East Tennessee State has produced 3 NFL draft picks since 1982 — 255th all-time among college programs.
Southern Conference · NFL draft picks 1982–1996 · 255th nationally
East Tennessee State College Draft History
East Tennessee State has produced 3 NFL draft picks since 1982 — 255th all-time among college programs.
- Total picks
- 3
- First-rounders
- 0
- No. 1 overall
- 0
- Pro Bowlers
- 133% of picks
- Pro Bowl nods
- 1
- Hall of Famers
- 0
Notable East Tennessee State draft picks
Ranked by Hall of Fame status, Pro Bowls, and career value.
East Tennessee State draft trends
Picks by class year, position group, and the NFL clubs that shop here most.
Picks by draft class
Positions produced
- DB 2
- RB 1
NFL clubs that draft here
- ARI St. Louis Cardinals 1
- CLE Cleveland Browns 1
- TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1
Every East Tennessee State draft pick
3 selections, newest class first.
| Pick | Player | Pos | NFL team | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Donnie Abraham 1× Pro Bowl | DB | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 132 games · 7 yrs as starter 52 career AV |
| 1988 | Thane Gash | DB | CLE Cleveland Browns | 64 games · 2 yrs as starter 14 career AV |
| 1982 | Earl Ferrell | RB | ARI St. Louis Cardinals | 110 games · 6 yrs as starter 31 career AV |
Southern Conference programs by draft picks
How East Tennessee State compares with the rest of the league.
About this program's draft record
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
East Tennessee State in the NFL draft
East Tennessee State has produced 3 NFL draft picks between 1982 and 1996, including 0 first-round selections. 1 of those picks (33%) went on to make a Pro Bowl.
East Tennessee State ranks among college football’s most productive NFL pipelines. FantasyHQ lists every East Tennessee State draft pick from 1982 through 1996 — 3 selections, 0 first-rounders, 1 Pro Bowl alumni. Current conference: Southern Conference.
How to use this page
- Scan the notable alumni for the program's highest-impact NFL careers.
- Read the class-by-class bars to spot the peak recruiting-to-draft cycles.
- Open a draft year to see the full class, or a conference peer to compare pipelines.
Frequently asked questions
How many NFL draft picks has East Tennessee State produced?
East Tennessee State has 3 NFL draft picks in FantasyHQ’s archive (1982–1996), including 0 first-rounders. See the full list at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/east-tennessee-state-buccaneers.
Who are the most accomplished NFL players from East Tennessee State?
Notable East Tennessee State draftees include Donnie Abraham, Earl Ferrell, Thane Gash. Browse career outcomes at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/east-tennessee-state-buccaneers.
When was East Tennessee State’s most recent NFL draft pick?
East Tennessee State’s most recent pick in the archive is from the 1996 NFL Draft. See year-by-year totals at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/east-tennessee-state-buccaneers.