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While many of the top NFL players came from large colleges, there's always some talented players that slip through the cracks in recruiting and wind up at either a Group of Five school or an FCS school.
Some of the NFL's top stars didn't come from the Power 5. Randy Moss played at Marshall. Khalil Mack went to Buffalo. Terry Bradshaw was a star at Louisiana Tech.
Let's look at the top-10 NFL Draft prospects for 2024 from schools outside of the Power 5.
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1. Quinyon Mitchell - CB - Toledo
There's one non-FBS player with a chance to be drafted in the first round this year: Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. Mitchell had just one interception in 2023, but back in 2022 he picked off five passes, returning two of those for touchdowns.
We know Quinyon Mitchell is gonna be the first Group of Five Guy taken tomorrow night.
Give us your first 5 off the board.
— Group Of Five Guys (@GroupOfFiveGuys) April 24, 2024
Mitchell excels in zone coverage, but he has the man-coverage skills to excel in those schemes as well. Wherever Mitchell lands, he should be able to get on the field immediately. The step up in competition to the NFL shouldn't be an issue considering how good Mitchell was at the Senior Bowl. There's just not many holes in his game, aside from from needing to clean some things up with stance and footwork. Don't be surprised if Mitchell is the best defensive back from this class.
2. Malachi Corley -WR - Western Kentucky
Malachi Corley has been an incredibly productive receiver over the past three seasons with the Hilltoppers and has stepped that up even more in the past two seasons, as he's caught 22 touchdowns in the past two seasons.
The 5-foot-11 Corley will need to clean some stuff up as a route runner after playing in a WKU system that isn't really made to build NFL players. Still, his ability to make plays with the ball in his hands, as well as his ability to bring in most balls that get near him, makes him an intriguing slot receiver at the next level.
3. Kiran Amegadjie - OT - Yale
It's always hard to know how an FCS player will transition to the NFL. The gap between the Power 5 and the Group of 5 is big, but the gap from the G5 level to the FCS level feels even bigger.
Still, Yale's Kiran Amegadjie is one of the most intriguing prospects in this class. He never allowed a sack at Yale, but a quad injury in 2023 prevented us from getting a full look at what he could do. He dominated against lower-level competition and has the size to be a star offensive lineman in the NFL, but he's still a raw prospect who probably won't be ready to start from Day 1.
4. Marshawn Kneeland - DE - Western Michigan
Western Michigan edge-rusher Marshawn Kneeland might not have been a sack monster for the Broncos, but he got to the quarterback 4.5 times in 2023. He's a powerful player who can use his strength to get past offensive linemen and make a run at the quarterback, but his athleticism limits him a little bit from actually making huge plays in the backfield. Still, Kneeland is a great run defender who can provide immediate help to an NFL defense.
2024 EDGE Run Stop rate vs True Pass Set Win rate. Marshawn Kneeland will go high. He has the athleticism and the production pic.twitter.com/fLGl4XTejz
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) April 24, 2024
5. Jalyx Hunt - EDGE - Houston Christian
Houston Christian star Jalyx Hunt can play on and off of the line of scrimmage. He has the speed and athleticism to get to the quarterback as well as the frame to be a really good defender in the NFL. He'll need to refine some things, especially since he's relatively new to the position since he began his college career as a safety. But that just adds to Hunt's versatility, right? If an NFL team has patience with Hunt, they can get a really good reward out of it.
6. Christian Haynes - G - UConn
There really aren't many holes in the game of UConn offensive guard Christian Haynes. Maybe he isn't the quickest interior offensive lineman out there, but he's a strong blocker who can stop pretty much any defender. He does a good job occupying defensive linemen to open up holes in the run game and can win one-on-one against pass-rushers. He might not be great at any particular thing, but he's above average at pretty much everything and will provide immediate depth to an NFL offensive line with the upside to be a starter by his second season.
7. Michael Pratt - QB - Tulane
This is a great draft for quarterbacks, which has caused one really good G5 name to drop down the draft board. Tulane's Michael Pratt isn't an elite QB prospect, but he still has an outside shot to be a good NFL passer. Pratt has a good head on his shoulders and is a fairly accurate quarterback, though his arm strength is going to limit his upside. Pratt projects to be a solid backup quarterback who can probably be a solid option as a spot starter if his team's starter misses time.
NFL Draft Prep QB Michael Pratt working 7 step and Reset with Dovetail to make a straight, balanced throw to 18yd top of route Dagger Dig. NFL Draft is 1 week away! Can’t wait to hear his name called! @Mpratt_ @OctagonFootball @TEST_Football @GreenWaveFB @MoveTheSticks pic.twitter.com/Y1taFiGS6c
— Tony Racioppi (@Tonyrazz03) April 19, 2024
8. Mohamed Kamara - EDGE - Colorado State
Mohamed Kamara out of Colorado State had 14 sacks in 2024, showcasing his ability to get to the quarterback and make plays in the backfield. He's explosive off the snap and can use that to get a jump on opposing offensive linemen, setting him up to pressure the opposing passer. He's undersized for a defensive lineman, though, and also comes to the NFL at an older age than other prospects, so his upside is limited. He can be a really solid rotational option, even if he doesn't have star or starter upside.
9. Mason McCormick - G - South Dakota State
South Dakota State offensive lineman Mason McCormick was a really good run blocker in college, but he definitely has to clean some stuff up when it comes to pass blocking. He isn't quick enough right now to be an every-down guard, but he has the tenacity to get there if he continues to work on his game. He's also shown to be incredibly strong, someone who is capable of taking on any defender and making plays. One big question: how will he handle the huge leap in competition level?
10. Kimani Vidal - RB - Troy
In a relatively weak running back class, Troy's Kimani Vidal stands out because of his college production. Last year, Vidal finished with 1,661 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, running for 5.6 yards per carry. The 5-foot-8 back isn't the most agile back in the world, but he knows how to burst through the hole and play through contact. He can be a really solid RB2 in the NFL.
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