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 301–350 of 389 picks · filtered.
| Pick | Player | College | Pos | NFL team | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Bob White |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
LB | SF San Francisco 49ers | No regular-season snaps |
| 1987 | Michael Reid |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
LB | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 67 games 7 career AV |
| 1987 | Ron Brown |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | LAC San Diego Chargers | 19 games 2 career AV |
| 1987 | Scott Leach |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | NO New Orleans Saints | 3 games 2 career AV |
| 1987 | Craig Raddatz |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
LB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | No regular-season snaps |
| 1987 | Bob Ontko |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
LB | IND Indianapolis Colts | 3 games 2 career AV |
| 1987 | Chuck Faucette |
Maryland
Big Ten
|
LB | NYG New York Giants | 10 games · 1 yrs as starter 5 career AV |
| 1987 | Bruce Holmes |
Minnesota
Big Ten
|
LB | KC Kansas City Chiefs | 4 games 1 career AV |
| 1986 | Anthony Bell |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
LB | ARI St. Louis Cardinals | 102 games · 4 yrs as starter 28 career AV |
| 1986 | Joe Kelly |
Washington
Big Ten
|
LB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 156 games · 7 yrs as starter 43 career AV |
| 1986 | Pepper Johnson 1× All-Pro 2× Pro Bowl |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | NYG New York Giants | 193 games · 10 yrs as starter 79 career AV |
| 1986 | Tommy Taylor |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
LB | LAC San Diego Chargers | No regular-season snaps |
| 1986 | Rogers Alexander |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
LB | NYJ New York Jets | 4 games 1 career AV |
| 1986 | Ron Hadley |
Washington
Big Ten
|
LB | NYJ New York Jets | 6 games 1 career AV |
| 1986 | Byron Lee |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | PHI Philadelphia Eagles | 6 games 1 career AV |
| 1986 | Larry Kolic |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | MIA Miami Dolphins | 16 games 2 career AV |
| 1986 | Steve Jarecki |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
LB | LAR Los Angeles Rams | No regular-season snaps |
| 1986 | Brent Moore |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | GB Green Bay Packers | 4 games |
| 1986 | Joe Cormier |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 2 games 1 career AV |
| 1986 | Garrett Breeland |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | LAR Los Angeles Rams | No regular-season snaps |
| 1986 | Larry Station |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
LB | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 6 games |
| 1986 | Tom Flaherty |
Northwestern
Big Ten
|
LB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 3 games 1 career AV |
| 1985 | Duane Bickett 1× Pro Bowl |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | IND Indianapolis Colts | 175 games · 9 yrs as starter 64 career AV |
| 1985 | Tim Meamber |
Washington
Big Ten
|
LB | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 4 games |
| 1985 | Jack Del Rio 1× Pro Bowl |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | NO New Orleans Saints | 160 games · 10 yrs as starter 58 career AV |
| 1985 | Alex Moyer |
Northwestern
Big Ten
|
LB | MIA Miami Dolphins | 13 games 1 career AV |
| 1985 | Joe Krakoski |
Washington
Big Ten
|
LB | TEN Houston Oilers | 8 games 1 career AV |
| 1985 | Eric Wilson |
Maryland
Big Ten
|
LB | GB Green Bay Packers | 17 games 2 career AV |
| 1985 | Dave Strobel |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
LB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | No regular-season snaps |
| 1985 | Fred Small |
Washington
Big Ten
|
LB | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 games 1 career AV |
| 1985 | Scott Strasburger |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
LB | DAL Dallas Cowboys | No regular-season snaps |
| 1985 | Neal Dellocono |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
LB | DAL Dallas Cowboys | No regular-season snaps |
| 1985 | Jim Morrissey |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
LB | CHI Chicago Bears | 114 games · 4 yrs as starter 30 career AV |
| 1985 | Jim Melka |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
LB | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1 games |
| 1984 | Carl Banks 1× All-Pro 1× Pro Bowl |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
LB | NYG New York Giants | 173 games · 10 yrs as starter 68 career AV |
| 1984 | Keith Browner |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 65 games · 3 yrs as starter 18 career AV |
| 1984 | Mike Guendling |
Northwestern
Big Ten
|
LB | LAC San Diego Chargers | 9 games |
| 1984 | Scott Radecic |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
LB | KC Kansas City Chiefs | 182 games · 6 yrs as starter 36 career AV |
| 1984 | Rowland Tatum |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | MIA Miami Dolphins | No regular-season snaps |
| 1984 | Jim Dumont |
Rutgers
Big Ten
|
LB | CLE Cleveland Browns | 12 games 1 career AV |
| 1983 | Mike Walter |
Oregon
Big Ten
|
LB | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 149 games · 7 yrs as starter 46 career AV |
| 1983 | Blanchard Montgomery |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
LB | SF San Francisco 49ers | 27 games 3 career AV |
| 1983 | Walker Lee Ashley |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
LB | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 94 games · 1 yrs as starter 13 career AV |
| 1983 | Tony Caldwell |
Washington
Big Ten
|
LB | LV Los Angeles Raiders | 36 games 3 career AV |
| 1983 | August Curley |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | DET Detroit Lions | 38 games · 1 yrs as starter 7 career AV |
| 1983 | Steve Maidlow |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
LB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 50 games 5 career AV |
| 1983 | Riki Ellison |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | SF San Francisco 49ers | 124 games · 8 yrs as starter 49 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.