Which College Program's NFL Alumni Are Having the Best Pro Season?
It’s hard to believe, but the 2015 college football season has entered its homestretch. Only three weekends remain before the College Football Playoff and the rest of the postseason bids are handed out. Before long, we’ll be discussing the 2016 NFL draft class and which players will make the leap to becoming professional standouts.
College football success doesn’t always translate into NFL stardom, and the league is full of players who were little-known in college but very successful as pros. For every Tom Brady—a sixth-round pick of the New England Patriots in the 2000 NFL draft—there’s a Trent Richardson, who was the No. 3 overall pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2012 but is already out of football after three undistinguished seasons.
Figuring out which programs are excelling at the NFL level is, at best, an inexact science, but we’re going to give it a shot. We took the NFL’s top 10 players in this season’s passing yardage, rushing yardage, receiving yardage, tackles, sacks and interceptions entering Week 10’s games and looked at each player’s alma mater.
Here’s a look at the 10 FBS programs which are representing best at the pro level, at least statistically, this season. All stats were entering Week 10 and were taken from ESPN.com.
Who are these programs? The answers could surprise you.
Alabama
1 of 10
It’s no surprise that Alabama is again among the nation’s elite programs this fall. Aside from a home loss to Ole Miss marred by five turnovers, the Crimson Tide has made another steady push toward a College Football Playoff bid, with Saturday’s dominant 31-6 win at Mississippi State the latest example.
Nick Saban has won three national titles during his Alabama tenure and sends talent to the NFL on an annual basis. This year, numerous players are making an impact on league rosters, and three are among the NFL’s statistical leaders.
Heisman Trophy-winning tailback Mark Ingram has found his groove with the New Orleans Saints as one of the pro game’s best backs. The powerful runner entered Sunday ranked ninth in the NFL with 584 yards rushing and five touchdowns.
Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones is one of the NFL’s best pass-catchers. Jones was on a bye Sunday, but he entered leading the NFL with 1,029 receiving yards and six touchdowns. His 80 receptions also lead the league. Jones is a quick, physical deep threat who is a challenge for any secondary to stop.
In Arizona, safety Rashad Johnson has carved out a role in one of the league’s best defenses. His four interceptions are tied for third-best in the NFL, and he also had 35 tackles and five passes defensed entering Sunday night’s game with the Seahawks.
Cal
2 of 10
On the field, Cal is experiencing a resurgence. Led by potential NFL first-round pick Jared Goff, the Bears blasted Oregon State 52-24 to clinch the program’s first bowl bid since 2011, a huge rebound from 2013’s one-win season.
Cal is also making its presence known in the NFL this season. The Bears have two players among the league’s statistical leaders in San Diego Chargers receiver Keenan Allen and New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan.
The Saints defense is struggling, but Jordan has made some solid contributions in his fifth season. The former first-round pick has six sacks, which was tied for 10th in the NFL entering Sunday’s action.
Meanwhile, Allen’s season is over after suffering a bruised kidney, but he was having an excellent season as Philip Rivers’ favorite target. He had 67 receptions for 725 yards and four touchdowns in eight games, nearly matching his 2014 totals (77 receptions, 783 yards, four scores) in six fewer games. He ranked seventh in the NFL in receiving yardage, and he will be a key piece of the Chargers offense for years to come.
Central Florida
3 of 10
Central Florida is suffering through an ugly year. The Knights are 0-10, and longtime coach George O’Leary recently resigned, meaning the program will be going through even more change in short order. It’s out of character for what was recently one of the best mid-major programs in America, highlighted by a 2014 Fiesta Bowl victory over Baylor.
The best player on that team, quarterback Blake Bortles, is settling in as the starting quarterback of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Entering Sunday, Bortles had 2,193 passing yards with 17 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. He is certainly making the Jags happy they invested a high first-round pick in him two years ago.
The Oakland Raiders are improving, and tailback Latavius Murray is a big part of their young core. Murray began Week 10 eighth in the NFL in rushing with 630 yards and three touchdowns.
