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 first-round 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
Ohio State
Big Ten
69picks
Ohio State team hub
-
2
USC
Big Ten
56picks
USC team hub
-
3
Michigan
Big Ten
37picks
Michigan team hub
| # | School | Picks | Rd 1 | Pro Bowlers | HOF | Last 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 |
Penn State
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
36 | 36 | 1233% | 1 | 9 |
| 5 |
Washington
Big Ten · last pick 2024
|
26 | 26 | 415% | 0 | 8 |
| 6 |
UCLA
Big Ten · last pick 2024
|
24 | 24 | 1146% | 3 | 4 |
| 7 |
Wisconsin
Big Ten · last pick 2017
|
22 | 22 | 941% | 1 | 2 |
| 8 |
Iowa
Big Ten · last pick 2023
|
20 | 20 | 945% | 0 | 6 |
| 9 |
Nebraska
Big Ten · last pick 2011
|
20 | 20 | 420% | 0 | 0 |
| 10 |
Oregon
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
20 | 20 | 840% | 0 | 9 |
| 11 |
Michigan State
Big Ten · last pick 2016
|
17 | 17 | 424% | 0 | 0 |
| 12 |
Maryland
Big Ten · last pick 2023
|
9 | 9 | 333% | 0 | 3 |
| 13 |
Indiana
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
6 | 6 | 00% | 0 | 2 |
| 14 |
Northwestern
Big Ten · last pick 2023
|
6 | 6 | 233% | 0 | 3 |
| 15 |
Purdue
Big Ten · last pick 2022
|
6 | 6 | 467% | 1 | 1 |
| 16 |
Minnesota
Big Ten · last pick 2021
|
5 | 5 | 00% | 0 | 1 |
| 17 |
Rutgers
Big Ten · last pick 2010
|
3 | 3 | 133% | 0 | 0 |
Draft pick explorer
Showing 101–150 of 382 picks · filtered.
| Pick | Player | College | Pos | NFL team | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 |
Darron Lee
New Albany, OH
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
OLB | NYJ New York Jets | 58 games · 3 yrs as starter 19 career AV |
| 2016 |
Kenny Clark
3× Pro Bowl
|
UCLA
Big Ten
|
DT | GB Green Bay Packers | 157 games · 9 yrs as starter 63 career AV |
| 2015 |
Marcus Mariota
Honolulu, HI
|
Oregon
Big Ten
|
QB | TEN Tennessee Titans | 104 games · 5 yrs as starter 60 career AV |
| 2015 |
Brandon Scherff
1× All-Pro
5× Pro Bowl
|
Iowa
Big Ten
|
T | WAS Washington Commanders | 140 games · 10 yrs as starter 62 career AV |
| 2015 |
Leonard Williams
3× Pro Bowl
|
USC
Big Ten
|
DE | NYJ New York Jets | 175 games · 10 yrs as starter 78 career AV |
| 2015 |
Trae Waynes
Kenosha, WI
|
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
CB | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 79 games · 3 yrs as starter 18 career AV |
| 2015 |
Danny Shelton
Auburn, WA
|
Washington
Big Ten
|
NT | CLE Cleveland Browns | 101 games · 5 yrs as starter 33 career AV |
| 2015 |
Melvin Gordon
2× Pro Bowl
|
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
RB | LAC San Diego Chargers | 112 games · 7 yrs as starter 51 career AV |
| 2015 |
Arik Armstead
Sacramento, CA
|
Oregon
Big Ten
|
DT | SF San Francisco 49ers | 149 games · 7 yrs as starter 45 career AV |
| 2015 |
Marcus Peters
2× All-Pro
3× Pro Bowl
|
Washington
Big Ten
|
CB | KC Kansas City Chiefs | 116 games · 7 yrs as starter 63 career AV |
| 2015 |
Nelson Agholor
Tampa, FL
|
USC
Big Ten
|
WR | PHI Philadelphia Eagles | 149 games · 7 yrs as starter 36 career AV |
| 2015 |
Shaq Thompson
Sacramento, CA
|
Washington
Big Ten
|
OLB | CAR Carolina Panthers | 135 games · 8 yrs as starter 43 career AV |
| 2014 |
Anthony Barr
4× Pro Bowl
|
UCLA
Big Ten
|
LB | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 116 games · 7 yrs as starter 56 career AV |
| 2014 |
Taylor Lewan
3× Pro Bowl
|
Michigan
Big Ten
|
T | TEN Tennessee Titans | 105 games · 7 yrs as starter 48 career AV |
| 2014 |
Ryan Shazier
2× Pro Bowl
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 46 games · 3 yrs as starter 27 career AV |
| 2014 |
Darqueze Dennard
Dry Branch, GA
|
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
DB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 87 games 13 career AV |
| 2014 |
Bradley Roby
Suwanee, GA
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | DEN Denver Broncos | 135 games · 4 yrs as starter 26 career AV |
| 2013 |
Dion Jordan
Chandler, AZ
|
Oregon
Big Ten
|
DE | MIA Miami Dolphins | 63 games 9 career AV |
| 2013 |
Kyle Long
3× Pro Bowl
|
Oregon
Big Ten
|
G | CHI Chicago Bears | 77 games · 6 yrs as starter 40 career AV |
| 2013 |
Desmond Trufant
1× Pro Bowl
|
Washington
Big Ten
|
DB | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 113 games · 8 yrs as starter 37 career AV |
| 2013 |
Datone Jones
Compton, CA
|
UCLA
Big Ten
|
