DII to the League: How the 2026 NFL Draft Is Shining a Brighter Light on Division II

The 2026 NFL Draft is another reminder that elite football talent is not limited to Power Four stadiums and national TV windows. Across Division II, players are forcing scouts to look deeper, evaluate differently, and respect the level of development happening beyond the sport’s biggest brands. This year’s draft conversation is led in part by MSU Moorhead quarterback Jack Strand, who D2Football.com identifies as the top overall Division II prospect after finishing his career with 13,161 passing yards and 126 touchdowns. Alongside Strand, prospects such as TreShawn Watson, Ryan Schernecke, Ricky Freymond, Braden Jay, and Curtis Allen have helped create real momentum around D2 football as a legitimate source of pro-level talent.

That matters for every serious Division II program — including the University of Mary.

For programs like UMary, the story is bigger than whether one player hears their name called on draft weekend. The real story is about culture, infrastructure, development, and belief. It is about building an environment where student-athletes can grow physically, mentally, and professionally to the point that NFL opportunities become realistic outcomes instead of distant dreams.

Division II Is Earning More Respect in the Draft Process

Division II football has always produced tough, disciplined, high-upside players. What is changing in 2026 is the amount of attention those players are receiving. Jack Strand has emerged as the face of that conversation, with late-round draft potential after a historic run at MSU Moorhead.

1 Virginia Union running back Curtis Allen also turned heads after winning the 2025 Harlon Hill Trophy and rushing for more than 2,300 yards with 30 touchdowns, a season that pushed him into the national draft discussion. Western Colorado defensive end Ricky Freymond has gained traction because of his size, production, and testing upside, while Minnesota State’s TreShawn Watson and Kutztown’s Ryan Schernecke are among other names being tracked as pro prospects or priority free agents. 

That broader visibility is important. It tells every Division II athlete that the path is real. It may still be difficult, but it is real.

Why This Matters for UMary

At UMary, momentum is building in ways that line up with what successful talent development looks like. The program is being led by Shann Schillinger, a former NFL draft pick who was selected in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft and played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans before moving into coaching.

That matters because players benefit when leadership understands exactly what the next level demands — not just in athletic ability, but in preparation, accountability, and professionalism.

UMary’s staff also includes an outside linebackers coach and co-special teams coordinator who serves as the program’s pro scout liaison. That title alone reflects a program that understands modern player development is not only about winning Saturdays, but also about building visibility and relationships that help athletes pursue opportunities beyond college football.

In other words, UMary is not just trying to field a competitive roster. It is building a football environment that thinks intentionally about advancement.

Development Happens Where Vision Meets Investment

Programs do not develop next-level players by accident. They do it through resources, support, and long-term commitment.

At the University of Mary, that commitment is visible. The university’s Marauders Armada was created to strengthen athletic scholarship support, with the stated goal of helping UMary fully fund opportunities for student-athletes and recruit at a higher level. For more info Click Here

University leadership has also connected donor support to a broader vision that includes a new Athletics Complex and a multi-use Research and Performance Center, both intended to improve the experience and development of Marauder student-athletes. 

That kind of investment matters in the NFL conversation. Better support systems help attract better athletes. Better athletes raise competition across the roster. Better competition raises standards in the weight room, in practice, and on game day. Over time, that is how a program develops players who can perform at a professional level.

Momentum Is Also About Identity

The most promising programs know who they are.

UMary’s football culture is being shaped around more than wins and losses. When Schillinger was introduced as head coach, he spoke about building winners with strong moral character.

That aligns with a broader University of Mary identity centered on forming scholar-athletes, developing leaders, and preparing students for life after football as well as during it. 

That identity matters because NFL teams are not only evaluating tape. They are evaluating consistency, resilience, football IQ, leadership, and maturity. Programs that develop the whole person give their athletes a stronger chance to stand out when they finally get in front of scouts.

The UMary Pipeline Is Still Growing — and That’s the Opportunity

UMary may not yet be discussed nationally in the same way as some of the better-known D2 programs, but that is exactly why this moment is so important. The 2026 draft cycle is showing that scouts are willing to find talent wherever it exists.

For a program like UMary, that opens the door wider.

There are already signs of a foundation being built. UMary has a head coach with NFL experience.

It has visible investment in scholarships and athlete support. It has football staff roles that reflect an awareness of the pro pathway.  And it has alumni proof that Marauders can reach the NFL world, including Marquice Williams, a former UMary player who became an NFL assistant and later the Atlanta Falcons’ special teams coordinator. 

That does not automatically produce draft picks. But it does produce something just as important first: belief, structure, and momentum.

What Comes Next

The biggest takeaway from the 2026 NFL Draft is not simply that Division II has a few intriguing prospects. It is that the gap between “small school” and “real prospect” continues to shrink when players are developed the right way.

For UMary, that should be encouraging.

The Marauders are building the kind of program that can help student-athletes dream bigger and prepare better. And in today’s football landscape, that is how momentum starts: with the right leadership, the right support, and the right commitment to development. If that continues, UMary will not just celebrate Division II athletes being noticed on draft weekend.

It will help produce more of them.