When Montana State’s Tommy Mellott was selected by the Raiders with the first of their two sixth-round picks, at No. 213, he became the first quarterback from an FCS program taken in the NFL draft since 2022. For good measure, Las Vegas selected North Dakota State’s Cam Miller two picks later. Perhaps general manager John Spytek wanted to relive last season’s FCS title game, which NDSU won, 35-32.
Speaking of the Bison, they are well represented on this list of the previous 10 quarterbacks selected in the draft from FCS schools. The list, which dates to 2010, includes QBs who began their career with FBS teams before transferring down a rung. How did they perform in the NFL? Here’s a glimpse.
2022: Chris Oladokun, South Dakota State
Round 7, No. 241 | Pittsburgh Steelers
Oladokun was a seven-year player with three programs: USF, Samford and South Dakota State. He threw for 3,164 yards and 25 touchdowns while leading the Jackrabbits to the 2021 national title. The Steelers released Oladokun prior to the 2022 season and he was signed by the Chiefs a week later. He has since been with K.C. and made his NFL debut in last year’s regular-season finale against the Broncos, taking five snaps, including a five-yard run.
2021: Trey Lance, North Dakota State
Round 1, No. 3 | San Francisco 49ers
A two-time national champ (2018, 2019) with the Bison, Lance won the 2019 Walter Payton Award winner (top offensive player in the FCS) as a redshirt freshman, his only season as a starter. He totaled 3,896 yards and 42 touchdowns while setting an NCAA all-divisions season mark for most attempts (287) without an interception. Lance started two games in each of his two seasons with the 49ers and started once last year for the Cowboys. Currently with the Chargers, who signed him last month, Lance has thrown for 1,063 yards and five touchdowns in 12 NFL games.
2020: Ben DiNucci, James Madison
Round 7, No. 231 | Dallas Cowboys
DiNucci began his career at Pitt and made six starts as a redshirt sophomore in 2017. He transferred to James Madison, started 29 games and threw for 5,716 yards and 45 touchdowns in two seasons. He led the Dukes to the FCS title game in 2019, a loss to Nance and North Dakota State. DiNucci played in three games with one start for the Cowboys in 2020 and threw for 219 yards in what is his only NFL action. He has since been on the practice squads of the Broncos, Bills and Saints, who released him last month.
2019: Easton Stick, North Dakota State
Round 5, No. 166 | Los Angeles Chargers
Stick was Carson Wentz’s backup as a redshirt freshman with the Bison in 2015 before leading NDSU to national titles in 2017 and 2018. He totaled 129 touchdowns and more than 11,000 yards in his career. After playing one game and attempting one pass in his first four years with the Chargers, Stick started four games (all losses) at the end of the 2023 season when Justin Herbert was sidelined with a fractured finger. He threw for 1,129 yards and totaled four touchdowns with only one interception. Stick did not take the field for L.A. last season and was signed by the Falcons in April.
2018: Kyle Lauletta, Richmond
Round 4, No. 108 | New York Giants
Richmond’s all-time leader in passing yards (10,465) threw for 3,737 yards and 28 touchdowns as a senior. Lauletta’s stock then surged after an MVP performance at the Senior Bowl. He made his NFL debut when he relieved Eli Manning in a late-season rout of the Redskins his rookie year. Lauletta went 0-for-5 with an INT and did not attempt another pass in the league. He spent time on the practice squads of the Eagles, Browns, Jags and Falcons and had two brief stints in the USFL before retiring.
2016: Carson Wentz, North Dakota State
Round 1, No. 2 | Philadelphia Eagles
After throwing for 4,971 yards and 43 touchdowns while a part of three national championships in as many years at North Dakota State, the Eagles selected Wentz second overall behind the Rams’ Jared Goff. Following a rookie season in which he threw for 3,782 yards, Wentz had sparkling numbers in 2017 (33 TD/4 INT) before tearing an ACL in Week 14. Nick Foles took over and every Philly fan knows what happened from there. Wentz, who has played for five teams the past five years, including backing up Patrick Mahomes with the Chiefs last season, has thrown for 22,410 yards and 153 TDs in 98 career games. The 32-year-old was unsigned as of early May.
2014: Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois
Round 2, No. 62 | New England Patriots
The 2013 Walter Payton Award winner (top offensive player in the FCS) threw for 5,053 yards and 53 touchdowns with nine interceptions in his final season at EIU. After 10 starts in five seasons with the Patriots, where he backed up Tom Brady on a pair of Super Bowl winners, and 49ers, Garoppolo broke through in 2019 with San Francisco throwing for 3,978 yards and 27 touchdowns in leading the 49ers to Super LIV, a loss to the Chiefs. The 33-year-old, who started one game with the Rams last season, has thrown for 15,828 yards and 96 touchdowns in 82 career NFL games.
2013: Brad Sorensen, Southern Utah
Round 7, No. 221 | San Diego Chargers
Sorensen began his career at a JUCO and spent one season at BYU before a three-year stint leading the Thunderbirds’ offense. SUU’s all-time leader in passing yards (9,445 yards) and touchdowns (61) never played in a regular season NFL game while spending most of his time on the practice squads of the Chargers, Titans and Vikings. His brother, Daniel, played 128 games as a defensive back with the Chiefs and Saints.
2012: B.J. Coleman, UT-Chattanooga
Round 7, No. 243 | Green Bay Packers
Coleman transferred to UT-Chattanooga after two years and eight pass attempts at Tennessee. He threw for 6,871 yards and 52 touchdowns in three seasons with the Mocs. Coleman spent the 2012 season on the Packers’ practice squad and was released prior to the 2013 season. His only professional action was with Arizona in the Arena Football League during the 2015 season.
2010: John Skelton, Fordham
Round 5, No. 155 | Arizona Cardinals
Fordham’s all-time leading passer (9,923 yards) started four games as a rookie and 17 games in three seasons with the Cardinals. In 20 games overall in his tenure with Arizona, Skelton threw for 3,707 yards and 15 touchdowns with 25 interceptions. He was waived by the Cardinals in April 2013 and spent the rest of the year with the Bengals, 49ers and Titans practice squads, which is how his time in the NFL ended. Skelton signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL in 2015 and ws released before the season began.