Meanwhile, in New York, Brandon Marshall has excelled as a veteran piece of the Jets wide receiver corps. Marshall has 753 yards with six touchdowns, ranking fifth in the NFL in receiving yardage.
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Florida
4 of 10
Jim McElwain’s first season at Florida has been one to remember. McElwain took over a program stuck in neutral under Will Muschamp and hit the gas. The Gators are 9-1 and SEC East champions, with their only loss coming by a touchdown at LSU. Producing NFL-ready talent has never been an issue at Florida, as the Gators are regulars in the NFL draft.
This fall is no different, as Florida has a pair of players among the league’s statistical standouts. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap is a key part of Cincinnati’s excellent defense. He has 8.5 sacks, tied with Houston’s J.J. Watt for second-best in the NFL entering their Monday night showdown. And behind him, safety Reggie Nelson has been a mainstay in the Bengals’ secondary. He has three interceptions (tied for seventh in the NFL entering Week 10) as well as 40 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Florida State
5 of 10
At 8-2, Florida State has taken a bit of a step back this fall. Following three consecutive ACC titles, a national title and a College Football Playoff berth, the Seminoles will not win the ACC for the first time since 2011. That is in part due to the recent drain of talent from the program, with 29 NFL draft picks over the last three years.
Numerous players, including 2015 No. 1 pick Jameis Winston, are making an NFL impact, and a pair of Seminoles are among the league leaders at their positions. Tailback Devonta Freeman is one of the NFL’s breakout runners. He entered Sunday with 721 yards rushing, which was second only to Adrian Peterson, and nine touchdowns. He’s become the Atlanta Falcons’ top back and appears to have a solid career ahead.
Defense played a huge role in Florida State’s run of success, and linebacker Telvin Smith was right in the middle of it. He has transitioned nicely to the NFL as a key to Jacksonville’s defense. Entering Week 10, he had 76 tackles, which was tied for fourth with Baltimore’s Daryl Smith. Jimbo Fisher’s success ensures that FSU players will dot NFL rosters for years to come.
Georgia
6 of 10
Georgia will go to a bowl again this fall, but with two games left, 2015 has been profoundly disappointing for Mark Richt and the Bulldogs. UGA is 7-3, which is unacceptable for a team that began the season with College Football Playoff aspirations. Instead, the Dawgs won’t even win the SEC East.
Georgia fans know their program has potential, and the amount of talent that flows through Athens into the NFL shows it. Four former Bulldogs are currently among NFL statistical leaders at their positions.
Todd Gurley has been highly impressive. Despite missing the season’s first two games while recovering from a torn ACL suffered at Georgia, he ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing yards and has four 100-yard games. He’s a leading candidate for NFL Rookie of the Year.
Sunday was the one-year anniversary of his torn ACL, but Gurley doesn't regret the injury. In fact, he told standout LSU sophomore Leonard Fournette that he needs to play his game rather than protect himself, as he told 99.9 the Fan, per CBS Sports' Will Brinson:
""Come back and play, man," Gurley said. "We don't care about all that, just waiting to go play for the NFL. We're football players. We've been playing this game for our whole life for free or with money. We don't care about that. We play for the love of the game."
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Safety Reshad Jones has been a key part of the Miami Dolphins defense. He entered Sunday with 74 tackles, which ranks sixth-best in the NFL, as well as two interceptions, which is among the top 20 in the NFL.
The Cincinnati Bengals are unbeaten with a huge assist from an excellent defense, and defensive tackle Geno Atkins is at the heart of their defensive line. He has six sacks, which is tied for ninth in the NFL.
The Carolina Panthers are also unbeaten, and they, too, have a nasty defense. Credit veteran linebacker Thomas Davis, who entered Sunday in the top 10 in the NFL in tackles.
