Small School Names to Note

While the Super Bowl lineups of the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers may be loaded with FBS talent, there will also be no shortage of small-school alumni in uniform on Sunday.

Thirteen players from the Football Championship Subdivision, six NCAA Division II players, and one former NCAA Division III student-athlete will be wearing the Super Bowl LVIII patch on the jerseys.

Considering 20 players with small-college roots are suiting up for the biggest game of the season, here’s a look at a few incoming playmakers from non-FBS schools to keep in mind come late April.

New Hampshire RB Dylan Laube

Possibly the most versatile running back in the entire Draft class, Laube will be an April selection as much for his pass-catching and kick return abilities as his prowess in the run game. In a Draft light on running backs, Laube has the look of a mid-round pick.

Mount Union WR Wayne Ruby Jr.

Ruby finished his career at Division III powerhouse Mount Union with 74 receiving touchdowns and more than 5,600 receiving yards. He had 30 touchdown receptions in 2022 alone - one shy of the D-III record and three more than the D-I record. Ruby is undersized at 5-foot-11, but his production earned him an invite to the Hula Bowl and should get him a look at the next level.

Saint John’s TE Alex Larson

A two-time consensus All-America selection at Division III Saint John’s, the 6-foot-7 Larson finished his collegiate career as SJU's all-time leader in catches (171), receiving yards (2,097), and receiving touchdowns (30) by a tight end. Larson will look to follow former Johnnie teammate Ben Bartch - a 2020 fourth-round draft pick and current offensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers - to the NFL.

South Dakota State OG Mason McCormick

McCormick was a three-year captain and member of two national championship teams at SDSU. With solid guard/center flexibility, McCormick was a standout at the East-West Shrine Game and will keep the momentum going with a good showing at the Scouting Combine at the end of the month.

Houston Baptist EDGE Jalyx Hunt

The 6-foot-4, 248-pound Hunt played three seasons at Cornell where he was a safety before transferring to Houston Baptist where became a disruptive defensive end. Hunt racked up 133 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, and 13.5 sacks in two seasons as an edge rusher for the Huskies, becoming the first player in program history to receive an invitation to the Senior Bowl. Hunt is undoubtedly raw but also one of the more intriguing prospects in the Class.

UW-Platteville EDGE Justin Blazek

A two-time WIAC Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus All-American in 2023, Blazek racked up 118 tackles and 17.5 sacks in two seasons as a full-time starter for the Pioneers. Measuring in at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, Blazek more than passes the eye test, and his production in what is arguably Division III’s most talented conference should earn him a look at the next level.