Scouting reports for 2021 NFL Draft prospects for FCS programs (formerly Division 1-AA) from Tony Pauline, Pro Football Network’s Chief Draft Analyst and NFL Insider. To view overall and positional rankings, visit and bookmark Pauline’s Draft Board. Please note that the links below will open in a new tab.
Teams covered in this 2021 FCS Scouting Report:
Alabama A&M, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Central Missouri, Chattanooga, The Citadel, Eastern Kentucky, & Eastern Washington – Page 1
Elon, Grambling State, Holy Cross, Idaho, Idaho State, Illinois State, & Jacksonville State – Page 2
James Madison, Merrimack, Nicholls State, North Alabama, North Dakota, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Prairie View A&M, & Sam Houston State – Page 3
South Dakota, South Dakota State, Southeastern Louisiana, Southeast Missouri State, Stony Brook, Texas Southern, Villanova, Weber State, & Western Illinois – Page 4
2021 NFL Draft | FCS Scouting Reports: Alabama A&M
Aqeel Glass NFL Draft Scouting Report | Quarterback
Positives: Large pocket passer with a next-level arm. Possesses terrific size and pocket stature and easily gets the ball downfield. Throws with an over-the-top delivery, puts speed on throws, and loses nothing passing on the move. Easily withstands the rush, sits in the pocket, and takes a big hit in order to get the ball away. Effectively commands and controls the offense. Looks off the safety and goes to secondary targets.
Negatives: All over the place with passes and sprays the ball. Makes receivers work too hard to come away with easy receptions.
Analysis: Glass possesses next-level physical skills but must improve his overall game and passing mechanics. He’s a developmental prospect who should get practice-squad consideration.
2021 NFL Draft | FCS Scouting Reports: Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Shawn Steele NFL Draft Scouting Report | Cornerback
Positives: Competitive cornerback who is best facing the action. Works to keep the play in front of him, tracks the pass in the air, and effectively positions himself to break up throws. Displays a burst to the ball out of his plant and effectively times pass defenses. Contorts and adjusts to the ball and shows good hands for the interception. Instinctive and plays with excellent awareness. Dives around the field working to defend throws and wraps up tackling.
Negatives: Lack of height is an issue, as he struggles against taller receivers. Must improve his backpedal and consistency moving in reverse.
Analysis: Steele has size limitations but possesses the athleticism and skill to line up in dime packages, preferably in a zone system.
2021 NFL Draft | FCS Scouting Reports: Austin Peay
DeAngelo Wilson NFL Draft Scouting Report | Wide Receiver
Positives: Undersized receiver who is effective as a return specialist. Tracks the pass in the air, displays strong hands, and pulls the fastball away from his frame. Elusive handling the ball and creates yardage. Adjusts to the errant throw and nicely makes the reception on crossing patterns. Knows where he is on the football field, finds ways to get open, and gets vertical to come away with the difficult reception. Reliable.
Negatives: Plays to one speed. Lacks burst and a second gear. Cannot run to the long throw. Gives effort blocking but does not get much in the way of results.
Analysis: Wilson was productive for Austin Peay but lacks the measurables for the NFL. He’s been an effective punt returner at the college level, which will be his ticket into the NFL.
2021 NFL Draft | FCS Scouting Reports: Central Arkansas
For information on Central Arkansas cornerback Robert Rochell, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
2021 NFL Draft | FCS Scouting Reports: Central Missouri
For information on Central Missouri tight end Zach Davidson, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
2021 NFL Draft | FCS Scouting Reports: Chattanooga
Cole Strange NFL Draft Scouting Report | Offensive Line
Positives: Nice-sized college left tackle who projects to guard in the NFL. Sets with a wide base, quickly gets his hands up, and shows strength at the point. Stays square and anchors in pass protection. Gets good fits on defenders and seals them from the action. Hard-nosed football player who fires into blocks and fights hard throughout the action.
