With 134 FBS football programs to sift through, we’ve analyzed the film to rank the top 100 players. But the talent doesn’t stop there, as 128 FCS schools and numerous HBCUs also boast standout athletes.
Here are our top 25 FCS player rankings, as well as the 25 premier HBCU stars ready to make waves this season.
Top FCS Players in the 2024 Season
10) Junior Bergen, WR, Montana Grizzilies
Junior Bergen isn’t just the most electric player on Montana’s roster, in the state of Montana, in the Big Sky, or even in the FCS; he’s one of the most electric in the nation.
On top of being a first-team All-Conference receiver, Bergen is one of the greatest returners in FCS history, with six career return touchdowns, including three in last year’s playoffs, to his name.
In 2023, he racked up 59 catches for 791 yards and five scores, adding another 434 kick return yards with a TD and 429 punt return yards with three more scores.
With eight siblings, Bergen is used to fighting for attention, but he won’t have to in 2024, as he’s already landed on the Shrine Bowl 1000 watch list and earned a preseason All-American nod.
9) Micah Davey, LB, McNeese Cowboys
A 2023 Buck Buchanan Award finalist, Micah Davey is an early favorite to take the 2024 crown. As a freshman in 2022, he posted 68 tackles and eight tackles for loss. Last fall, he leveled up, leading the country with 153 tackles and setting a school record with 15.3 stops per game. Davey recorded double-digit tackles in all 10 contests, including 13 against Florida.
The 6’2″ and 235-pound LB is a tackling machine, but more than that, he’s always in the right spot, whether filling gaps in run defense or dropping into zones in coverage.
8) Cam Miller, QB, North Dakota State Bison
A seasoned starter with 40 games under his belt since the 2021 spring playoffs, Cam Miller boasts a 31-9 record. He ranks fourth in Bison history with 6,470 career passing yards and 48 passing touchdowns, but he’s also a threat on the ground with 1,646 rushing yards and 36 scores.
Last season, Miller earned second-team All-MVFC and second-team All-American recognition after throwing for 2,688 yards, 19 TDs, and just four INTs while also rushing for 629 yards and 13 TDs. Miller isn’t a game manager anymore; he’s a field general.
7) Marcus Wehr, OL, Montana State Bobcats
A large reason for Montana State’s rushing success in recent seasons has been the emergence of Marcus Wehr. Whether at guard or tackle, the 6’4″, 300-pound lineman dominates the man across from him on a down-in, down-out basis.
MORE: 2024 FCS Top 25 Power Rankings
After beginning his career on the defensive line, Wehr transitioned to the O-line in 2022, starting seven games before an injury cut his season short. He bounced back last year, starting all 12 games at right tackle, earning first-team All-America and All-Big Sky honors.
Wehr was a force on an offensive line that ranked No. 2 in the FCS in rushing, averaging 291 yards per game. But make no mistake: Wehr isn’t just a run-blocking mauler; he’s a stonewall in pass protection as well.
6) Brody Grebe, EDGE, Montana State Bobcats
Brody Grebe put any doubts about his ability to rest last season, earning first-team All-Big Sky and All-American status with 50 tackles, 13 TFLs, 9.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles.
His relentless motor makes him a force in all phases and led to his vastly improved tackling from 2022 to 2023.
5) Cole Wisniewski, DB, North Dakota State Bison
Last season, the FBS leader in interceptions had seven picks. Cole Wisniewski had eight.
What’s even more impressive? The 2024 season marked Wisniewski’s debut at safety after spending his first three years as a linebacker. But he wasn’t just waiting in the deep third for picks; Wisniewski also led the Bison with 92 tackles.
Although a foot surgery this offseason could sideline him for a significant portion, if not all, of the year, the 6’4″, 219-pound defender remains one of the most formidable talents when on the field.
4) Jamar Curtis, RB, Lafayette Leopards
No. 22 was Lafayette’s best athlete last season. This year, it will be No. 5. But don’t worry, Leopard fans — it’s the same player.
