DII Report ™️: 2025 NFL Draft watchlist
There haven't been many DII football players selected in the NFL draft lately. Does anyone have a chance this year?
Welcome back, DII sports fans. Before we get to the subject of this article, be prepared for a few extra articles over the coming weeks. We have the NFL Draft, DII baseball tournament approaching, and more player-of-the-year profiles coming your way. Remember, the goal of the DII Report is to go year round, even in the summer, so hopefully there is no such thing as too much content coming your way.
NFL Draft watch 2025
The 2025 NFL Draft is approaching, with first pick coming Thursday, April 24. The DII football players being selected has seemingly gone down every season, but that doesn’t mean a few teams still don’t ponder taking a diamond in the proverbial rough.
A look at the past few drafts may be disheartening at the surface. Last year, the only DII football player selected was Michael Jerrell, offensive lineman from Findlay. In 2023, there were just two, Wingate punter Ethan Evans at 223 overall to the Los Angeles Rams and Northern Michigan offensive tackle Jake Witt at 236 overall to the Indianapolis Colts. The 2022 NFL draft appeared to be a unicorn — five DII alum were selected, including two-time Super Bowl champ Joshua Williams. And in 2021, three DII football alum were selected.
Speaking to people associated much more closely to the NFL Draft than myself, there is a common theme. The transfer portal has changed the way things are done — there is a mentality in some NFL front offices that if you are good enough for the NFL, you probably would have transferred to DI. It’s a bad way of thinking, but I have been told that by several “insiders.”
I have my opinions as to why. There is still an abundance of former DII football players signed as UDFA’s almost immediately after the draft. Why would an NFL front office waste valuable draft capital on what they see as a “flyer” when they can draft a DI guy that statistically and historically has a better chance of sticking? It’s flawed thinking, but it happens. Secondly, the UFL or XFL or whatever they want to call it this year gives players an extra chance to play against tougher competition, almost the minor leagues of football. Several DII football players have gone that route successfully.
There are many lists out there that have Central Missouri’s Zach Zebrowski as a draft favorite, but I just don’t see it. That is not a cut on Zebrowski; simply put, he is an amazing quarterback. But consider this: Tyson Bagent set nearly every DII football record and wasn’t drafted. And say what you will about him, but he is 2-2 as an NFL starter without any draft capital being used on him. Remember Luis Perez? He had one of the greatest DII football seasons ever at quarterback for Texas A&M-Commerce in 2017 and wasn’t drafted, but hung around practice squads, was the XFL championship MVP for the Arlington Renegades in 2023 and led the UFL in passing yards and touchdowns last year. Perez has PROVEN talent by the boatload, but still wasn’t drafted. DII quarterbacks just don’t get drafted.
Remember Caleb Murphy? He set the single-season sack record with an absurd 25.5 sacks for Ferris State, won every possible award, some of which were never won by a DII player before… and wasn’t drafted. He’s currently on the Los Angeles Chargers and has played in eight NFL games… the talent is there. This is just the way of the world, and why I am hesitant on listing Tanner Volk on any draft list.
So, the list below is very limited. And history tells us why. History also shows us that it is more likely that an offensive lineman or defensive back will be among the ones selected. Last year was an OL, the year prior was a punter and an OL, and the year before that saw three of the five players selected come from the secondary.
All of that was taken into consideration. Zebrowski will be on an NFL roster come May, but I think it is way more likely as a UDFA. I do hope I am wrong, but numbers, as they say, don’t lie.
Marshall Foerner, Minnesota State.
The skinny: 24 years old, 6-foot-7, 305 pounds, Second Team All-American, D2 Football Elite 100
Foerner is a three-year, full-time starter for what has been one of the stronger offensive lines in DII football over the past decade plus. His RAS (Relative Athletic Score) is rather impressive, coming in a 9.28 on a 10-point scale. Per RAS, he graded “good” in size, speed, and agility, while grading out at “great” in explosion. By the numbers, he is one of the better offensive line prospects in the draft. He has great feet and is a student of the game with a work ethic that sees him staying big enough for the NFL level. Reports are that he was at the Chicago Bears pro day.
