Joshua Stoneking Is Turning FCS Dominance Into NFL Draft Momentum
When you start stacking production the way Joshua Stoneking has, the conversation quickly shifts from “great FCS player” to “legitimate NFL prospect.” And right now, Stoneking isn’t just knocking on that door, he’s kicking it in.
The Furman Paladins football standout just captured the FCS ADA National Defensive Player of the Year, cementing a 2025 season that was as disruptive as any defender in the country, regardless of level. With 14.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss, Stoneking didn’t just lead the FCS, he terrorized it. Quarterbacks felt him every Saturday, and offenses had to game-plan around his presence on every snap.
At 6-foot-4, 265 pounds, Stoneking brings the kind of frame NFL scouts look for in a modern edge rusher. But it’s not just the measurables, it’s how he wins. His first-step explosiveness, hand usage, and relentless motor make him a nightmare in one-on-one situations. Add in 79 total tackles, multiple quarterback hurries, and impact plays like blocked kicks and fumble recoveries, and you’re looking at a defender who affects the game in every phase.
His résumé backs it up. Stoneking earned consensus All-American honors across major outlets, including the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. That level of recognition matters, it shows that evaluators across the board see the same thing on film: dominance.
He also joins rare company at Furman, becoming just the third player in program history to earn a National Player of the Year honor, alongside legends like Jeff Blankenship and Louis Ivory. That’s not just history, that’s legacy.
But here’s where things get interesting for NFL decision-makers.
The biggest question surrounding any FCS prospect isn’t production, it’s translation. Can they do it against higher-level competition? For Stoneking, the early signs say yes. His combination of size, burst, and technique projects cleanly to the next level. If you want to see him against big time competition, just pull up the Clemson film. He’s not just winning with effort, he’s winning with traits that carry over on Sundays. You remember the last small schooler who dominated Clemson and turned heads? Alex Highsmith of the Steelers absolutely dominated Clemson when coming out of Charlotte and he has had a pretty damn good career in the NFL.
If he continues this level of dominance into another season, especially with strong performances against any FBS opponents on Furman’s schedule or in postseason showcases, Stoneking could see his draft stock skyrocket. The path has been laid before, edge rushers from smaller programs who prove they can consistently disrupt quarterbacks get paid in the NFL.
And the timing couldn’t be better. The league is always hunting for pass rushers, and players who can generate pressure without needing heavy blitz schemes are premium assets. Stoneking fits that mold.
Being a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award only reinforces his standing among the elite defenders in the subdivision. If he takes that next step, whether it’s refining his pass-rush arsenal, improving his bend, or showing out in pre-draft settings like all-star games and workout, he won’t just be on draft boards. He’ll be climbing them.
The reality is simple: dominance is dominance. And right now, Joshua Stoneking is one of the most dominant defensive players in college football. The best part is he is only a junior this year, so two more years of whooping his competition! I LOVE THAT! FURMAN HAS A STAR!
NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com