Jamar Curtis may have changed his jersey number (an upgrade, in my opinion), but he’ll remain the driving force behind the team’s expected playoff run.
Curtis established himself as one of — if not the — top running backs in the FCS last season, ranking third in rushing yards (1,460) and fifth in rushing TDs (15).
Although he may be listed as a diminutive 5’8″ and 164 pounds, Curtis is larger than life on the field. He has the speed to outrun defenders and the movement skills to make them see ghosts in the backfield.
3) Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary Tribe
After starting five games as a redshirt freshman in 2021, Charles Grant has been a fixture at left tackle for the past two seasons, starting all 24 games. A back-to-back All-CAA First Team selection, he also earned All-American honors in 2023.
He’s been key to Bronson Yoder and the rushing attack’s success, ranking No. 3 in 2022 and No. 13 in 2023.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
At 6’4″ and 300 pounds, Grant’s impressive length and agility have caught the eye of both the Senior Bowl and NFL Draft scouts.
2) Mark Gronowski, QB, South Dakota State Jackrabbits
As the reigning Walter Payton Award winner, Mark Gronowski is not only the best offensive player in the FCS but also the leader of South Dakota State’s quest for a third consecutive national championship.
In 2023, Gronowski dazzled with 3,058 passing yards and 29 TDs, plus 402 rushing yards and eight more scores.
With a career record of 37-3 and only one FCS loss as a full-time starter, he is poised to become the most accomplished quarterback in division history — just 13 wins away from breaking the FCS record for QB victories.
1) David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas Bears
There’s David Walker, and then there’s everyone else on the FCS player rankings. The 6’2″, 260-pound EDGE comes equipped with the power to blow offensive linemen backward and the bend to fly under them around the arc.
He’s been a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award in each of the last two seasons; now, it’s time to bring it home.
Walker has claimed Conference Defensive Player of the Year and FCS All-American honors in consecutive seasons and boasts 40 TFLs and over 20 sacks in just two years with the Bears.
Top FCS Players | 11-25
11) Finn Claypool, DT, Drake
12) Zach Calzada, QB, Incarnate Word
13) Lan Larison, RB, UC Davis
14) Eli Gillman, RB, Montana
15) Rex Connors, DB, UC Davis
16) Saiku White, S, Lafayette
17) Caleb Curtain, DB, Elon
18) Cole Gonzales, QB, Western Carolina
19) Jackson Slater, OL, Sacramento State
20) Oshae Baker, CB, UT Martin
21) ShunDerrick Powell, RB, Central Arkansas
22) Elijah Ponder, EDGE, Cal Poly
23) Adam Bock, LB, South Dakota State
24) Efton Chism III, WR, Eastern Washington
25) Bronson Yoder, RB, William & Mary
Top HBCU Players in 2024 | 1-25
1) Jada Byers, RB, Virginia Union
2) Erick Hunter, LB, Morgan State
3) Kenny Gallop Jr., DB, Howard
4) Ckelby Givens, EDGE, Southern
5) Jarett Hunter, RB, Howard
6) Jacob Williams, LB, Texas Southern
7) Kendall Bohler, CB, Florida A&M
8) Nick Taiste, G, South Carolina State
9) Elijah Williams, DL, Morgan State
10) Karon Prunty, CB, North Carolina A&T
11) Carson Vinson, OT, Alabama A&M
12) Kasey Hawthorne, WR, Howard
13) Malachi Bailey, EDGE, Alcorn State
14) Daniel Richardson, QB, Florida A&M
15) Jacolby Hewitt, WR, Alabama A&M
16) Robert McDaniel, CB, Jackson State
17) Rico Dozier, LB, Alabama State
18) Elijah Burris, RB, Hampton
19) Jaxson Davis, TE, Mississippi Valley State
20) Aaron Smith, LB, South Carolina State
21) Myles Crawley, QB, Grambling
22) Justin Smith-Brown, WR, South Carolina State
23) Aaron Miller, DL, Benedict
24) James Burgess, CB, Alabama State
25) Andrew Body, QB, Alabama State
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