Big Ten programs ranked by NFL draft picks since 1980 — first-rounders, Pro Bowl alumni, and recent draft classes.
FantasyHQ
College Football
NFL Draft History by college program
Big Ten programs ranked by NFL draft picks since 1980 — first-rounders, Pro Bowl alumni, and recent draft classes.
- Draft picks
- 12,927
- Colleges
- 446
- First-rounders
- 1,427
- Hall of Famers
- 102
- Pro Bowlers
- 1,326
- Drafts covered
- 47
Showing Day 2 picks out of the Big Ten · reset
Schools that produce the most NFL draft picks
Ranked by total picks within the current filters. Open a program for its full draft board.
-
1
Ohio State
Big Ten
78picks
Ohio State team hub
-
2
Penn State
Big Ten
72picks
Penn State team hub
-
3
Michigan
Big Ten
69picks
Michigan team hub
| # | School | Picks | Rd 1 | Pro Bowlers | HOF | Last 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 |
USC
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
69 | 0 | 1014% | 0 | 13 |
| 5 |
Washington
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
55 | 0 | 713% | 0 | 16 |
| 6 |
Nebraska
Big Ten · last pick 2022
|
51 | 0 | 918% | 2 | 2 |
| 7 |
Iowa
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
46 | 0 | 715% | 1 | 12 |
| 8 |
UCLA
Big Ten · last pick 2025
|
45 | 0 | 613% | 0 | 9 |
| 9 |
Oregon
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
40 | 0 | 410% | 0 | 9 |
| 10 |
Wisconsin
Big Ten · last pick 2023
|
37 | 0 | 514% | 0 | 7 |
| 11 |
Maryland
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
29 | 0 | 1034% | 0 | 4 |
| 12 |
Michigan State
Big Ten · last pick 2023
|
28 | 0 | 414% | 0 | 4 |
| 13 |
Purdue
Big Ten · last pick 2022
|
23 | 0 | 835% | 1 | 2 |
| 14 |
Indiana
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
19 | 0 | 15% | 0 | 3 |
| 15 |
Rutgers
Big Ten · last pick 2024
|
14 | 0 | 214% | 0 | 2 |
| 16 |
Minnesota
Big Ten · last pick 2025
|
13 | 0 | 215% | 0 | 7 |
| 17 |
Northwestern
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
8 | 0 | 00% | 0 | 1 |
Draft pick explorer
Showing 601–650 of 696 picks · filtered.
| Pick | Player | College | Pos | NFL team | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Len Bell |
Indiana
Big Ten
|
DB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 1 games |
| 1987 | Bob Perryman |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
RB | NE New England Patriots | 68 games · 3 yrs as starter 13 career AV |
| 1987 | Tim Manoa |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
RB | CLE Cleveland Browns | 53 games · 1 yrs as starter 9 career AV |
| 1987 | Steve Smith |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
RB | LV Los Angeles Raiders | 128 games · 6 yrs as starter 21 career AV |
| 1987 | Jeff Jaeger 1× All-Pro 1× Pro Bowl |
Washington
Big Ten
|
K | CLE Cleveland Browns | 165 games 26 career AV |
| 1986 | John Lee |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
K | ARI St. Louis Cardinals | 11 games |
| 1986 | Pepper Johnson 1× All-Pro 2× Pro Bowl |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | NYG New York Giants | 193 games · 10 yrs as starter 79 career AV |
| 1986 | Vestee Jackson |
Washington
Big Ten
|
DB | CHI Chicago Bears | 119 games · 5 yrs as starter 37 career AV |
| 1986 | Tom Rathman |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
RB | SF San Francisco 49ers | 131 games · 7 yrs as starter 40 career AV |
| 1986 | Jim Skow |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DE | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 83 games · 4 yrs as starter 22 career AV |
| 1986 | Mike Hammerstein |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
DE | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 56 games 6 career AV |
| 1986 | Hugh Millen |
Washington
Big Ten
|
QB | LAR Los Angeles Rams | 40 games · 2 yrs as starter 15 career AV |
| 1986 | Mark Walen |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
DT | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 24 games 3 career AV |
| 1986 | Brad Cochran |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
DB | LV Los Angeles Raiders | No regular-season snaps |
| 1985 | Mark Traynowicz |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
G | BUF Buffalo Bills | 52 games 3 career AV |
| 1985 | Don Anderson |
Purdue
Big Ten
|
DB | IND Indianapolis Colts | 16 games 1 career AV |
| 1985 | Kevin Glover 3× Pro Bowl |
Maryland
Big Ten
|
C | DET Detroit Lions | 191 games · 12 yrs as starter 72 career AV |
| 1985 | Jonathan Hayes |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
TE | KC Kansas City Chiefs | 184 games · 6 yrs as starter 15 career AV |
| 1985 | Mark Behning |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
T | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 games 2 career AV |
| 1985 | Scott Bergold |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
T | ARI St. Louis Cardinals | 16 games 1 career AV |
| 1985 | Owen Gill |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
RB | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 32 games 4 career AV |
| 1985 | Frank Reich |
Maryland
Big Ten
|
QB | BUF Buffalo Bills | 118 games · 1 yrs as starter 15 career AV |
| 1985 | Kirk Lowdermilk |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
C | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 178 games · 10 yrs as starter 56 career AV |
| 1985 | Tim Meamber |
Washington
Big Ten
|
LB | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 4 games |
| 1985 | George Little |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
DE | MIA Miami Dolphins | 39 games · 1 yrs as starter 8 career AV |
| 1985 | Jack Del Rio 1× Pro Bowl |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | NO New Orleans Saints | 160 games · 10 yrs as starter 58 career AV |
| 1985 | Danny Greene |
Washington
Big Ten
|
WR | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 4 games |
| 1985 | Alex Moyer |
Northwestern
Big Ten
|
LB | MIA Miami Dolphins | 13 games 1 career AV |
