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 DB 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
57picks
Ohio State team hub
-
2
USC
Big Ten
42picks
USC team hub
-
3
Nebraska
Big Ten
40picks
Nebraska team hub
| # | School | Picks | Rd 1 | Pro Bowlers | HOF | Last 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 |
Penn State
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
37 | 0 | 00% | 0 | 15 |
| 5 |
Oregon
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
34 | 3 | 39% | 0 | 10 |
| 6 |
Michigan
Big Ten · last pick 2025
|
31 | 6 | 310% | 2 | 11 |
| 7 |
UCLA
Big Ten · last pick 2022
|
30 | 4 | 413% | 1 | 3 |
| 8 |
Washington
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
30 | 4 | 620% | 0 | 13 |
| 9 |
Iowa
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
26 | 1 | 415% | 0 | 9 |
| 10 |
Maryland
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
22 | 3 | 15% | 0 | 8 |
| 11 |
Wisconsin
Big Ten · last pick 2025
|
22 | 3 | 29% | 0 | 5 |
| 12 |
Michigan State
Big Ten · last pick 2023
|
21 | 2 | 00% | 0 | 5 |
| 13 |
Minnesota
Big Ten · last pick 2025
|
19 | 1 | 15% | 0 | 8 |
| 14 |
Purdue
Big Ten · last pick 2024
|
16 | 1 | 319% | 1 | 3 |
| 15 |
Indiana
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
13 | 0 | 00% | 0 | 2 |
| 16 |
Rutgers
Big Ten · last pick 2025
|
12 | 1 | 18% | 0 | 5 |
| 17 |
Northwestern
Big Ten · last pick 2023
|
8 | 1 | 00% | 0 | 2 |
Draft pick explorer
Showing 201–250 of 460 picks · filtered.
| Pick | Player | College | Pos | NFL team | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 |
Zackary Bowman
|
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DB | CHI Chicago Bears | 99 games · 1 yrs as starter 15 career AV |
| 2008 |
Dominique Barber
|
Minnesota
Big Ten
|
DB | HOU Houston Texans | 39 games 5 career AV |
| 2008 |
Chris Horton
|
UCLA
Big Ten
|
DB | WAS Washington Commanders | 29 games · 1 yrs as starter 8 career AV |
| 2007 |
Leon Hall
|
Michigan
Big Ten
|
DB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 152 games · 6 yrs as starter 51 career AV |
| 2007 |
Josh Wilson
|
Maryland
Big Ten
|
DB | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 126 games · 6 yrs as starter 32 career AV |
| 2007 |
Dashon Goldson
1× All-Pro
2× Pro Bowl
|
Washington
Big Ten
|
DB | SF San Francisco 49ers | 127 games · 7 yrs as starter 41 career AV |
| 2006 |
Donte Whitner
2× Pro Bowl
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | BUF Buffalo Bills | 157 games · 10 yrs as starter 47 career AV |
| 2006 |
Daniel Bullocks
|
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DB | DET Detroit Lions | 31 games · 1 yrs as starter 7 career AV |
| 2006 |
Bernard Pollard
1× Pro Bowl
|
Purdue
Big Ten
|
DB | KC Kansas City Chiefs | 126 games · 7 yrs as starter 34 career AV |
| 2006 |
Ashton Youboty
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | BUF Buffalo Bills | 49 games 8 career AV |
| 2006 |
Eric Smith
|
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
DB | NYJ New York Jets | 96 games · 1 yrs as starter 18 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 |
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 |
Jarrad Page
|
UCLA
Big Ten
|
DB | KC Kansas City Chiefs | 74 games · 2 yrs as starter 18 career AV |
| 2006 |
Gerrick McPhearson
|
Maryland
Big Ten
|
DB | NYG New York Giants | No regular-season snaps |
| 2006 |
Justin Phinisee
|
Oregon
Big Ten
|
DB | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | No regular-season snaps |
| 2005 |
Fabian Washington
|
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DB | LV Oakland Raiders | 81 games · 4 yrs as starter 20 career AV |
| 2005 |
Marlin Jackson
|
Michigan
Big Ten
|
DB | IND Indianapolis Colts | 56 games · 2 yrs as starter 14 career AV |
| 2005 |
Josh Bullocks
|
