Mike Prior was drafted No. 176 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1985 NFL Draft out of Illinois State. 198 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 46 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #176
- Round
- 7
- Draft class
- 1985
- NFL games
- 198
- Years as starter
- 4
- Career AV
- 461st at Illinois State
The pick
How Mike Prior came off the board in 1985.
- Position
- Defensive back DB
- College
-
Illinois State
MVFC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
198 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 46 career approximate value
- Games played
- 198
- Seasons as a starter
- 4
- Career approximate value
- 461st among Illinois State picks
- Final season
- 199813 years after the draft
Around pick 176
Who came off the board on either side of Mike Prior.
Angelo State
Elizabeth City State
Oklahoma State
Alabama State
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Mike Prior in the 1985 NFL Draft
Mike Prior is a Defensive back out of Illinois State selected No. 176 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1985 NFL Draft. 198 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 46 career approximate value Illinois State has produced 10 NFL draft picks since 1985.
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 Mike Prior drafted?
Mike Prior was selected No. 176 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1985 NFL Draft (Rd 7). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1985/mike-prior.
What college did Mike Prior play for?
Mike Prior played college football at Illinois State in the MVFC. See every Illinois State draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/illinois-state-redbirds.
How did Mike Prior's NFL career turn out?
198 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 46 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1985/mike-prior.