, so we won’t rehash the details of the lull in the Purple Raiders dynasty.

Mount Union owns the record for Division III football national championships with 13, coming from 1993-2017. The next closest team is Wisconsin-Whitewater, which defeated Mount Union for all six of its national titles from 2007-2014 after losing to the Purple Raiders in 2005 and 2006.

But, back to Brown, the 2025 D3football.com All-Region 4 Defensive Player of the Year, the OAC Defensive Lineman of the Year and one of eight All-Ohio Athletic Conference first-team selections for Mount Union. He also was an AFCA Division III Coaches All-America second-teamer.

In 2025, Brown had 62 total tackles, including 17.5 TFLs and 10.5 sacks, with the latter two stats leading the OAC. He also had seven passes defended, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. 

Mount Union finished the 2025 campaign 11-1 overall, which included its 36th OAC title (ninth consecutive) and a 34th undefeated regular season, all on the way to a NCAA-record 37th appearance in the playoffs. 

The lone loss for the Purple Raiders came against John Carroll in the third round of the Division III Playoffs. 

During his time at Mount Union, Brown played in 41 games, tallying 151 total tackles, 49 TFLs, 32 sacks, nine PDs, nine forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries and one interception.

John Sullivan, North Central, DL

North Central College may have come up short in the 2025 Division III championship game against UW-River Falls, but the efforts of defensive lineman John Sullivan during the team’s 14-1 campaign.

The 6-foot-2, 270-pounder won the 2025 Cliff Harris Award, given annually to the nation's top small-college defensive player in NCAA Division III. It was the first time a NCC player has won the award.

During the 2025 Division III title defense, Sullivan had 73 total tackles, 22 TFLs (tied single-season school record), 21 quarterback hurries, eight sacks and eight passes defended. 

A multi-time All-American, Sullivan was the only defensive player in the country in 2025 to receive a first-team All-America nods from all four major organizations in 2025 (AP, AFCA, FWAA and Walter Camp). He also was the AP and D3football.com (Region 5) Defensive Player of the Year.

Sullivan’s career at North Central spanned 2022-2025. He played in 39 games, including 15 in each of his last two seasons. He tallied 154 total tackles, 14 sacks, eight passes defended, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. His 39.5 career tackles for loss ranks sixth all-time at NCC.

North Central has played in the last six Division III title games, and Sullivan was on the roster for a pair of national championships (2022, 2024) and runner-up finishes in 2023 and 2025.

Dominick Williams, DE, East Texas Baptist

Defensive end Dominick Williams was East Texas Baptist University’s first finalist for the Cliff Harris Award, given annually to the nation's top small-college defensive player in NCAA Division III.

Williams, who measures a towering 6-foot-7 and 232 pounds, earned 12 awards during his stellar 2025 senior season. 

He finished the year with 10.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss to lead the American Southwest Conference and was second for ETBU with 72 total tackles, while blocking several PATs and field goals. He finished just outside the top 10 in the Division III for sacks and in the top 20 for tackles for loss.

In 2025, the East Texas Baptist was 4-6 overall and 0-6 in conference play. 

Among Williams’ accolades for 2025 were: Cliff Harris Award finalist, ASC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, first-team All-ASC, ASC Defensive Lineman of the Year, D3football.com All-Region Defensive Player of the Year (Region 3), AFCA All-America second team, AP All-America second team

Williams played in 32 games for the Tigers from 2022-2025, recording 137 total tackles, including 29 TFLs and 18 sacks. 

Brian Pritt, Benedictine (Ill.), DL

Defensive lineman Brian Pritt played for Benedictine from 2022-2025. He collected 152 total tackles, including 59 TFLs and 42 sacks. He also had 12 forced fumbles, seven passes broken up and two fumble recoveries. 

In his final year with the Eagles, the 6-foot-2, 245-pound defensive end had 46 tackles, 18 for a loss, plus 15 sacks, which was tied for second in Division III, two short of the top spot.

Pritt’s efforts in 2025 earned him a place on the D3football.com All-Region 5 second team.

He helped Benedictine to a 7-3 record in 2025, and the Eagles tied for third place in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference with a 5-3 performance.

Grant Henderson, DB/CB, Maryville College 

Maryville College’s Grant Henderson overcame a lot to reach the top of the Division III football ranks. 

He moved from football-centric Miami to Tennessee to play collegiately. Prior to his junior season, his sister, niece and nephew were killed in a car accident. On the field shortly after, he tore his ACL. 

At 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds, Henderson played beyond his size. 

From 2021 through 2025, he appeared in 39 games for the Scots, tallying 173 total tackles, with 5.5 for a loss. He had 47 passed defended, seven interceptions and a forced fumble. 

Henderson’s final campaign was his best and included 59 tackles, three TFLs, 11 PDs and one interception, while helping the Scots to 7-3 overall record and 5-3 effort in the Southern Athletic Association for a third-place finish.

Henderson was an All-SAA defensive first-team selection and earned second-team All-America honors from the AFCA.

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.

Light Reading About Division II And Division III

Since 2010, there have been 20 or more FCS players drafted just three times, with the number as low as five in 2021. 

2025 Division III Football Rankings 

Final AFCA Division III Coaches Poll For 2025 Season

  1. UW-River Falls (14-1)
  2. North Central (14-1)
  3. John Carroll (12-2)
  4. Johns Hopkins (12-2)
  5. Bethel (Minn.) (12-1)
  6. Mount Union (11-1)
  7. Wheaton (11-3)
  8. St. John’s (Minn.) (10-2)
  9. Berry (11-2)
  10. UW-La Crosse (8-3)
  11. UW-Platteville (9-3)
  12. Salisbury (10-2)
  13. DePauw (10-2)
  14. Wartburg (10-1)
  15. Susquehanna (11-3)
  16. Trinity (Tex.) (10-2)
  17. Hope (9-2)
  18. Christopher Newport (10-1)
  19. Hardin-Simmons (9-2)
  20. UW-Whitewater (8-3)
  21. Randolph-Macon (9-2)
  22. Franklin & Marshall (9-2)
  23. Eastern (10-2)
  24. Endicott (9-2)
  25. Alma (8-3)

Dropped Out: Cortland (22), Monmouth (Ill.) (25)

Others Receiving Votes: Monmouth (Ill.), 76; Springfield, 74; Coe, 55; Hanover, 49; LaGrange, 35; Cortland, 34; Washington & Jefferson, 27; Chapman, 22; Muhlenberg, 20; Mary Hardin-Baylor, 19; Wabash, 8; Whitworth, 8; Framingham St, 6; Grove City, 6; Adrian, 3; Linfield, 3; Central (Iowa), 2; Wesleyan, 2; Ursinus, 1.

Who Won The Each Football National Championship For The 2025-2026 Season?

  • Division I FBS – Indiana def. Miami, 27-21
  • Division I FCS – Montana State def. Illinois State 35-34 (OT)
  • Division II – Ferris State def. Harding, 42-21
  • Division III – University of Wisconsin-River Falls def. North Central (Ill.), 24-14

Wheaton College (Ill.) vs. Mount Union Football Highlights | OAC Football

Watch highlights from 2025 season-opening meeting between Wheaton College (Ill.) and Mount Union.

Spoiler: Mount Union won 37-29.


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