Big Ten programs ranked by NFL draft picks since 1980 — first-rounders, Pro Bowl alumni, and recent draft classes.
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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 3 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.
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1
Penn State
Big Ten
140picks
Penn State team hub
-
2
Ohio State
Big Ten
137picks
Ohio State team hub
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3
Nebraska
Big Ten
132picks
Nebraska team hub
| # | School | Picks | Rd 1 | Pro Bowlers | HOF | Last 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 |
USC
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
127 | 0 | 54% | 0 | 19 |
| 5 |
Michigan
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
125 | 0 | 76% | 0 | 37 |
| 6 |
UCLA
Big Ten · last pick 2025
|
111 | 0 | 55% | 0 | 20 |
| 7 |
Washington
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
110 | 0 | 33% | 0 | 22 |
| 8 |
Wisconsin
Big Ten · last pick 2025
|
105 | 0 | 66% | 0 | 22 |
| 9 |
Michigan State
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
102 | 0 | 66% | 1 | 14 |
| 10 |
Iowa
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
98 | 0 | 88% | 0 | 24 |
| 11 |
Oregon
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
93 | 0 | 11% | 0 | 29 |
| 12 |
Maryland
Big Ten · last pick 2025
|
75 | 0 | 34% | 0 | 18 |
| 13 |
Minnesota
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
71 | 0 | 23% | 0 | 13 |
| 14 |
Purdue
Big Ten · last pick 2025
|
71 | 0 | 23% | 0 | 14 |
| 15 |
Northwestern
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
49 | 0 | 24% | 0 | 9 |
| 16 |
Indiana
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
46 | 0 | 24% | 0 | 12 |
| 17 |
Rutgers
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
35 | 0 | 13% | 0 | 10 |
Draft pick explorer
Showing 601–650 of 1,627 picks · filtered.
| Pick | Player | College | Pos | NFL team | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 |
Dallas Sartz
|
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | WAS Washington Commanders | No regular-season snaps |
| 2007 |
Uche Nwaneri
|
Purdue
Big Ten
|
G | JAX Jacksonville Jaguars | 104 games · 6 yrs as starter 37 career AV |
| 2007 |
Clifton Ryan
|
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
DT | LAR St. Louis Rams | 49 games · 2 yrs as starter 13 career AV |
| 2007 |
Dante Rosario
|
Oregon
Big Ten
|
TE | CAR Carolina Panthers | 122 games · 1 yrs as starter 9 career AV |
| 2007 |
Cameron Stephenson
|
Rutgers
Big Ten
|
G | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | No regular-season snaps |
| 2007 |
Justin Medlock
|
UCLA
Big Ten
|
K | KC Kansas City Chiefs | 11 games 1 career AV |
| 2007 |
Tim Shaw
|
Penn State
Big Ten
|
LB | CAR Carolina Panthers | 80 games 6 career AV |
| 2007 |
Roy Hall
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
WR | IND Indianapolis Colts | 7 games |
| 2007 |
Troy Smith
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
QB | BAL Baltimore Ravens | 20 games 6 career AV |
| 2007 |
Matt Toeaina
|
Oregon
Big Ten
|
DT | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 36 games · 2 yrs as starter 12 career AV |
| 2007 |
Doug Datish
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
C | ATL Atlanta Falcons | No regular-season snaps |
| 2007 |
Prescott Burgess
|
Michigan
Big Ten
|
LB | BAL Baltimore Ravens | 40 games 2 career AV |
| 2007 |
Jordan Kent
|
Oregon
Big Ten
|
WR | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 14 games |
| 2007 |
Oscar Lua
|
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | NE New England Patriots | No regular-season snaps |
| 2007 |
Tyler Ecker
|
Michigan
Big Ten
|
TE | WAS Washington Commanders | No regular-season snaps |
| 2007 |
Michael Otto
|
Purdue
Big Ten
|
T | TEN Tennessee Titans | 62 games 7 career AV |
| 2007 |
Brandon Fields
1× Pro Bowl
|
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
P | MIA Miami Dolphins | 130 games 21 career AV |
| 2007 |
Clark Harris
1× Pro Bowl
|
Rutgers
Big Ten
|
