The 2024 NFL Draft begins Thursday night, so it’s time for the annual Texas Non-D1 NFL Draft preview. This year, eight different schools have players who could hear their name called this weekend, signed as Priority Free Agents (PFA) or Undrafted Free Agents (UDFA) following the draft.

A PFA is similar to a priority walk-on in college football. The athlete is invited to camp, hoping to land a spot on the practice squad if they perform well. A UDFA is a player who arrives in camp as more of a long shot to make the roster. However, players who sign a UDFA are featured on rosters and practice squads every season.

Each of the 28 players listed below is mentioned in Dane Brugler’s NFL Draft 2024 ‘The Beast’ guide. The rankings below are where Brugler ranked each player according to their position group and each athlete’s projected draft position.

Of the players mentioned, 27 are from FCS programs. For the second consecutive year, UIW leads the way with nine players in the rankings. Texas A&M-Commerce is second with six, followed by Houston Christian (3), Texas Southern (3), Abilene Christian (3), Prairie View A&M (2), and Lamar (1).

For the third consecutive year, Howard Payne has one player hoping to earn a chance to make an NFL roster.

Southland Conference

Houston Christian 

• No. 13 Edge Rusher Jalyx Hunt - 4th or 5th Round - “A two-year starter at Houston Christian, Hunt played the LEO role as an outside linebacker in the Huskies’ 3-4 base scheme. A late bloomer, he was a 195-pound safety at Cornell before adding weight and moving to linebacker in 2022 following his transfer to Houston Christian. Despite only two years in the program, at a new position, he led the team in sacks both seasons (No. 2 in school history in career sacks) and was named Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. As a pass rusher, Hunt creates pressure when allowed to pin his ears back and race to the quarterback, although he tends to rush too upright and will need more of an assortment of moves. He plays with energetic hustle in pursuit, but he is more physical than powerful and needs to play bigger and more consistent versus the run. Overall, Hunt is overly reliant on his athletic gifts and needs to become savvier with his hands and pass-rush approach, but his explosiveness, body length, and willingness to be coached are attractive qualities. He is a draft-and-develop prospect who can fill a subpackage role as a rookie and play special teams.” - Dane Brugler

• No. 64 QB Colby Suits - UDFA

• No. 189 WR Karl Reynolds - UDFA

Lamar 

• No. 193 LB Foday Jalloh - UDFA

Texas A&M-Commerce 

• No. 26 DT Levi Drake Rodriguez - PFA - “Levi Drake Rodriguez grew up in central Texas and started playing baseball and football at age 4. At East View High, he played both ways and was an All-State right tackle as a senior. He signed with NAIA Southwestern Assemblies of God (Texas) to be a dual-sport athlete (baseball, football) and moved back to defensive end. After earning NAIA All-America honors in 2021, he transferred to FCS Texas A&M-Commerce and moved inside to defensive tackle (added 30 pounds). As a three-technique, Rodriguez’s game is built on quickness and a relentless, violent temperament. His hands are underdeveloped, but he throws them around (cross chops, double swipes) to gain his freedom. He needs technical refinement to maximize leverage points and control gaps in the run game. Overall, Rodriguez is still in the development process and doesn’t have elite length or strength, but his athletic urgency and promising hand use give blockers all they can handle.” - Dane Brugler

• No. 142 RB Ra’veion Hargrove - UDFA

• No. 149 Edge Rusher Juan Henry - UDFA

• No. 149 S Javotrick Dotrey - UDFA

• No. 171 S Davotrick Dotrey - UDFA

• No. 184 CB Daryion Taylor - UDFA

UIW 

• No. 62 OT Joe Bryson - UDFA

• No. 75 WR Caleb Chapman - UDFA

• No. 76 LB Ayodele Adeoye - UDFA

• No. 104 WR CJ Hardy - UDFA

• No. 133 DT Darren Brown - UDFA

• No. 150 WR Brandon Porter - UDFA

• No. 207 CB Brandon Richard - UDFA

• No. 248 WR Jaelin Campbell - UDFA

• No. 254 WR Kalen Noseff - UDFA

Southwestern Athletic Conference

Texas Southern

• No. 76 OT Aidan Hemphill - UDFA

• No. 114 OG Jack Nance - UDFA

• No. 115 RB Ladarius Owens - UDFA

Prairie View A&M

• No. 85 LB Tre Sherman-Green - UDFA

• No. 119 LB Myles McHaney IV - UDFA

United Athletic Conference

Abilene Christian

• No. 110 CB Patrick Jolly - UDFA

• No. 188 Aaron Reynolds - UDFA

• No. 218 Anthony Egbo Jr. - UDFA

American Southwest Conference

Howard Payne

• No. 182 S Korey (KJ) Kelley - UDFA