North Carolina Central has produced 8 NFL draft picks since 1983 — 187th all-time among college programs.
MEAC · NFL draft picks 1983–2016 · 187th nationally
North Carolina Central College Draft History
North Carolina Central has produced 8 NFL draft picks since 1983 — 187th all-time among college programs.
- Total picks
- 8
- First-rounders
- 0
- No. 1 overall
- 0
- Pro Bowlers
- 112% of picks
- Pro Bowl nods
- 1
- Hall of Famers
- 0
Notable North Carolina Central draft picks
Ranked by Hall of Fame status, Pro Bowls, and career value.
Robert Massey
New Orleans Saints
1× Pro Bowl
133 games · 5 yrs as starter
Robert Clark
New Orleans Saints
67 games · 3 yrs as starter
William Frizzell
Detroit Lions
134 games
Ryan Smith
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
78 games
Greg Peterson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
14 games
Myron Dupree
Denver Broncos
16 games
Arnold Brown
Seattle Seahawks
9 games
Ben Tate
Detroit Lions
No regular-season snaps
North Carolina Central draft trends
Picks by class year, position group, and the NFL clubs that shop here most.
Picks by draft class
Positions produced
- DB 4
- CB 1
- DE 1
- RB 1
- WR 1
NFL clubs that draft here
- DET Detroit Lions 2
- NO New Orleans Saints 2
- TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2
- DEN Denver Broncos 1
- SEA Seattle Seahawks 1
Every North Carolina Central draft pick
8 selections, newest class first.
| Pick | Player | Pos | NFL team | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 |
Ryan Smith
|
CB | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 78 games 8 career AV |
| 2007 | Greg Peterson | DE | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 14 games 2 career AV |
| 1989 | Robert Massey 1× Pro Bowl | DB | NO New Orleans Saints | 133 games · 5 yrs as starter 34 career AV |
| 1987 | Robert Clark | WR | NO New Orleans Saints | 67 games · 3 yrs as starter 26 career AV |
| 1985 | Arnold Brown | DB | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 9 games |
| 1984 | William Frizzell | DB | DET Detroit Lions | 134 games 13 career AV |
| 1983 | Myron Dupree | DB | DEN Denver Broncos | 16 games 1 career AV |
| 1983 | Ben Tate | RB | DET Detroit Lions | No regular-season snaps |
MEAC programs by draft picks
How North Carolina Central compares with the rest of the league.
About this program's draft record
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
North Carolina Central in the NFL draft
North Carolina Central has produced 8 NFL draft picks between 1983 and 2016, including 0 first-round selections. 1 of those picks (12%) went on to make a Pro Bowl.
North Carolina Central ranks among college football’s most productive NFL pipelines. FantasyHQ lists every North Carolina Central draft pick from 1983 through 2016 — 8 selections, 0 first-rounders, 1 Pro Bowl alumni. Current conference: MEAC.
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 North Carolina Central produced?
North Carolina Central has 8 NFL draft picks in FantasyHQ’s archive (1983–2016), including 0 first-rounders. See the full list at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/north-carolina-central-eagles.
Who are the most accomplished NFL players from North Carolina Central?
Notable North Carolina Central draftees include Robert Massey, Robert Clark, William Frizzell, Ryan Smith. Browse career outcomes at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/north-carolina-central-eagles.
When was North Carolina Central’s most recent NFL draft pick?
North Carolina Central’s most recent pick in the archive is from the 2016 NFL Draft. See year-by-year totals at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/north-carolina-central-eagles.