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FCS to the NFL

grizjumps45

grizjumps45

Well-known member
I want to start by saying I know there are guys like Cooper Kupp and a few others who have translated FCS success to the NFL. But why do you think the transition is so difficult for so many talented FCS players? Personally, I think a lot of it comes down to the speed of the game. Evaluating FCS talent is much harder than evaluating FBS talent because the very best players in the FCS often have the physical ability to play at the FBS level. The problem is they are usually dominating against a lower level of overall athletic competition, which can hide weaknesses that get exposed in the NFL. Because of that, I think processing speed becomes a huge factor. When you suddenly jump from playing against slower, less athletic defenses to NFL speed, everything has to happen faster. Trey Lance is a good example. He has elite athleticism, great size, and all the physical tools you’d want in a quarterback. But when he got to the NFL it seemed like the mental processing part of the game lagged behind. At the FCS level he rarely had to process quickly because the windows were bigger and the defenses weren’t as fast. Once that advantage disappeared, it became much harder for him to translate his success. Curious how you guys evaluate that jump. What traits actually translate best from the FCS to the NFL?
 
grizjumps45 said:
I want to start by saying I know there are guys like Cooper Kupp and a few others who have translated FCS success to the NFL. But why do you think the transition is so difficult for so many talented FCS players? Personally, I think a lot of it comes down to the speed of the game. Evaluating FCS talent is much harder than evaluating FBS talent because the very best players in the FCS often have the physical ability to play at the FBS level. The problem is they are usually dominating against a lower level of overall athletic competition, which can hide weaknesses that get exposed in the NFL. Because of that, I think processing speed becomes a huge factor. When you suddenly jump from playing against slower, less athletic defenses to NFL speed, everything has to happen faster. Trey Lance is a good example. He has elite athleticism, great size, and all the physical tools you’d want in a quarterback. But when he got to the NFL it seemed like the mental processing part of the game lagged behind. At the FCS level he rarely had to process quickly because the windows were bigger and the defenses weren’t as fast. Once that advantage disappeared, it became much harder for him to translate his success. Curious how you guys evaluate that jump. What traits actually translate best from the FCS to the NFL?
Click to expand...
Speed is speed regardless of level.
 
grizjumps45 said:
I want to start by saying I know there are guys like Cooper Kupp and a few others who have translated FCS success to the NFL. But why do you think the transition is so difficult for so many talented FCS players? Personally, I think a lot of it comes down to the speed of the game. Evaluating FCS talent is much harder than evaluating FBS talent because the very best players in the FCS often have the physical ability to play at the FBS level. The problem is they are usually dominating against a lower level of overall athletic competition, which can hide weaknesses that get exposed in the NFL. Because of that, I think processing speed becomes a huge factor. When you suddenly jump from playing against slower, less athletic defenses to NFL speed, everything has to happen faster. Trey Lance is a good example. He has elite athleticism, great size, and all the physical tools you’d want in a quarterback. But when he got to the NFL it seemed like the mental processing part of the game lagged behind. At the FCS level he rarely had to process quickly because the windows were bigger and the defenses weren’t as fast. Once that advantage disappeared, it became much harder for him to translate his success. Curious how you guys evaluate that jump. What traits actually translate best from the FCS to the NFL?
Click to expand...
You are correct about the speed of the game and not just on the physical level. But it isn't just FCS when you look at the legions of top draft picks from big boy schools that also can't adapt to the speed of the NFL and wash out. And then some guys just put it all together later and are UDFA's that make a practice squad and end up in a pro bowl a couple years later. If you can develop a formula to predict who these guys might be on a regular basis there is a front office out there that wants to know.
 
I'll throw a little out here. Draft positions limit playing time and that is difficult to overcome with how good everyone is and what few opportunities lower draft picks get.

I feel an example of that was Brock Coyle. Not sure how much of a chance he was going to get to play, but when Seattle had a couple LB's hurt, Coyle got his chance and made the most of it. Would he have gotten that chance if the LB crew wasn't injured?
 
I remember reading Brian Greene's biography years ago. He spoke directly about this. He said that after being a stud for his whole football career, he got to the NFL and it took him a full season (if I remember right) to feel like he could even mentally keep up with what was going on. The speed difference is just unreal
 
"The Indianapolis Colts bolstered their tight end room with an unconventional signing Tuesday.

The Colts announced they signed Notre Dame basketball forward Carson Towt to their roster with the idea of converting him to a tight end.

Towt, 24, did not play football in either high school or college and recently played forward for Notre Dame's basketball team in 2025. Towt spent six seasons with Northern Arizona before transferring to Notre Dame for his final season.


Towt, 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds, set the Big Sky Conference single-season record with 423 rebounds during the 2024 season, which led the country. He also recorded 20 double-doubles that season.

With Notre Dame, Towt averaged 5.9 points, nine rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in 31 games."

www.foxnews.com

Colts sign Notre Dame basketball player Carson Towt despite no high school or college football experience

The Indianapolis Colts signed Carson Towt, a Notre Dame basketball forward, with the intention of converting him to a tight end in an unorthodox move.
www.foxnews.com www.foxnews.com
 
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