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 LB 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
42picks
Ohio State team hub
-
2
Penn State
Big Ten
42picks
Penn State team hub
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3
USC
Big Ten
40picks
USC team hub
| # | School | Picks | Rd 1 | Pro Bowlers | HOF | Last 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 |
Washington
Big Ten · last pick 2025
|
32 | 3 | 00% | 0 | 6 |
| 5 |
Michigan
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
30 | 3 | 310% | 0 | 11 |
| 6 |
UCLA
Big Ten · last pick 2025
|
29 | 3 | 517% | 0 | 5 |
| 7 |
Nebraska
Big Ten · last pick 2015
|
28 | 4 | 14% | 0 | 0 |
| 8 |
Wisconsin
Big Ten · last pick 2023
|
26 | 1 | 415% | 0 | 9 |
| 9 |
Minnesota
Big Ten · last pick 2025
|
18 | 0 | 16% | 0 | 4 |
| 10 |
Michigan State
Big Ten · last pick 2011
|
17 | 5 | 318% | 0 | 0 |
| 11 |
Oregon
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
17 | 0 | 00% | 0 | 7 |
| 12 |
Iowa
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
16 | 2 | 319% | 1 | 4 |
| 13 |
Purdue
Big Ten · last pick 2020
|
15 | 0 | 213% | 0 | 2 |
| 14 |
Maryland
Big Ten · last pick 2025
|
14 | 1 | 321% | 0 | 2 |
| 15 |
Northwestern
Big Ten · last pick 2017
|
12 | 1 | 00% | 0 | 1 |
| 16 |
Rutgers
Big Ten · last pick 2018
|
7 | 0 | 00% | 0 | 1 |
| 17 |
Indiana
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
4 | 0 | 00% | 0 | 3 |
Draft pick explorer
Showing 151–200 of 389 picks · filtered.
| Pick | Player | College | Pos | NFL team | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 |
Abdul Hodge
|
Iowa
Big Ten
|
LB | GB Green Bay Packers | 35 games 2 career AV |
| 2006 |
Anthony Schlegel
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | NYJ New York Jets | 17 games 2 career AV |
| 2006 |
Tim McGarigle
|
Northwestern
Big Ten
|
LB | LAR St. Louis Rams | 12 games 1 career AV |
| 2005 |
Shawne Merriman
1× All-Pro
3× Pro Bowl
|
Maryland
Big Ten
|
LB | LAC San Diego Chargers | 75 games · 4 yrs as starter 40 career AV |
| 2005 |
Barrett Ruud
|
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
LB | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 116 games · 5 yrs as starter 41 career AV |
| 2005 |
Lofa Tatupu
1× All-Pro
3× Pro Bowl
|
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 84 games · 5 yrs as starter 49 career AV |
| 2004 |
Gilbert Gardner
|
Purdue
Big Ten
|
LB | IND Indianapolis Colts | 53 games · 1 yrs as starter 8 career AV |
| 2004 |
Marquis Cooper
|
Washington
Big Ten
|
LB | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 42 games 2 career AV |
| 2004 |
Landon Johnson
|
Purdue
Big Ten
|
LB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 101 games · 5 yrs as starter 28 career AV |
| 2004 |
Demorrio Williams
|
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
LB | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 138 games · 5 yrs as starter 33 career AV |
| 2004 |
Leon Joe
|
Maryland
Big Ten
|
LB | CHI Chicago Bears | 36 games 4 career AV |
| 2004 |
Niko Koutouvides
|
Purdue
Big Ten
|
LB | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 125 games 8 career AV |
| 2004 |
Brandon Chillar
|
UCLA
Big Ten
|
LB | LAR St. Louis Rams | 97 games · 2 yrs as starter 22 career AV |
| 2004 |
Alex Lewis
|
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
LB | DET Detroit Lions | 52 games · 1 yrs as starter 7 career AV |
| 2004 | Robert Reynolds |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | TEN Tennessee Titans | 33 games 2 career AV |
| 2004 |
Raheem Orr
|
Rutgers
Big Ten
|
LB | HOU Houston Texans | 2 games |
| 2003 | E.J. Henderson 1× Pro Bowl |
Maryland
Big Ten
|
LB | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 125 games · 7 yrs as starter 47 career AV |
| 2003 | Victor Hobson |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
LB | NYJ New York Jets | 79 games · 4 yrs as starter 26 career AV |
| 2003 | Cie Grant |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | NO New Orleans Saints | 7 games 1 career AV |
| 2003 | Matt Wilhelm |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | LAC San Diego Chargers | 89 games · 1 yrs as starter 18 career AV |
