The Eagles are no strangers to targeting small-school players in the NFL draft, and the results have mostly been positive. Philadelphia analyzed Carson Wentz at the 2016 Senior Bowl, and Howie Roseman used the No. 2 pick on the former North Dakota State star.
Dallas Goedert, Todd Herreman, Jeremiah Trotter, and Brian Westbrook also make the list of success stories.
Plenty of small-school gems have been drafted over the years, and with the Eagles in need of some retooling, here are 10 sleeper prospects who could interest the Birds.
WR Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington
Chism could develop into a reliable WR3/WR4 option with solid hands and short-area quickness. He wins in the slot and offers value as a return specialist.
EDGE Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly
Ponder tested very well at his Pro Day workout. He recorded a 4.57-second 40-yard dash time, hit 41 inches on the vertical jump, and did 24 reps on the bench press. Ponder is a very experienced prospect who has played almost 2,500 career snaps, including being a key member of the Cal Poly defense for four seasons. His most productive season came in 2023 when he recorded 51 pressures and nine sacks. According to PFF, Ponder tallied 38 pressures and seven sacks last season.
CB Isas Waxter, Villanova
Waxter is a big corner who won't shy away from playing the physical game against opposing receivers. During his final season at Villanova, Waxter earned Honorable Mention Associated Press FCS All-American and first-team All-Coastal Athletic Association. He was tied for sixth in the FCS with 3 FFs and played in 11 games with 10 starts (33 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 PBUs).
DB Tyron Herring, Delaware
He's a classic safety who has the size to match up against bigger receivers and tight ends.
TE Carter Runyon, Towson
Runyon is an excellent blocker, and as a receiver, he's shown the ability to work himself open against zone coverage in the underneath passing game. Last season, he became only the second player in Towson football history to head to the Hula Bowl, and he was named All-CAA First-Team tight end.
OL Marcus Wehr, Montana
Wehr started his career at Montana State as a defensive lineman before switching to the offensive line in 2022. In his first season, he started five games before suffering a season-ending injury. The following season, Wehr started 11 games at right tackle and one game at right guard. This past season, Wehr started all 16 games at right guard for Montana State. He's one of the best offensive linemen in the FCS, based on his accolades (All-America first team, unanimous All-Big Sky Conference first team)
David Walker, OLB,Central Arkansas
Walker is a highly productive FCS prospect, logging 31 sacks and 63 tackles for loss in three seasons while making numerous All-American teams. Walker was a 2024 United Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-UAC, FCS All-American, and FCS Defensive Player of the Year.
LB Aaron Smith, South Carolina State
Smith plays with impressive sideline-to-sideline fluidity and is arguably the top HBCU prospect in the class.
OL Charles Grant, William & Mary
TheEaglesare looking to get younger along the offensive line and hosted several intriguing prospects on Top 30 visits. William & Mary offensive tackle Charles Grant was a two-time FCS All-American. Grant allowed just two sacks over the past three seasons combined and started his final 36 collegiate games at left tackle. Grant, a former high school wrestler, was invited to the Reese's Senior Bowl all-star game and scheduled visits with the Houston Texans, Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons.
OL Nash Jones, Texas State
Jones began his career at Incarnate Word before finishing it at Texas State. A versatile prospect, he played left tackle, right tackle, and left guard during his career. In 2024, he didn't allow a sack on his 458 pass-blocking snaps at left guard and also earned a 71.1 PFF run-blocking grade.
DT Joe Evans, UTSA
Evans began his career at LSU before landing at UTSA. A season-ending injury in 2024 limited him to five games, but in 2023, he posted a 91.2 PFF run-defense grade.
OL Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M
Vinson was named First Team All-SWAC for his play in 2024 and a First-Team FCS All-American. He accepted an invitation to the 2025 Reese’sSenior Bowland was the lone invite from an HBCU program at the 2025 NFL Combine.Vinson plays with a physical, aggressive mentality and loves to set the tone in the run game.
The North Carolina native was a four-year starter at left tackle and projects as a developmental talent at the NFL level. Vinson measured 6-6 304 pounds in Mobile and started 48 games at offensive tackle during his career.
John Erby, WR, Duquesne University
A team captain and second-team All-Northeast Football Conference honoree, Erby tied for the Duquesne team lead with 47 catches (5thmost in the NEC) and totaled 668 receiving yards with eight touchdowns. All eight of his touchdowns came in conference play (second most). In 2024, Erby posted a career-high seven catches three times and had at least six on five occasions. Erby Earned NEC Offensive Player of the Week after a career-high 126 yards and three touchdowns in the Robert Morris win. Erby, a two-time NEC Prime Performer, went over the century mark with 125 yards and two scores in the Stonehill win. Erby recorded three multi-score games – the only wide receiver in the conference to have a three-touchdown game in 2024. Erby’s one-handed grab in the win over Wagner Was featured as theNo. 3 play on ESPN Top Plays. Before his time at Duquesne, Erby spent six years at Rhode Island, playing in 37 games and making 38 receptions with three touchdowns.