| 1984 | Keith Browner |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 65 games · 3 yrs as starter 18 career AV |
| 1984 | Mike Guendling |
Northwestern
Big Ten
|
LB | LAC San Diego Chargers | 9 games |
| 1984 | Scott Radecic |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
LB | KC Kansas City Chiefs | 182 games · 6 yrs as starter 36 career AV |
| 1984 | Boomer Esiason 1× All-Pro 4× Pro Bowl |
Maryland
Big Ten
|
QB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 187 games · 12 yrs as starter 106 career AV |
| 1984 | Daryl Turner |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
WR | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 59 games · 4 yrs as starter 17 career AV |
| 1984 | John Frank |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
TE | SF San Francisco 49ers | 66 games 8 career AV |
| 1984 | Chris Scott |
Purdue
Big Ten
|
DE | IND Indianapolis Colts | 33 games · 1 yrs as starter 8 career AV |
| 1984 | Jon Williams |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
RB | NE New England Patriots | 9 games |
| 1984 | Stefan Humphries |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
G | CHI Chicago Bears | 33 games · 1 yrs as starter 7 career AV |
| 1984 | Steve Baack |
Oregon
Big Ten
|
NT | DET Detroit Lions | 55 games 4 career AV |
| 1984 | Fred Cornwell |
USC
Big Ten
|
TE | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 30 games 1 career AV |
| 1984 | Jay Schroeder 1× Pro Bowl |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
QB | WAS Washington Commanders | 118 games · 8 yrs as starter 61 career AV |
| 1983 | Rich Strenger |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
T | DET Detroit Lions | 49 games · 1 yrs as starter 17 career AV |
| 1983 | Keith Bostic 1× Pro Bowl |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
DB | TEN Houston Oilers | 96 games · 6 yrs as starter 34 career AV |
| 1983 | Roger Craig HOF 1× All-Pro 4× Pro Bowl |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
RB | SF San Francisco 49ers | 165 games · 9 yrs as starter 95 career AV |
| 1983 | Mike Walter |
Oregon
Big Ten
|
LB | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 149 games · 7 yrs as starter 46 career AV |
| 1983 | Ray Horton |
Washington
Big Ten
|
DB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 147 games · 6 yrs as starter 38 career AV |
| 1983 | Bill Pickel 1× All-Pro |
Rutgers
Big Ten
|
NT | LV Los Angeles Raiders | 174 games · 4 yrs as starter 49 career AV |
| 1983 | George Achica |
USC
Big Ten
|
DT | IND Baltimore Colts | 4 games |
| 1983 | Blanchard Montgomery |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
LB | SF San Francisco 49ers | 27 games 3 career AV |
| 1983 | Jamie Williams |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
TE | NYG New York Giants | 160 games · 5 yrs as starter 16 career AV |
| 1983 | John Tice |
Maryland
Big Ten
|
TE | NO New Orleans Saints | 134 games · 4 yrs as starter 12 career AV |
Browse by draft class
Every year from 1980 to 2026 — school counts, conference splits, and the full first round.
NFL draft history guide
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
What this page tracks
NFL Draft History by College ranks every program by the NFL players it has produced since 1980. Browse 12,927 picks across 446 schools — first-rounders, Pro Bowl alumni, Hall of Famers, and recent draft classes — then open any school or year for the full board.
By the numbers
- 12,927 drafted players from 446 colleges, 1980–2026.
- 1,427 first-round selections across 47 drafts.
- 1,326 of those picks made at least one Pro Bowl; 102 reached the Hall of Fame.
- Most picks all-time: Ohio State — 78
- Most picks since 2017: Alabama — 95
- Top conference: SEC — 2,760 picks
- Most-drafted first-round position: DB — 181 picks
How to read the board
- Start with the school leaderboard — sort by total picks, first-rounders, Pro Bowls, or the last ten drafts.
- Use the round, conference, and position chips to isolate a pipeline, like SEC defensive backs in Round 1.
- Open a program for its full draft board, or a year for the complete class in pick order.
First round vs. career outcomes
Volume and quality are different signals. A program can lead in raw picks while another turns fewer selections into more Pro Bowlers. The Pro Bowler rate next to each school shows how often its picks became long-term NFL contributors, so read it alongside the Round 1 column rather than instead of it.
Frequently asked questions
Which college has produced the most NFL draft picks?
Ohio State leads FantasyHQ’s archive with 78 NFL draft picks since 1980. Compare every program at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history.
How far back does FantasyHQ’s NFL draft history go?
The archive covers every NFL draft from 1980 through 2026 — 12,927 picks across 446 college programs. Open a school page or a draft class year for the full pick list.
Can I see first-round NFL draft picks by college?
Yes. Filter the board to Round 1, or sort schools by first-rounders. FantasyHQ lists 1,427 first-round selections since 1980. Start at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history.
Does the page show NFL career outcomes for drafted players?
Where available, each pick includes Pro Bowls, All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame status, games played, and Approximate Value. The archive currently tracks 1,326 Pro Bowl alumni and 102 Hall of Famers.
How is this different from a fantasy football mock draft?
This page is the real NFL draft pipeline — college programs to NFL clubs — not a fantasy league draft board. For fantasy mock drafts and rankings, use FantasyHQ’s fantasy tools. Draft history lives at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history.
How often is the draft history page updated?
New draft classes land when the board is published each spring. Career outcomes refresh as seasons complete. This page was last labeled Aug 24, 2026.