| 2003 | Joe Odom |
Purdue
Big Ten
|
LB | CHI Chicago Bears | 28 games 6 career AV |
| 2003 | Cato June 1× Pro Bowl |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
LB | IND Indianapolis Colts | 89 games · 5 yrs as starter 38 career AV |
| 2003 | Scott Shanle |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
LB | LAR St. Louis Rams | 133 games · 7 yrs as starter 41 career AV |
| 2002 | Napoleon Harris |
Northwestern
Big Ten
|
LB | LV Oakland Raiders | 100 games · 6 yrs as starter 33 career AV |
| 2002 | Robert Thomas |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
LB | LAR St. Louis Rams | 84 games · 5 yrs as starter 21 career AV |
| 2002 | Akin Ayodele |
Purdue
Big Ten
|
LB | JAX Jacksonville Jaguars | 143 games · 8 yrs as starter 48 career AV |
| 2002 | Kevin Bentley |
Northwestern
Big Ten
|
LB | CLE Cleveland Browns | 136 games · 2 yrs as starter 23 career AV |
| 2002 | Larry Foote |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
LB | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 187 games · 8 yrs as starter 62 career AV |
| 2002 | Nick Greisen |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
LB | NYG New York Giants | 98 games · 2 yrs as starter 21 career AV |
| 2002 | Courtland Bullard |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | LAR St. Louis Rams | 20 games 2 career AV |
| 2002 | Wesly Mallard |
Oregon
Big Ten
|
LB | NYG New York Giants | 59 games 3 career AV |
| 2001 | Karon Riley |
Minnesota
Big Ten
|
LB | CHI Chicago Bears | 25 games 1 career AV |
| 2001 | Carlos Polk |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
LB | LAC San Diego Chargers | 74 games 7 career AV |
| 2001 | Markus Steele |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 42 games · 1 yrs as starter 8 career AV |
| 2001 | Jeremiah Pharms |
Washington
Big Ten
|
LB | CLE Cleveland Browns | No regular-season snaps |
| 2001 | Zeke Moreno |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | LAC San Diego Chargers | 61 games · 1 yrs as starter 10 career AV |
| 2001 | Hakim Akbar |
Washington
Big Ten
|
LB | NE New England Patriots | 10 games 1 career AV |
| 2001 | Roger Knight |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
LB | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 48 games 4 career AV |
| 2001 | T.J. Turner |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
LB | NE New England Patriots | 2 games |
| 2000 | LaVar Arrington 3× Pro Bowl |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
LB | WAS Washington Commanders | 85 games · 5 yrs as starter 46 career AV |
| 2000 | Julian Peterson 1× All-Pro 5× Pro Bowl |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
LB | SF San Francisco 49ers | 158 games · 9 yrs as starter 69 career AV |
| 2000 | Ian Gold 1× Pro Bowl |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
LB | DEN Denver Broncos | 115 games · 5 yrs as starter 39 career AV |
| 2000 | Na'il Diggs |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | GB Green Bay Packers | 170 games · 10 yrs as starter 55 career AV |
| 2000 | Brandon Short |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
LB | NYG New York Giants | 100 games · 5 yrs as starter 32 career AV |
| 2000 | Peter Sirmon |
Oregon
Big Ten
|
LB | TEN Tennessee Titans | 81 games · 4 yrs as starter 25 career AV |
| 2000 | Dhani Jones |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
LB | NYG New York Giants | 157 games · 9 yrs as starter 54 career AV |
| 2000 | Lester Towns |
Washington
Big Ten
|
LB | CAR Carolina Panthers | 61 games · 2 yrs as starter 18 career AV |
| 2000 | James Cotton |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | CHI Chicago Bears | No regular-season snaps |
| 1999 | Chris Claiborne |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | DET Detroit Lions | 105 games · 7 yrs as starter 34 career AV |
| 1999 | Andy Katzenmoyer |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | NE New England Patriots | 24 games · 1 yrs as starter 8 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 — 42
- 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 42 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.