Negatives: Doesn’t sink his butt at the line, bends at the waist, and overextends into blocks. Lacks footwork and agility and cannot adjust.
Analysis: Strange possesses next-level size and is a tough player, but he’s a limited athlete with marginal upside.
2021 NFL Draft | FCS Scouting Reports: The Citadel
Raleigh Webb NFL Draft Scouting Report | Wide Receiver
Positives: Athletic receiver with an unpolished game. Possesses excellent length, tracks the pass in the air, and adjusts to the errant throw. Displays outstanding focus as well as concentration and makes the difficult over-the-shoulder reception at full speed. Looks the pass into his hands.
Negatives: Doesn’t show much burst in his game, doesn’t play to his speed, and possesses average run-after-the-catch skill. Marginal production.
Analysis: Webb is a size/speed prospect with an unpolished game due to the triple-option offense run at the Citadel. He’s a developmental prospect who needs a lot of work, but he’s worth stashing on a practice squad.
2021 NFL Draft | FCS Scouting Reports: Eastern Kentucky
Keyion Dixon NFL Draft Scouting Report | Wide Receiver
Positives: Long, thin receiver with next-level athleticism. Quickly releases off the line of scrimmage, has a burst, and displays himself as a vertical threat. Solid route runner who quickly gets into breaks and stays low on exit to separate from defenders. Tracks the pass in the air, gets vertical, and comes away with the reception.
Negatives: Possesses a thin build and loses out for the contested pass. Drops catchable throws. Does not play with balance. Must do a better job coming back to the ball.
Analysis: Dixon, who started his college career at UConn, was moderately productive the past two seasons and comes with the size and speed to get practice-squad consideration this fall.
2021 NFL Draft | FCS Scouting Reports: Eastern Washington
Eric Barriere NFL Draft Scouting Report | Quarterback
Positives: Undersized RPO quarterback who is most effective in the short and intermediate passing game. Patient in the pocket, goes through receiver progressions and finds the open wideout. Possesses a quick release, immediately gets the ball out of his hands, and puts touch on throws when necessary. Stands strong in the pocket, improvises when plays break down and easily scrambles to avoid defenders. Keeps his eyes downfield moving outside the pocket, drives the ball downfield with a flick of his wrist and gets the pass through the tight spots. Elusive ball carrier when he takes off upfield.
Negatives: Very inconsistent with his deep accuracy. Lacks pocket size and stature. Occasionally struggles seeing over the offensive line.
Analysis: Barriere is an athletic passer with a next-level arm but poor size. In sync with receivers and not afraid to challenge the vertical game, his physical skills are good enough to give Barriere consideration for a practice squad.
Talolo Limu-Jones NFL Draft Scouting Report | Wide Receiver
Positives: Tall possession receiver with an inconsistent game. Sells routes, stays low on exit, and comes back to the ball. Uses his frame to shield away opponents, adjusts to the errant throw, and looks the pass into his hands. Tracks the pass in the air and makes the difficult over-the-shoulder reception. Effective when he extends and makes the reception away from his frame.
Negatives: Lacks deep speed as well as burst and cannot run to the long throw. Unnecessarily lets the pass get inside him at times. Possesses marginal run-after-the-catch skill and is easily brought down by a single defender.
Analysis: Limu-Jones possesses the size and skill to be a possession wideout in the NFL, yet he never dominated at the small-school level. He looks the part and comes with upside, but he was underwhelming in college until this spring and needs to elevate his game.
Tristen Taylor NFL Draft Scouting Report | Offensive Line
Positives: Massive college left tackle who is best in confined quarters. Sets with a wide base, works to bend his knees, and shows strength. Turns defenders from the action and seals them from plays. Stays square, shows explosiveness, and works to finish off opponents.
Negatives: Stiff and struggles to adjust. Easily exploited by speed rushers. Shows no ability blocking in motion and comes with limited flexibility.
Analysis: Taylor is a size prospect with limited mobility and athleticism. He’s a power-gap blocker who will struggle to make it out of camp.