Georgia Tech
7 of 10
It’s been a year to forget for Georgia Tech. One year after rolling to 11 wins and an Orange Bowl title, the Yellow Jackets are 3-7 and will miss a bowl for the first time in 18 seasons. However, Paul Johnson and Co. can take solace in the fact that they’re still sending impact players to the professional ranks. Two former Jackets are among the league’s statistical leaders.
Demaryius Thomas played in Johnson’s flexbone offense with precious few passes, but he made enough of the opportunities he received to get the NFL’s attention. He’s in a much more fruitful situation with the Denver Broncos. Thomas is an All-Pro receiver, and even with Peyton Manning’s struggles, he has thrived this fall. He entered Sunday with 61 catches and 745 yards but only one touchdown. His yardage ranked sixth in the NFL.
Meanwhile, linebacker Daryl Smith would be an excellent piece in the middle of any NFL defense. He has 76 tackles for the Baltimore Ravens, which is tied for fourth with Jacksonville linebacker and fellow ACC alum Telvin Smith.
Michigan
8 of 10
Saturday afternoon, Michigan continued its strong 2015 season under Jim Harbaugh’s watch. The Wolverines outlasted Indiana 48-41 in double overtime and, at 8-2, remain in the mix for the Big Ten championship with Penn State and Ohio State left to close the season.
Michigan alumni across the league likely watched the Wolverines’ thriller with a sense of pride as they prepared for their games. Two of the game’s most successful elder statesmen are UM alumni and are enjoying excellent seasons.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady fought the NFL and won, getting a potential four-game suspension connected to the Deflategate scandal overturned. The Pats are glad he did. Brady has had an outstanding year. He entered this week third in the NFL in passing yards with 2,709 yards, 22 touchdowns and two interceptions.
On the West Coast, Charles Woodson looks ageless. Woodson, the only defensive player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, is 39, but he looks a decade younger. Woodson has 41 tackles for the Oakland Raiders, and his five interceptions were tied with Mike Adams for the league lead. Michigan fans would be fine with Brady and Woodson playing for as long as they like, and the end doesn’t appear near.
Penn State
9 of 10
Penn State’s program is emerging from a period of turmoil and NCAA probation connected to the end of legendary coach Joe Paterno’s tenure and the Jerry Sandusky sexual-abuse scandal. The Nittany Lions are 7-3 and are headed back to a bowl for the second consecutive season under second-year coach James Franklin.
While the roster is highlighted by junior quarterback Christian Hackenberg, the Lions have plenty of talent that will keep the program’s NFL pipeline flowing. Three former Lions are among the NFL’s statistical leaders at their respective positions.
Second-year receiver Allen Robinson has become a favorite target for Blake Bortles in Jacksonville. Robinson entered Sunday with 707 receiving yards (eighth-best in the NFL) and six touchdowns on 40 receptions.
The San Francisco 49ers are slogging through a difficult season, but linebacker NaVorro Bowman has been excellent. Bowman has 88 tackles, which ranks second in the NFL.
Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake suffered a torn Achilles tendon last week against the New England Patriots, ending his season. That’s unfortunate, because Wake was very productive. His seven sacks are tied for fourth-best in the NFL entering Sunday’s games.
Texas A&M
10 of 10
Texas A&M’s 2015 season has been up-and-down. The Aggies got off to a 5-0 start but are only 2-3 since then, and at 7-3, 3-3 in SEC play, they appear to be an SEC West also-ran yet again. Kevin Sumlin’s program has a proud tradition and a significant NFL influence.
The Aggies have two players among the league’s statistical leaders. While the Miami Dolphins have been just average in the AFC East, quarterback Ryan Tannehill is developing into one of the NFL’s top young passers. He had 2,237 yards (which ranked seventh in the NFL) and 13 touchdowns against nine interceptions entering Sunday.
Meanwhile, A&M alum Michael Bennett is enjoying another solid season as a Seattle Seahawk defensive end. Bennett had 31 tackles and 6.5 sacks (which was tied for seventh in the NFL) entering Sunday. His pass-rushing abilities help Seattle’s defense remain one of the league’s most feared units.
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