Western Carolina has produced 7 NFL draft picks since 1982 — 200th all-time among college programs.
Southern Conference · NFL draft picks 1982–2018 · 200th nationally
Western Carolina College Draft History
Western Carolina has produced 7 NFL draft picks since 1982 — 200th all-time among college programs.
- Total picks
- 7
- First-rounders
- 0
- No. 1 overall
- 0
- Pro Bowlers
- 114% of picks
- Pro Bowl nods
- 2
- Hall of Famers
- 0
Notable Western Carolina draft picks
Ranked by Hall of Fame status, Pro Bowls, and career value.
Clyde Simmons
Philadelphia Eagles
2× All-Pro 2× Pro Bowl
236 games · 12 yrs as starter
Willie Williams
Pittsburgh Steelers
188 games · 8 yrs as starter
Louis Cooper
Seattle Seahawks
102 games · 2 yrs as starter
Andrew Jordan
Minnesota Vikings
92 games · 2 yrs as starter
Keion Crossen
New England Patriots
76 games
Eddie McGill
St. Louis Cardinals
11 games
Kirk Roach
Buffalo Bills
No regular-season snaps
Western Carolina draft trends
Picks by class year, position group, and the NFL clubs that shop here most.
Picks by draft class
Positions produced
- TE 2
- CB 1
- DB 1
- DE 1
- K 1
- LB 1
NFL clubs that draft here
- ARI St. Louis Cardinals 1
- BUF Buffalo Bills 1
- MIN Minnesota Vikings 1
- NE New England Patriots 1
- PHI Philadelphia Eagles 1
- PIT Pittsburgh Steelers 1
- SEA Seattle Seahawks 1
Every Western Carolina draft pick
7 selections, newest class first.
| Pick | Player | Pos | NFL team | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 |
Keion Crossen
Leander, TX
|
CB | NE New England Patriots | 76 games 6 career AV |
| 1994 | Andrew Jordan | TE | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 92 games · 2 yrs as starter 7 career AV |
| 1993 | Willie Williams | DB | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 188 games · 8 yrs as starter 45 career AV |
| 1988 | Kirk Roach | K | BUF Buffalo Bills | No regular-season snaps |
| 1986 | Clyde Simmons 2× All-Pro 2× Pro Bowl | DE | PHI Philadelphia Eagles | 236 games · 12 yrs as starter 89 career AV |
| 1985 | Louis Cooper | LB | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 102 games · 2 yrs as starter 14 career AV |
| 1982 | Eddie McGill | TE | ARI St. Louis Cardinals | 11 games |
Southern Conference programs by draft picks
How Western Carolina compares with the rest of the league.
About this program's draft record
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Western Carolina in the NFL draft
Western Carolina has produced 7 NFL draft picks between 1982 and 2018, including 0 first-round selections. 1 of those picks (14%) went on to make a Pro Bowl.
Western Carolina ranks among college football’s most productive NFL pipelines. FantasyHQ lists every Western Carolina draft pick from 1982 through 2018 — 7 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 Western Carolina produced?
Western Carolina has 7 NFL draft picks in FantasyHQ’s archive (1982–2018), including 0 first-rounders. See the full list at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/western-carolina-catamounts.
Who are the most accomplished NFL players from Western Carolina?
Notable Western Carolina draftees include Clyde Simmons, Willie Williams, Louis Cooper, Andrew Jordan. Browse career outcomes at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/western-carolina-catamounts.
When was Western Carolina’s most recent NFL draft pick?
Western Carolina’s most recent pick in the archive is from the 2018 NFL Draft. See year-by-year totals at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/western-carolina-catamounts.