2022 NFL Draft Bible NCAA FCS Elite 11 Team
As a postseason exercise, we have identified the top performer for each position group from the 2022 regular season and recognized those individuals as the inaugural NFL Draft Bible Division I FCS Elite 11.
Two of the honorees will square off when North Dakota State meets South Dakota State in Sunday’s NCAA FCS Championship Game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. ABC will carry the live broadcast with kickoff set for 2:00 pm ET.
QUARTERBACK
Lindsey Scott (GR), Incarnate Word
Stepping into the starting quarterback spot that was vacated when All-American Cameron Ward transferred, Scott was sensational while powering UIW to the No. 5 national ranking in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll.
The former Nicholls State signal caller averaged an eye-popping 11.6 yards per pass attempt during the regular season, throwing 50 touchdown passes to only four interceptions. More than 15 percent of the passes he attempted resulted in touchdowns. He also rushed for seven scores, accounting for 57 total touchdowns over 11 regular season games.
RUNNING BACK
Jaden Shirden (SO), Monmouth
The FCS regular season rushing champion took the Jersey Shore by storm as a sophomore. Shirden exploded onto the scene in Week 2 against Fordham, rushing 12 times for 299 yards and three touchdowns. With elite acceleration, the CAA Offensive Player of the Year was a threat to go the distance on every snap. He logged 55+ yard runs in seven different games.
Shirden rushed for at least 139 yards in eight games, including four 200+ yard performances. He led the FCS in rush yards (1,722) and yards per carry (8.4).
RECEIVER
Andrei Iosivas (SR), Princeton
The Reese’s Senior Bowl commit was the Ivy League’s most-productive receiver in 2022. With his size and speed making him tough to cover, Iosivas totaled 66 receptions for 943 yards and seven touchdowns over a 10-game regular season schedule.
The Hawaiian-born NFL prospect made multiple receptions in every game for the Tigers, who finished with an 8-2 record. Iosivas’ top single-game performance came in a 37-10 rout of Harvard. He opened the game’s scoring with a 61-yard touchdown reception early in the first quarter and finished with 176 yards on nine catches.
TIGHT END
Thomas Greaney (SR), Albany
The NFLPA Bowl invitee significantly increased his production in Albany’s passing attack this season. The 6-foot-5 tight end made at least five receptions in seven of 11 games. Greaney finished the season with 50 catches for 693 yards and nine touchdowns. He ranked in the Top 10 amongst all CAA receivers in all three categories.
In addition to presenting a mismatch as a receiver, Greaney’s size and strength translate well in run blocking. By numerous accounts, the former high school basketball star was viewed as a leader in the locker room at Albany.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Cody Mauch (SR), North Dakota State
The 6-foot-6 left tackle headlined what was arguably was the best offensive line in the FCS. While extending his consecutive starts streak to 35 games, Mauch kept his quarterback clean and was a key contributor to an elite rushing offense.
The Reese’s Senior Bowl commit moves well and can get to the second level quickly. Mauch, the only offensive lineman to advance to the final round of voting for the Stats Perform Walter Payton Award, made a habit of manhandling defenders in run blocking. With NDSU featuring the nation’s fourth-ranked rushing offense, Bison ball carriers averaged 6.0 yards per attempt.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Caleb Sanders (SR), South Dakota State
The Buck Buchanan Award finalist was a lynchpin for a South Dakota State Front 7 that limited opponents to the lowest rushing output in Division I. Making the most of his size, the 6-foot-1 Sanders was a warrior in the trenches.
With the Jackrabbits ranking second overall amongst FCS team leaders in total defense, their veteran defensive tackle logged at least one stop in every regular season game. Sanders recorded a season-high 3.0 sacks in a late-season road win over Northern Iowa. In the season opener at Big Ten member Iowa, he totaled five tackles, 1.0 tackle-for-loss and one quarterback hurry as SDSU limited the Hawkeyes’ offense to three points.
LINEBACKER
Aubrey Miller, Jackson State
The SWAC Defensive Player of the Year was the centerpiece to the top-ranked defense in the FCS. Miller, a former Missouri transfer, displayed great downhill burst on the way to 117 total tackles over 13 games. The 6-foot-2 linebacker was credited with 12.0 tackles-for-loss and five forced fumbles.
Miller, who has earned an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl, made a season-high 19 stops in a win over Texas Southern on November 5. The sound tackler’s skill set should translate well to the next level. He made a number of notable plays for Jackson State, including a fumble return touchdown against Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Marte Mapu (GR), Sacramento State
The Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year was a driving force behinds Sacramento State’s perfect 11-0 regular season. Mapu, who finished fifth overall in the Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award voting, totaled 64 stops highlighted by 6.5 tackles-for-loss.
The physically-imposing safety hybrid displays an exceptional nose for the ball. He logged seven tackles, including 1.0 sack, in a 41-10 triumph over FBS member Colorado State.
PUNTER
Jake Gerardi (SR), Southern Utah
The big-legged punter ranked atop the FCS in what was his third season with Southern Utah. The former Azusa Pacific transfer averaged 48.0 yards per punt in 2022 with 20 of his 52 boots traveling more than 50 yards. He dropped 18 kicks inside the opponents’ 20-yard line as SUU led the WAC in net punting (41.8) by a large margin.
PLACEKICKER
Skyler Davis (SR), Elon
The 5-foot-8 placekicker may have the strongest leg in the FCS. Davis, who went 18-for-22 on field goal attempts in 2022, hit from 50+ yards in six different games. He failed to connect on only two of his 14 attempts from beyond 40 yards. Davis, who went 7-of-8 on field goal attempts in the 50-59 yard range, also provided Elon with a weapon in the field position battle as 47 of his 65 kickoffs (72.3 percent) resulted in touchbacks.
RETURN SPECIALIST
Abraham Williams (SO), Weber State
The sophomore cornerback emerged as the most-electrifying kick returner in the FCS this season. Williams took kickoffs to the house in four different Big Sky games. On the strength of four 100-yard returns, he averaged a Division I best 42.4 yards per runback during the regular season. Williams amassed 805 yards on 19 total kickoff returns.
Ralph Ventre (@RealestRalph) covers the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision for NFL Draft Bible.
