Gerald Willhite was drafted No. 21 overall by the Denver Broncos in the 1982 NFL Draft out of San José State. 78 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 26 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #21
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1982
- NFL games
- 78
- Years as starter
- 1
- Career AV
- 267th at San José State
The pick
How Gerald Willhite came off the board in 1982.
- Position
- Running back RB
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
78 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 26 career approximate value
- Games played
- 78
- Seasons as a starter
- 1
- Career approximate value
- 267th among San José State picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 26100% of career value
- Final season
- 19886 years after the draft
Around pick 21
Who came off the board on either side of Gerald Willhite.
Clemson
NC State · 2× All-Pro · 5× Pro Bowl
Iowa
Notre Dame
San José State in the 1982 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other RB picks from San José State
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
San José State · 1× Pro Bowl
#58
Jewerl Thomas
RB · LAR · 1980
San José State
#119
Tyler Ervin
RB · HOU · 2016
San José State
#173
Ken Thomas
RB · KC · 1983
San José State
#193
Sheldon Canley
RB · SF · 1991
San José State
#285
Bobby Johnson
RB · KC · 1984
San José State
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Gerald Willhite in the 1982 NFL Draft
Gerald Willhite is a Running back out of San José State selected No. 21 overall by the Denver Broncos in the 1982 NFL Draft. 78 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 26 career approximate value San José State has produced 40 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Gerald Willhite drafted?
Gerald Willhite was selected No. 21 overall by the Denver Broncos in the 1982 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1982/gerald-willhite.
What college did Gerald Willhite play for?
Gerald Willhite played college football at San José State in the Mountain West. See every San José State draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/san-jos-state-spartans.
How did Gerald Willhite's NFL career turn out?
78 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 26 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1982/gerald-willhite.