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.
-
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 201–250 of 382 picks · filtered.
| Pick | Player | College | Pos | NFL team | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Joey Harrington |
Oregon
Big Ten
|
QB | DET Detroit Lions | 81 games · 6 yrs as starter 31 career AV |
| 2002 | Wendell Bryant |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
DT | ARI Arizona Cardinals | 29 games 4 career AV |
| 2002 | T.J. Duckett |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
RB | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 93 games · 1 yrs as starter 22 career AV |
| 2002 | Napoleon Harris |
Northwestern
Big Ten
|
LB | LV Oakland Raiders | 100 games · 6 yrs as starter 33 career AV |
| 2002 | Jerramy Stevens |
Washington
Big Ten
|
TE | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 121 games · 2 yrs as starter 18 career AV |
| 2002 | Robert Thomas |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
LB | LAR St. Louis Rams | 84 games · 5 yrs as starter 21 career AV |
| 2001 | David Terrell |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
WR | CHI Chicago Bears | 54 games · 1 yrs as starter 11 career AV |
| 2001 | Steve Hutchinson HOF 5× All-Pro 7× Pro Bowl |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
G | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 169 games · 11 yrs as starter 94 career AV |
| 2001 | Jeff Backus |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
T | DET Detroit Lions | 191 games · 12 yrs as starter 61 career AV |
| 2001 | Nate Clements 1× Pro Bowl |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | BUF Buffalo Bills | 180 games · 11 yrs as starter 61 career AV |
| 2001 | Willie Middlebrooks |
Minnesota
Big Ten
|
DB | DEN Denver Broncos | 56 games 4 career AV |
| 2001 | Freddie Mitchell |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
WR | PHI Philadelphia Eagles | 63 games · 1 yrs as starter 13 career AV |
| 2001 | Jamar Fletcher |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
DB | MIA Miami Dolphins | 105 games 9 career AV |
| 2001 | Michael Bennett 1× Pro Bowl |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
RB | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 107 games · 3 yrs as starter 34 career AV |
| 2001 | Ryan Pickett |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DT | LAR St. Louis Rams | 207 games · 13 yrs as starter 58 career AV |
| 2000 | Courtney Brown |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
DE | CLE Cleveland Browns | 61 games · 4 yrs as starter 27 career AV |
| 2000 | LaVar Arrington 3× Pro Bowl |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
LB | WAS Washington Commanders | 85 games · 5 yrs as starter 46 career AV |
| 2000 | Plaxico Burress |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
WR | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 148 games · 10 yrs as starter 70 career AV |
| 2000 | Ron Dayne |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
RB | NYG New York Giants | 96 games · 1 yrs as starter 23 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 | Chris McIntosh |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
T | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 24 games · 1 yrs as starter 8 career AV |
| 2000 | Ahmed Plummer |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | SF San Francisco 49ers | 70 games · 5 yrs as starter 24 career AV |
| 2000 | R. Jay Soward |
USC
Big Ten
|
WR | JAX Jacksonville Jaguars | 13 games 2 career AV |
| 1999 | Akili Smith |
Oregon
Big Ten
|
QB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 22 games · 1 yrs as starter 2 career AV |
| 1999 | David Boston 1× All-Pro 1× Pro Bowl |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
WR | ARI Arizona Cardinals | 75 games · 3 yrs as starter 38 career AV |
| 1999 | Chris Claiborne |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | DET Detroit Lions | 105 games · 7 yrs as starter 34 career AV |
| 1999 | Cade McNown |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
QB | CHI Chicago Bears | 25 games · 1 yrs as starter 8 career AV |
| 1999 | Antoine Winfield 3× Pro Bowl |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | BUF Buffalo Bills | 191 games · 12 yrs as starter 62 career AV |
| 1999 | Aaron Gibson |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
T | DET Detroit Lions | 38 games · 2 yrs as starter 14 career AV |
| 1999 | Andy Katzenmoyer |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | NE New England Patriots | 24 games · 1 yrs as starter 8 career AV |
| 1999 | Dimitrius Underwood |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
DT | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 19 games 1 career AV |
| 1998 | Charles Woodson HOF 3× All-Pro 9× Pro Bowl |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
DB | LV Oakland Raiders | 254 games · 16 yrs as starter 115 career AV |
| 1998 | Curtis Enis |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
RB | CHI Chicago Bears | 36 games · 2 yrs as starter 10 career AV |
| 1998 | Grant Wistrom |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DE | LAR St. Louis Rams | 132 games · 8 yrs as starter 54 career AV |
| 1998 | Jason Peter |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DE | CAR Carolina Panthers | 38 games · 2 yrs as starter 10 career AV |
| 1998 | Shaun Williams |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
DB | NYG New York Giants | 104 games · 5 yrs as starter 31 career AV |
| 1997 | Orlando Pace HOF 3× All-Pro 7× Pro Bowl |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
T | LAR St. Louis Rams | 169 games · 12 yrs as starter 104 career AV |
| 1997 | Darrell Russell 1× All-Pro 2× Pro Bowl |
USC
Big Ten
|
DT | LV Oakland Raiders | 83 games · 5 yrs as starter 44 career AV |
| 1997 | Shawn Springs 1× Pro Bowl |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 169 games · 10 yrs as starter 58 career AV |
| 1997 | Tom Knight |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
DB | ARI Arizona Cardinals | 73 games · 3 yrs as starter 17 career AV |
| 1997 | Michael Booker |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DB | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 73 games 9 career AV |
| 1997 | Chad Scott |
Maryland
Big Ten
|
DB | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 108 games · 5 yrs as starter 41 career AV |
| 1997 | Ross Verba |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
T | GB Green Bay Packers | 113 games · 8 yrs as starter 42 career AV |
| 1996 | Keyshawn Johnson 3× Pro Bowl |
USC
Big Ten
|
WR | NYJ New York Jets | 167 games · 11 yrs as starter 79 career AV |
| 1996 | Jonathan Ogden HOF 4× All-Pro 11× Pro Bowl |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
T | BAL Baltimore Ravens | 177 games · 12 yrs as starter 95 career AV |
| 1996 | Lawrence Phillips |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
RB | LAR St. Louis Rams | 35 games · 2 yrs as starter 11 career AV |
| 1996 | Terry Glenn 1× Pro Bowl |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
WR | NE New England Patriots | 137 games · 9 yrs as starter 67 career AV |
| 1996 | Tim Biakabutuka |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
RB | CAR Carolina Panthers | 50 games · 2 yrs as starter 26 career AV |
| 1996 | Rickey Dudley |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
TE | LV Oakland Raiders | 108 games · 5 yrs as starter 25 career AV |
| 1996 | Alex Molden |
Oregon
Big Ten
|
DB | NO New Orleans Saints | 98 games · 3 yrs as starter 24 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.