TE | GB Green Bay Packers | 206 games 11 career AV |
| 2007 |
Mike Elgin
|
Iowa
Big Ten
|
G | NE New England Patriots | No regular-season snaps |
| 2006 |
Owen Daniels
2× Pro Bowl
|
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
TE | HOU Houston Texans | 131 games · 9 yrs as starter 41 career AV |
| 2006 |
Michael Robinson
1× Pro Bowl
|
Penn State
Big Ten
|
WR | SF San Francisco 49ers | 112 games · 1 yrs as starter 7 career AV |
| 2006 |
Darnell Bing
|
USC
Big Ten
|
DB | LV Oakland Raiders | 5 games 1 career AV |
| 2006 |
Calvin Lowry
|
Penn State
Big Ten
|
DB | TEN Tennessee Titans | 43 games 7 career AV |
| 2006 |
Gabe Watson
|
Michigan
Big Ten
|
DT | ARI Arizona Cardinals | 62 games · 1 yrs as starter 11 career AV |
| 2006 |
Jason Avant
|
Michigan
Big Ten
|
WR | PHI Philadelphia Eagles | 148 games · 3 yrs as starter 29 career AV |
| 2006 |
Demetrius Williams
|
Oregon
Big Ten
|
WR | BAL Baltimore Ravens | 46 games 9 career AV |
| 2006 |
Isaac Sowells
|
Indiana
Big Ten
|
T | CLE Cleveland Browns | 17 games 1 career AV |
| 2006 |
Victor Adeyanju
|
Indiana
Big Ten
|
DE | LAR St. Louis Rams | 53 games · 2 yrs as starter 13 career AV |
| 2006 |
Joe Toledo
|
Washington
Big Ten
|
T | MIA Miami Dolphins | No regular-season snaps |
| 2006 |
Nate Salley
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | CAR Carolina Panthers | 24 games 1 career AV |
| 2006 |
Alan Zemaitis
|
Penn State
Big Ten
|
DB | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | No regular-season snaps |
| 2006 |
Domata Peko
|
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
DT | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 214 games · 12 yrs as starter 68 career AV |
| 2006 |
Barry Cofield
|
Northwestern
Big Ten
|
DT | NYG New York Giants | 138 games · 8 yrs as starter 46 career AV |
| 2006 |
Ray Edwards
|
Purdue
Big Ten
|
DE | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 97 games · 5 yrs as starter 37 career AV |
| 2006 |
Rob Sims
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
G | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 125 games · 7 yrs as starter 46 career AV |
| 2006 |
Rob Ninkovich
|
Purdue
Big Ten
|
DE | NO New Orleans Saints | 131 games · 7 yrs as starter 51 career AV |
| 2006 |
Jason Pociask
|
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
TE | NYJ New York Jets | 4 games |
| 2006 |
Anthony Montgomery
|
Minnesota
Big Ten
|
NT | WAS Washington Commanders | 42 games · 1 yrs as starter 14 career AV |
| 2006 |
David Kirtman
|
USC
Big Ten
|
RB | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 7 games |
| 2006 |
Charles Davis
|
Purdue
Big Ten
|
TE | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | No regular-season snaps |
| 2006 |
Jonathan Orr
|
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
WR | TEN Tennessee Titans | No regular-season snaps |
| 2006 |
Greg Eslinger
|
Minnesota
Big Ten
|
C | DEN Denver Broncos | No regular-season snaps |
| 2006 |
Tyler Reed
|
Penn State
Big Ten
|
G | CHI Chicago Bears | No regular-season snaps |
| 2006 |
Sam Koch
1× Pro Bowl
|
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
P | BAL Baltimore Ravens | 256 games 25 career AV |
| 2006 |
LaJuan Ramsey
|
USC
Big Ten
|
DT | PHI Philadelphia Eagles | 34 games 4 career AV |
| 2006 |
Le Kevin Smith
|
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DT | NE New England Patriots | 45 games 5 career AV |
| 2006 |
Ethan Kilmer
|
Penn State
Big Ten
|
WR | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 16 games |
| 2006 |
Zach Strief
|
Northwestern
Big Ten
|
G | NO New Orleans Saints | 158 games · 6 yrs as starter 50 career AV |
| 2006 |
Chris Morris
|
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
C | LV Oakland Raiders | 51 games · 1 yrs as starter 5 career AV |
| 2006 |
Fred Matua
|
USC
Big Ten
|
G | DET Detroit Lions | No regular-season snaps |
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: Penn State — 140
- 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?
Penn State leads FantasyHQ’s archive with 140 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.