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 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
284picks
Ohio State team hub
-
2
USC
Big Ten
252picks
USC team hub
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3
Penn State
Big Ten
248picks
Penn State team hub
| # | School | Picks | Rd 1 | Pro Bowlers | HOF | Last 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 |
Michigan
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
231 | 37 | 2611% | 3 | 76 |
| 5 |
Nebraska
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
203 | 20 | 178% | 2 | 14 |
| 6 |
Washington
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
191 | 26 | 147% | 0 | 46 |
| 7 |
UCLA
Big Ten · last pick 2025
|
180 | 24 | 2212% | 3 | 33 |
| 8 |
Iowa
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
164 | 20 | 2415% | 1 | 42 |
| 9 |
Wisconsin
Big Ten · last pick 2025
|
164 | 22 | 2012% | 1 | 31 |
| 10 |
Oregon
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
153 | 20 | 138% | 0 | 47 |
| 11 |
Michigan State
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
147 | 17 | 1410% | 1 | 18 |
| 12 |
Maryland
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
113 | 9 | 1614% | 0 | 25 |
| 13 |
Purdue
Big Ten · last pick 2025
|
100 | 6 | 1414% | 2 | 17 |
| 14 |
Minnesota
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
89 | 5 | 44% | 0 | 21 |
| 15 |
Indiana
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
71 | 6 | 34% | 0 | 17 |
| 16 |
Northwestern
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
63 | 6 | 46% | 0 | 13 |
| 17 |
Rutgers
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
52 | 3 | 48% | 0 | 12 |
Draft pick explorer
Showing 2,151–2,200 of 2,705 picks · filtered.
| Pick | Player | College | Pos | NFL team | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Mel Farr |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
RB | DEN Denver Broncos | 1 games |
| 1988 | Stan Clayton |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
G | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 26 games · 1 yrs as starter 6 career AV |
| 1988 | Paco Craig |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
WR | DET Detroit Lions | 8 games |
| 1988 | Bud Keyes |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
QB | GB Green Bay Packers | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | Eric Hickerson |
Indiana
Big Ten
|
DB | NYG New York Giants | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | Joe Schuster |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
DT | PHI Philadelphia Eagles | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | Brian Habib |
Washington
Big Ten
|
G | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 174 games · 8 yrs as starter 61 career AV |
| 1988 | Rodney Lossow |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
C | NE New England Patriots | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | O'Brien Alston |
Maryland
Big Ten
|
LB | IND Indianapolis Colts | 19 games · 1 yrs as starter 7 career AV |
| 1988 | Brian Washington |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DB | CLE Cleveland Browns | 124 games · 8 yrs as starter 47 career AV |
| 1988 | Henry Brown |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
T | WAS Washington Commanders | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | James Milling |
Maryland
Big Ten
|
WR | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 24 games 1 career AV |
| 1988 | Rick McLeod |
Washington
Big Ten
|
T | SEA Seattle Seahawks | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | Pete Curkendall |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
DT | BUF Buffalo Bills | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | Hendley Hawkins |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
WR | CLE Cleveland Browns | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | Steve Forch |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
LB | CHI Chicago Bears | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | Gary Couch |
Minnesota
Big Ten
|
WR | NO New Orleans Saints | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | Tom Erlandson |
Washington
Big Ten
|
LB | BUF Buffalo Bills | 4 games |
| 1988 | Ben Hummel |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
LB | DAL Dallas Cowboys | No regular-season snaps |
| 1987 | Reggie Rogers |
Washington
Big Ten
|
DE | DET Detroit Lions | 15 games 1 career AV |
| 1987 | Shane Conlan 3× Pro Bowl |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
LB | BUF Buffalo Bills | 120 games · 8 yrs as starter 61 career AV |
| 1987 | Rod Woodson HOF 6× All-Pro 11× Pro Bowl |
Purdue
Big Ten
|
DB | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 238 games · 15 yrs as starter 142 career AV |
| 1987 | Danny Noonan |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DT | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 73 games · 2 yrs as starter 20 career AV |
| 1987 | Chris Miller 1× Pro Bowl |
Oregon
Big Ten
|
QB | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 98 games · 7 yrs as starter 51 career AV |
| 1987 | D.J. Dozier |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
RB | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 43 games 8 career AV |
| 1987 | Jim Harbaugh 1× Pro Bowl |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
QB | CHI Chicago Bears | 177 games · 10 yrs as starter 79 career AV |
| 1987 | Mark Ingram |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
WR | NYG New York Giants | 128 games · 6 yrs as starter 36 career AV |
| 1987 | Nate Odomes 2× Pro Bowl |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
DB | BUF Buffalo Bills | 115 games · 7 yrs as starter 46 career AV |
| 1987 | Brian Davis |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DB | WAS Washington Commanders | 87 games · 1 yrs as starter 15 career AV |
| 1987 | Tim McDonald 6× Pro Bowl |
USC
Big Ten
|
DB | ARI St. Louis Cardinals | 191 games · 12 yrs as starter 75 career AV |
| 1987 | Jeff Bregel |
USC
Big Ten
|
G | SF San Francisco 49ers | 21 games 4 career AV |
| 1987 | Lonzell Hill |
Washington
Big Ten
|
WR | NO New Orleans Saints | 55 games · 2 yrs as starter 17 career AV |
| 1987 | Rick Graf |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
LB | MIA Miami Dolphins | 73 games · 1 yrs as starter 14 career AV |
| 1987 | Lou Brock |
USC
Big Ten
|
DB | LAC San Diego Chargers | 4 games |
| 1987 | Chris Gambol |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
G | IND Indianapolis Colts | 34 games · 1 yrs as starter 6 career AV |
| 1987 | Dave Croston |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
T | GB Green Bay Packers | 16 games 1 career AV |
| 1987 | Cliff Hicks |
Oregon
Big Ten
|
DB | LAR Los Angeles Rams | 98 games 8 career AV |
| 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 |
| 1987 | Don Graham |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
LB | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 13 games 1 career AV |
| 1987 | Mark Vlasic |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
QB | LAC San Diego Chargers | 15 games 3 career AV |
| 1987 | Garland Rivers |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
DB | DET Detroit Lions | 2 games |
| 1987 | Mark Dusbabek |
Minnesota
Big Ten
|
LB | TEN Houston Oilers | 31 games · 1 yrs as starter 7 career AV |
| 1987 | Tim Jordan |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
LB | NE New England Patriots | 30 games 8 career AV |
| 1987 | Marc Munford |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
LB | DEN Denver Broncos | 48 games · 1 yrs as starter 11 career AV |
| 1987 | John Bruno |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
P | ARI St. Louis Cardinals | 3 games |
| 1987 | Chris Conlin |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
G | MIA Miami Dolphins | 27 games 2 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 — 284
- 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 284 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.