Melvin Smith Jr., Southern Arkansas
The skinny: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, received invite to Senior Bowl, multi-time DII All-American; 168 total career tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, nine interceptions, one touchdown, 532 kickoff return yards, one touchdown.
Smith Jr. is a four-year starter that was a preseason Lindy’s All-American heading into this season and finished the season on the D2 Football Elite 100 first team. The big reason I think Smith Jr. gets a look is because not only is he a ball hawk defensively, but he is a proven asset in the return game, averaging 27.7 yards per return last year with a 99-yard touchdown return as well. He has also covered receivers in the slot and on the outside, while showing he can play safety as well, with speed to close gaps quickly and the ability to tackle. His ball skills — good hands, eyes, coverage and speed — are at a level that are draft worthy. He had a meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs, who drafted Joshua Williams in the fourth round in 2022, and have shown they are not afraid of investing in DII talent.
Aiden Williams, Minnesota Duluth
The skinny: 6-foot-6, 314 pounds, honorable mention All-American, D2 Football Elite 100 second team, Shrine Bowl East Team
Williams should be seen as a project at the NFL level, but one with immense upside. The same was said for Jake Witt, the former athletic offensive tackle out of Northern Michigan, and he was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. Williams is a one-time tight end that has improved on the offensive line over his past two seasons as the full-time starter. What is interesting is that he was listed in the 290s on Minnesota Duluth’s team page; however, he was well over 300 pounds at the Shrine Bowl. Like Foerner, Williams received a stellar RAS from Math Bomb who also has him listed at 315 pounds. There have been plenty of scout’s eyes on him between the Shrine Bowl and Minnesota Gophers’ pro day, so Williams has a real chance to be a seventh round flyer that is stashed on the practice squad while he adapts to NFL defensive lines.
Major Williams, Carson-Newman
The skinny: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, two-time D2 Football Elite 100 team, started career at Virginia, two-time All American, Defensive MVP at 2025 Hula Bowl, three-year starter with 155 career tackles, 3.5 sacks, 22.5 TFL, four interceptions
Williams has been a steady force in the secondary for two years running. His RAS justifies it, with a lofty 9.58 score. Reports are the Denver Broncos liked what they saw and have a real interest in him. He also gained interest from the Green Bay Packers, Bears and Philadelphia Eagles at the Hula Bowl (nabbing the interception that led to the game-winning touchdown by former DII running back Mario Williams certainly helped). Williams has the skills needed in a defensive back; he is fast, has good hands and his tackling ability in the running game — he was the first Caron-Newman defensive back with a double-digit TFL season in 2023 — gives him the added edge that NFL teams may be looking for.
UDFA watchlist
These five players are sure-fire UDFAs. However, if any DII players have a chance to be drafted outside of the above list, these are the ones.
Jada Byers, Virginia Union, RB. They said Emanuel Wilson from Fort Valley State was too small. Wilson went undrafted and then ran for 504 yards with five total touchdowns last year. Byers, listed at 5-foot-7 and had TWO seasons with 1,900-plus rushing yards and 19 or more touchdowns, has the talent to succeed at the next level and a team that signs him will reap the rewards.
Micah Cretsinger, Saginaw Valley State, LB. He has the size, the accolades (a multi-time All-American amongst a slew of other awards) and the ability to play the secondary and linebacker position.
Max McLeod, Colorado School of Mines, WR. McLeod seemingly never had a bad season, having at least 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in each of his past three seasons. If he is willing to play special teams, he could be a seventh rounder, but DII wide receivers have had a tough time in recent years.
Sam Pitz, Minnesota Duluth, TE. The Bulldogs haven’t had a player drafted since 1990… now they have a pair that are being looked at this week. Pitz is an enormous target at 6-foot-6, 245 pounds.
Zach Zebrowski, Central Missouri, QB. Zebrowski was a two-time Harlon Hill winner. Any questions?