College Football’s Top 10 Pro Producers of All Time
The NFL has used the ranks of college football as an illegitimate farm system for decades now.
The NFL’s annual selection process of college players, known as the NFL Draft, dates all the way back to the year 1936.
The process has grown substantially since the early days when Jay Berwanger, a Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Chicago, was selected by the Eagles with the first pick of the first NFL Draft.
What hasn’t changed though are the schools that produce the most pro players.
Throughout the history of the NFL Draft, there have been a few schools that have consistently churned out NFL prospects on a yearly basis.
Here is a look at the college football programs that have had the most players drafted since the NFL started picking college prospects back in 1936.
10. Miami Hurricanes: 299 Players
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The Hurricanes hold the record for most consecutive years with a first-round pick. The record was set over the course of 14 drafts from 1995-2008.
Some notable recent alumni include LB Jon Beason, RB Frank Gore, WR Devin Hester, S Sean Taylor, WR Andre Johnson, S Ed Reed, TE Jeremy Shockey, LB Ray Lewis, and RB Clinton Portis.
9. Texas Longhorns: 322 Players
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The Longhorns had 14 players selected in the first round this past decade. 2000, 2003, and 2008 where the only years they failed to produce a first-rounder.
Some notable recent alumni include QB Vince Young, RB Cedric Benson, DT Shaun Rogers, DE Brian Orakpo, RB Jamaal Charles, TE Jermichael Finley, LB Derrick Johnson, and RB Ricky Williams.
8. Penn State Nittany Lions: 323 Players
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The Nittany Lions have had a player drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft in five out of the last seven years. That includes the 2003 Draft, when Penn State produced four first-round selections.
In 2000, back-to-back Penn State players were selected with the first two picks when Cleveland selected DE Courtney Brown and Washington picked LB LaVar Arrington.
Some notable recent alumni include RB Larry Johnson, LB Paul Posluszny, WR Michael Robinson, OT Levi Brown, LB Tamba Hali. OT Kareem McKenzie, DT Jay Alford, LB LaVar Arrington, and WR Joe Jurevicus.
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7. Tennessee Volunteers: 327 Players
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Tennessee has had a player taken in the first round in each of the past four drafts.
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is probably the most famous Volunteer ever to be drafted. Manning was selected by Indianapolis with the first pick in the 1998 NFL Draft.
Some notable recent alumni include QB Peyton Maning, TE Jason Witten, S Eric Berry, RB Jamal Lewis, OT Chad Clifton, LB Jerod Mayo, DT John Henderson, DT Albert Haynesworth, and WR Robert Meachem.
6. Nebraska Cornhuskers: 334 Players
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Nebraska may have only had three first-rounders over the last decade but their latest offering could be the best yet.
Defensive Tackle Ndamukong Suh dominated during his senior season in Lincoln and ended up being selected No. 2 overall by the Detroit Lions in this April’s draft.
Some notable recent alumni include DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Zack Bowman, LB Stewart Bradley, OL Carl Nicks, LB Barrett Ruud, DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, RB Ahman Green, DE Grant Wistrom, and S Josh Bullocks.
5. Michigan Wolverines: 335 Players
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The top-notch talent at Michigan may have thinned out over the past few years, but that doesn't mean former coach Lloyd Carr didn’t churn out some quality pros.
Under Carr’s watch, the Wolverines produced 10 players who were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Some notable recent alumni include CB Charles Woodson, OL Steve Hutchinson, OT Jake Long, CB Leon Hall, QB Chad Henne, LB David Harris, LB LaMarr Woodley, WR Braylon Edwards, and WR Steve Breaston.
4. Oklahoma Sooners: 346 Players
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There aren’t many college football coaches who can make the claim that they sent three top five picks to the NFL during their career. Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops was able to accomplish that feat in one single draft.
QB Sam Bradford, DT Gerald McCoy, and OT Trent Williams were all selected in the first four picks of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Some notable recent alumni include RB Adrian Peterson, LB Curtis Lofton, QB Sam Bradford, OT Jamaal Brown, DT Tommie Harris, S Roy Williams, WR Malcolm Kelly, OT Phil Loadholt, and WR Mark Clayton.
3. Ohio State Buckeyes: 394 Players
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Ohio State’s school initials are OSU, but with the way things are going, they might as well change that to DBU soon.
The Buckeyes had five defensive backs selected in the first round over the last decade. In the 2006 NFL Draft, Ohio State had a total of five players selected in the first round.
Some notable recent alumni include RB Chris Wells, WR Santonio Holmes, OL Nick Mangold, DE Will Smith, WR Michael Jenkins, LB A.J. Hawk, LB James Laurinaitis, WR Anthony Gonzalez, and S Malcolm Jenkins.
2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: 466 Players
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Notre Dame has a rich history of successful players in the NFL. Joe Montana, Paul Hornung, and Tim Brown are just a few of the many former Irish players who have really stood out during their pro football careers.
The program has hit a bit of a slide recently, but new coach Brian Kelly has the power to change all that.
Some notable recent alumni include TE John Carlson, S Tom Zbikowski, DE Justin Tuck, OL Ryan Harris, OL Jeff Faine, TE Anthony Fasano, RB Julious Jones, WR Maurice Stovall, and QB Brady Quinn.
1. USC Trojans: 468 Players
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The USC Trojans not only top the list as the college with the most NFL Hall of Famers (11), they also top the list of most players ever drafted.
In their history, USC has had five players selected with the first overall pick in the draft.
Under recent head coach Pete Carroll, the Trojans were a true football factory, which produced 14 first round picks from 2003-2009.
Some notable recent alumni include QB Mark Sanchez, LB Brian Cushing, LB Rey Maualuga, DT Sedrick Ellis, WR Steve Smith, RB Reggie Bush, QB Matt Leinart, QB Carson Palmer, OL Sam Baker, and S Troy Polamalu.
The Next Ten
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11. Florida Gators: 298 Players
12. UCLA Bruins: 288 Players
t13. Alabama Crimson Tide: 287 Players
t13. Michigan State Spartans: 287 Players
15. Georgia Bulldogs: 283 Players
16. Louisiana State Tigers: 282 Players
17. Washington Huskies: 274 Players
18. Purdue Boilermakers: 270 Players
19. PITT Panthers: 263 Players
20. Colorado Buffaloes: 257 Players
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