The FCS in 2014 and the Best Small-School NFL Players Ever

For the second season in a row, ESPN's College Gameday team rolled into downtown Fargo, North Dakota - home of the North Dakota State Bison (pronounced 'Bizon') - for it's weekly celebration of all things college football.
To the uninitiated, the scene is no different to any weekly college football broadcast: a panel of experts make predictions while standing in front of a crowd of rabid football fans holding up signs and oversized posters of peoples' faces. The big difference, of course, is that the Bison are not a powerhouse SEC team, a high-powered Pac-12 team or a historic Big Ten team. They play in the FCS, where they are - in a word - dominant. The three-time defending Division I FCS national champions have won 26 games in a row (a FCS record), 20 straight road games and, most notably, five wins against D-1 FBS teams.

FCS teams are beginning to turn heads, and in 2013 alone 14 FCS teams managed to upset FBS teams, with the Florida Gators notably falling to the mighty Georgia Southern. The Bison alone have wins over Kansas (2010), Minnesota (2011), Colorado State (2012), Kansas State (2013) and Iowa State (2014).
While the gap between the two divisions is slowly closing, over the years the FCS has provided some of the best players in the NFL. Big-time players from small schools include Jared Allen, Robert Mathis, Tony Romo, Victor Cruz, Steve McNair, Mel Blount, Kurt Warner, Michael Strahan, Terrell Owens, Adam Vinatieri and these guys:

Jerry Rice

Arguably the greatest NFL player of all time, Jerry Rice's legendary work ethic and preparation was forged during his time at Mississippi Valley State. Between 1981 and 1984, Rice accumulated 4,693 yards, and enjoyed a record-setting stint in which he set the record for single-game receptions (24) and career touchdowns (51, a record that stood until 2006). Rice left college as the greatest small-school player ever, and in 2011 the Jerry Rice Award - awarded annually to the best freshman FCS player - was named in his honour.

Walter Payton

If Jerry Rice is the greatest receiver to ever play the game, Walter Payton can be considered the NFL's greatest ever running back. Given his supreme talent and successful NFL career, it's hard to comprehend that Payton never received a scholarship offer from any SEC colleges and, due to their reluctance to offer scholarships to black athletes, ended up playing for a Historically Black College or University. 'Sweetness' was born at Jackson State University, where he rushed for over 3,500 yards and 65 touchdowns, was named an All-American in 1973, and Black College Player of the Year in 1974.

Harry Carson

The New York Giants' 'captain for life' is, like many notable small-school players, another product of a Historically Black College or University. Harry Carson attended South Carolina State University from 1972 to 1975, and set school single-season records in his senior season with 117 tackles and 17 sacks. Under Carson's captaincy, the Bulldogs recorded six shutouts and held their opponents to a measly 29 points. He transitioned seamlessly to the NFL, and was an integral part of the Giants' 'crunch bunch' linebacker unit and the dominant 'Big Blue Wrecking Crew' defence of the 1980's.

Shannon Sharpe

Former Broncos and Ravens tight end Shannon Sharpe is yet another member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to have hailed from an FCS school. Sharpe was named to the All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team in each of three years with the Savannah State Tigers and was a Division II All-American in 1989. He led the Tigers in receptions in all three years, helped them to a combined 15-4 record in his final two years, and finished his career with 3,744 yards and 40 TDs. Sharpe became the first Savannah State player to play in both the Blue-Gray Classic and the East-West Shrine Game, and his penchant for being selected in these types of games translated to his NFL career, where he was an eight-time Pro Bowl and four-time All Pro selection.

Howie Long

Despite the offer of a scholarship from Boston College, Pro Football Hall of Fame (notice a trend here?) defensive end Howie Long enjoyed a successful collegiate career at Villanova. He led the team in sacks in two of his four seasons, and an MVP performance at the 1980 Blue-Gray game put him on the Oakland Raiders' radar, who selected him in the second round of the 1981 NFL draft. Long was unpolished coming into the league, but left as an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, five-time All-Pro and Super Bowl champion.