While it is easy to believe that most top NFL draft prospects come from elite NCAA D1 programs, this isn’t always the case. Let’s take a deeper look at D2 players who have made it to the NFL, both past and present.

Note: The list will focus on players that made a 53-man roster and not practice squads.

DII Players in the NFL – 2024 Roster Analysis

• Most Represented Positions:
  • Defensive Backs lead with 12 players
  • Wide Receivers follow with 11 players
• Quarterback Presence:
  • Tyson Bagent remains the only DII QB on a roster
  • He posted a 2-2 record as starter last season, first DII QB to start in nearly a decade
• Top DII Programs:
  • Ferris State leads with 3 NFL players:
    • Caleb Murphy (Tennessee)
    • Tavierre Thomas (Tampa Bay)
    • Zach Sieler (Miami) – recorded 10 sacks last season
• Eight schools have 2 players each:
  • CSU Pueblo
  • Fort Hays State
  • Lenoir-Rhyne
  • Missouri Western
  • Pitt State
  • Sioux Falls
  • Washburn
• Team with Most DII Players:
  • Indianapolis Colts:
    • Grover Stewart (Albany State) – 74 starts since 2019
    • Ashton Dulin (Malone)
    • Dallis Flowers (Pitt State)
    • E.J. Speed (Tarleton State) – 102 tackles in 2023
    • Kenny Moore III (Valdosta State) – Former Pro Bowler
• Teams with No DII Players:
  • Denver Broncos
  • Houston Texans
  • Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Philadelphia Eagles (second straight year)
  • Pittsburgh Steelers
  • San Francisco 49ers (second straight year)

List of D2 Players in The NFL – Current

Player	Position	Team	School
Dennis Gardeck	LB	Cardinals	Sioux Falls
Dee Alford	DB	Falcons	Tusculum
Kyle Hinton	OL	Falcons	Washburn
Matthew Judon	LB	Falcons	Grand Valley State
Deonte Harty	WR	Ravens	Assumption
David Moore	WR	Panthers	East Central
Adam Theilen	WR	Panthers	Minnesota State
Tyson Bagent	QB	Bears	Shepherd
Jonathan Owens	DB	Bears	Missouri Western
Alex Cappa	OL	Bengals	Humboldt State *
Tanner Hudson	TE	Bengals	Southern Arkansas
D’Anthony Bell	DB	Browns	West Florida
C.J. Goodwin	DB	Cowboys	Cal (PA)
Trevor Nowaske	LB	Lions	Saginaw Valley State
Craig Reynolds	RB	Lions	Kutztown
Corey Ballentine	DB	Packers	Washburn
Matt Ozrech	LS	Packers	Azusa Pacific *
Emmanuel Wilson	RB	Packers	Fort Valley State
Ashton Dulin	WR	Colts	Malone*
Dallis Flowers	DB	Colts	Pitt State
Kenny Moore II	DB	Colts	Valdosta State
EJ Speed	LB	Colts	Tarleton State +
Grover Stewart	DL	Colts	Albany State (GA)
Mike Pennel	DL	Chiefs	CSU Pueblo
Tershawn Wharton	DL	Chiefs	Missouri S&T
Joshua Williams	DB	Chiefs	Fayetteville State
Morgan Fox	DL	Chargers	CSU Pueblo
Trey Pipkins III	OL	Chargers	Sioux Falls
Tyreik McAllister	WR	Raiders	Charleston (WV)
Ethan Evans	P	Rams	Wingate
Tyreek Hill	WR	Dolphins	West Alabama
Kader Kohou	DB	Dolphins	Texas A&M Commerce+
Zach Sieler	DL	Dolphins	Ferris State
CJ Ham	RB	Vikings	Augustana (SD)
Kyle Dugger	DB	Patriots	Lenoir-Rhyne
Rico Payton	DB	Saints	Pitt State
Nathan Shepard	DL	Saints	Fort Hays State
Gunner Olszewski	WR	Giants	Bemidji State
Irvin Charles	WR	Jets	Indiana (PA)
Greg Zuerlein	K	Jets	Missouri Western
Dareke Young	WR	Seahawks	Lenoir-Rhyne
Michael Jerrell	OL	Seahawks	Findlay
Kameron Johnson	WR	Buccaneers	Barton
Tavierre Thomas	DB	Buccaneers	Ferris State
Caleb Murphy	LB	Titans	Ferris State
Austin Ekeler	RB	Commanders	Western Colorado

New to NIL? Start Here.

Get our free 3-day crash course on NIL basics — what counts, what to avoid, and how to start reaching out to brands.

Subscribe

We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

History of D-II Players to Play in the NFL

Player	Position	School
Adam Vinatieri	K	South Dakota State
Danny Woodhead	RB	Chadron State
Delanie Walker	TE	Central Missouri
Brent Grimes	CB	Shippensburg
Shannon Sharpe	TE	Savvanah State University
Pierre Desir	CB	Lindenwood
John Kuhn	FB	Shippensburg
Janoris Jenkins	CB	North Alabama
Jacoby Jones	WR	Lane
Brandon Williams	DT	Missouri Southern State
Jeff Heath	S	Saginaw Valley State
Greg Toler	CB	St. Pauls
Cedric Thornton	DT	Southern Arkansas
Brandon Carr	CB	Grand Valley State
Todd Herremans	G	Saginaw Valley State
Nate Washington	WR	Tiffin
Tyrell Williams	WR	Western Oregon
Joique Bell	RB	Wayne State University
Anthony Pittman	LB	Wayne State University