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DB | NO New Orleans Saints | 90 games · 3 yrs as starter 21 career AV |
| 2005 |
Dustin Fox
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 12 games |
| 2005 |
Scott Starks
|
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
DB | JAX Jacksonville Jaguars | 54 games 4 career AV |
| 2005 |
Domonique Foxworth
|
Maryland
Big Ten
|
DB | DEN Denver Broncos | 78 games · 2 yrs as starter 19 career AV |
| 2005 |
Sean Considine
|
Iowa
Big Ten
|
DB | PHI Philadelphia Eagles | 99 games · 2 yrs as starter 15 career AV |
| 2005 |
Ben Emanuel
|
UCLA
Big Ten
|
DB | CAR Carolina Panthers | 11 games 3 career AV |
| 2005 |
Derrick Johnson
|
Washington
Big Ten
|
DB | SF San Francisco 49ers | 19 games 2 career AV |
| 2004 |
Chris Gamble
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | CAR Carolina Panthers | 123 games · 8 yrs as starter 44 career AV |
| 2004 |
Bob Sanders
2× All-Pro
2× Pro Bowl
|
Iowa
Big Ten
|
DB | IND Indianapolis Colts | 50 games · 2 yrs as starter 33 career AV |
| 2004 |
Madieu Williams
|
Maryland
Big Ten
|
DB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 119 games · 7 yrs as starter 33 career AV |
| 2004 |
Stuart Schweigert
|
Purdue
Big Ten
|
DB | LV Oakland Raiders | 69 games · 3 yrs as starter 15 career AV |
| 2004 |
Jeremy LeSueur
|
Michigan
Big Ten
|
DB | DEN Denver Broncos | 2 games |
| 2004 |
Matt Ware
|
UCLA
Big Ten
|
DB | PHI Philadelphia Eagles | 95 games 6 career AV |
| 2004 |
Rich Gardner
|
Penn State
Big Ten
|
DB | TEN Tennessee Titans | 28 games 2 career AV |
| 2004 |
Will Poole
|
USC
Big Ten
|
DB | MIA Miami Dolphins | 15 games 1 career AV |
| 2004 |
Will Allen
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 176 games · 2 yrs as starter 24 career AV |
| 2004 |
Jammal Lord
|
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DB | HOU Houston Texans | 1 games |
| 2004 |
Keith Lewis
|
Oregon
Big Ten
|
DB | SF San Francisco 49ers | 76 games · 1 yrs as starter 8 career AV |
| 2004 |
Nate Jones
|
Rutgers
Big Ten
|
DB | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 106 games 9 career AV |
| 2004 |
Jacques Reeves
|
Purdue
Big Ten
|
DB | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 90 games · 2 yrs as starter 15 career AV |
| 2003 | Troy Polamalu HOF 4× All-Pro 8× Pro Bowl |
USC
Big Ten
|
DB | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 158 games · 10 yrs as starter 96 career AV |
| 2003 | Bryan Scott |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
DB | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 143 games · 3 yrs as starter 34 career AV |
| 2003 | Mike Doss |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | IND Indianapolis Colts | 57 games · 3 yrs as starter 17 career AV |
| 2003 | Ricky Manning |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
DB | CAR Carolina Panthers | 84 games · 1 yrs as starter 22 career AV |
| 2003 | DeJuan Groce |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DB | LAR St. Louis Rams | 54 games · 1 yrs as starter 10 career AV |
| 2003 | Derek Pagel |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
DB | NYJ New York Jets | 19 games 1 career AV |
| 2003 | Michael Lehan |
Minnesota
Big Ten
|
DB | CLE Cleveland Browns | 67 games · 1 yrs as starter 9 career AV |
| 2003 | Donnie Nickey |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | TEN Tennessee Titans | 123 games 8 career AV |
| 2003 | B.J. Tucker |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
DB | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 10 games |
| 2003 | Charles Drake |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
DB | NYG New York Giants | 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: Ohio State — 57
- 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 57 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.