DE | GB Green Bay Packers | 68 games 10 career AV |
| 2013 |
Travis Frederick
1× All-Pro
5× Pro Bowl
|
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
C | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 96 games · 6 yrs as starter 60 career AV |
| 2012 |
Matt Kalil
1× Pro Bowl
|
USC
Big Ten
|
T | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 82 games · 5 yrs as starter 34 career AV |
| 2012 |
Riley Reiff
Parkston, SD
|
Iowa
Big Ten
|
T | DET Detroit Lions | 164 games · 10 yrs as starter 60 career AV |
| 2012 |
Kevin Zeitler
1× Pro Bowl
|
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
G | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 214 games · 14 yrs as starter 67 career AV |
| 2012 |
Nick Perry
Detroit, MI
|
USC
Big Ten
|
DE | GB Green Bay Packers | 81 games · 3 yrs as starter 22 career AV |
| 2011 |
Jake Locker
Ferndale, WA
|
Washington
Big Ten
|
QB | TEN Tennessee Titans | 30 games · 1 yrs as starter 15 career AV |
| 2011 |
Tyron Smith
2× All-Pro
8× Pro Bowl
|
USC
Big Ten
|
T | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 171 games · 12 yrs as starter 91 career AV |
| 2011 |
J.J. Watt
5× All-Pro
5× Pro Bowl
|
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
DE | HOU Houston Texans | 151 games · 10 yrs as starter 110 career AV |
| 2011 |
Ryan Kerrigan
4× Pro Bowl
|
Purdue
Big Ten
|
DE | WAS Washington Commanders | 172 games · 9 yrs as starter 63 career AV |
| 2011 |
Prince Amukamara
Glendale, AZ
|
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DB | NYG New York Giants | 113 games · 8 yrs as starter 36 career AV |
| 2011 |
Adrian Clayborn
St. Louis, MO
|
Iowa
Big Ten
|
DE | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 125 games · 2 yrs as starter 26 career AV |
| 2011 |
Gabe Carimi
Cottage Grove, WI
|
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
T | CHI Chicago Bears | 48 games · 1 yrs as starter 12 career AV |
| 2011 |
Cameron Heyward
4× All-Pro
7× Pro Bowl
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DE | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 228 games · 13 yrs as starter 115 career AV |
| 2010 |
Ndamukong Suh
3× All-Pro
5× Pro Bowl
|
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DT | DET Detroit Lions | 199 games · 12 yrs as starter 100 career AV |
| 2010 |
Anthony Davis
|
Rutgers
Big Ten
|
T | SF San Francisco 49ers | 72 games · 4 yrs as starter 31 career AV |
| 2010 |
Brandon Graham
1× Pro Bowl
|
Michigan
Big Ten
|
DE | PHI Philadelphia Eagles | 215 games · 6 yrs as starter 59 career AV |
| 2010 |
Bryan Bulaga
Crystal Lake, IL
|
Iowa
Big Ten
|
T | GB Green Bay Packers | 126 games · 9 yrs as starter 56 career AV |
| 2010 |
Devin McCourty
2× Pro Bowl
|
Rutgers
Big Ten
|
DB | NE New England Patriots | 205 games · 13 yrs as starter 71 career AV |
| 2010 |
Jared Odrick
Lebanon, PA
|
Penn State
Big Ten
|
DE | MIA Miami Dolphins | 87 games · 3 yrs as starter 29 career AV |
| 2009 |
Mark Sanchez
|
USC
Big Ten
|
QB | NYJ New York Jets | 79 games · 4 yrs as starter 32 career AV |
| 2009 |
Darrius Heyward-Bey
|
Maryland
Big Ten
|
WR | LV Oakland Raiders | 144 games · 5 yrs as starter 23 career AV |
| 2009 |
Aaron Maybin
|
Penn State
Big Ten
|
DE | BUF Buffalo Bills | 48 games 5 career AV |
| 2009 |
Malcolm Jenkins
3× Pro Bowl
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | NO New Orleans Saints | 199 games · 12 yrs as starter 68 career AV |
| 2009 |
Brian Cushing
1× Pro Bowl
|
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | HOU Houston Texans | 104 games · 7 yrs as starter 52 career AV |
| 2009 |
Clay Matthews
1× All-Pro
6× Pro Bowl
|
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | GB Green Bay Packers | 156 games · 10 yrs as starter 77 career AV |
| 2009 |
Kenny Britt
|
Rutgers
Big Ten
|
WR | TEN Tennessee Titans | 116 games · 5 yrs as starter 35 career AV |
| 2009 |
Beanie Wells
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
RB | ARI Arizona Cardinals | 51 games · 2 yrs as starter 14 career AV |
| 2008 |
Jake Long
1× All-Pro
4× Pro Bowl
|
Michigan
Big Ten
|
T | MIA Miami Dolphins | 104 games · 6 yrs as starter 54 career AV |
| 2008 |
Vernon Gholston
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DE | NYJ New York Jets | 45 games 6 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 — 69
- 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 69 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.