Best NFL Players to Come Out of Small Schools

The Super Bowl has come and gone and the 2024 NFL year begins next month. That means the first big thing on the league calendar is the draft. The dreams of hundreds of college football players hang in the balance. Some will be selected by one of the 32 NFL teams. Others may sign undrafted free agent contracts with the hopes of making a roster.
Almost every year, there are a few sleeper candidates that come from schools not named Alabama, Ohio State, or Michigan. There are a number of players in the NFL right now from NCAA FCS, Division II and Division III schools. In fact, there are a few teams with multiple starters from some of these smaller, less well-known schools.
Who are the best of them? Who are the best NFL small school players of all-time? Let’s find out.

His Kupp Is Full

Probably the most recognizable small-school NFL player right now is the Rams’ Cooper Kupp (pictured above). Kupp was a four-time FCS All-American at Eastern Washington where he earned the Walter Payton Award as the best player in the FCS in 2015.

As a pro, Kupp made the All-Rookie team in 2017 and has been WR No. 1 for the Rams ever since. In 2021, Kupp led the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947), and receiving touchdowns (16). He was named the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year and earned the Super Bowl MVP award that year as his Rams won the Lombardi Trophy.

From the Ivy League to Three Super Bowls

Justin Watson grew up in a Pittsburgh suburb and opted to take the Ivy League route. He attended the University of Pennsylvania where he was a three-time All-Ivy League selection at wide receiver. Watson still holds the Ivy League record for most career receiving yards in conference play.

Watson was selected by Tampa Bay in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft. He won the first of three Super Bowls with Tom Brady at quarterback for the Bucs. The Chiefs signed Watson in February of 2022. He has since won two more Super Bowls with the Chiefs

Small School Contributors

Ben Bartch played collegiately at Division III St. John’s in Minnesota. He became a starter for Jacksonville in 2022 but got hurt in Week 5. Quinn Meinerz is another Division III product. The Broncos guard played at powerhouse Wisconsin-Whitewater before being drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft. He started the final nine games at guard for Denver last season.

Jimmy Garoppolo who, as of now, is still with the Raiders, is a small-school product from Eastern Illinois. Dallas Goedert is considered one of the best tight ends in the league. He hails from current two-time FCS champion South Dakota State. Packers WR Christian Watson hails from FCS rival North Dakota State. Before Kupp, there was Adam Thielen, who played at Division II Minnesota State. Thielen had a great career with the Vikings before playing last season with Carolina. He had 103 catches for 1,014 yards with Carolina last season.

Small School All-Time Greats

Any talk of small school NFL greats has to include two of the best ever – RB Walter Payton and WR Jerry Rice. Both came from FCS – known as Division I-AA back when they played – schools in the south. Payton starred at Jackson State. Rice broke records at Mississippi Valley State. Both are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Andre Reed played on four Super Bowl teams for the Buffalo Bills after a college career at Division II Kutztown State. Joe Flacco won a Super Bowl with Baltimore and helped Cleveland get to the playoffs this year after his college career at Delaware.

The late Steve McNair was a league MVP and led Tennessee to a Super Bowl appearance after starring at FCS Alcorn State. Hall of Fame TE Shannon Sharpe played collegiately at Savannah State (FCS). Sam Mills was one of the smallest linebackers to ever play the game. He was also one of the best. Until last year, Mills was the only player in Carolina’s Hall of Honor. Mills played collegiately at Division III Montclair State in New Jersey.