Big Ten programs ranked by NFL draft picks since 1980 — first-rounders, Pro Bowl alumni, and recent draft classes.
FantasyHQ
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 301–350 of 382 picks · filtered.
| Pick | Player | College | Pos | NFL team | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Darrell Thompson |
Minnesota
Big Ten
|
RB | GB Green Bay Packers | 60 games · 2 yrs as starter 16 career AV |
| 1990 | Bern Brostek |
Washington
Big Ten
|
C | LAR Los Angeles Rams | 105 games · 6 yrs as starter 34 career AV |
| 1989 | Troy Aikman HOF 6× Pro Bowl |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
QB | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 165 games · 12 yrs as starter 96 career AV |
| 1989 | Tony Mandarich |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
T | GB Green Bay Packers | 86 games · 4 yrs as starter 28 career AV |
| 1989 | Broderick Thomas |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
LB | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 144 games · 6 yrs as starter 40 career AV |
| 1989 | Brian Williams |
Minnesota
Big Ten
|
C | NYG New York Giants | 129 games · 4 yrs as starter 27 career AV |
| 1989 | Andre Rison 1× All-Pro 5× Pro Bowl |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
WR | IND Indianapolis Colts | 186 games · 10 yrs as starter 77 career AV |
| 1988 | Neil Smith 1× All-Pro 6× Pro Bowl |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DE | KC Kansas City Chiefs | 191 games · 11 yrs as starter 96 career AV |
| 1988 | Paul Gruber |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
T | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 183 games · 12 yrs as starter 60 career AV |
| 1988 | Dave Cadigan |
USC
Big Ten
|
G | NYJ New York Jets | 82 games · 5 yrs as starter 28 career AV |
| 1988 | Eric Moore |
Indiana
Big Ten
|
G | NYG New York Giants | 84 games · 5 yrs as starter 35 career AV |
| 1988 | Gaston Green 1× Pro Bowl |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
RB | LAR Los Angeles Rams | 58 games · 2 yrs as starter 16 career AV |
| 1988 | Eric Kumerow |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DE | MIA Miami Dolphins | 42 games 4 career AV |
| 1988 | Lorenzo White 1× Pro Bowl |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
RB | TEN Houston Oilers | 107 games · 3 yrs as starter 43 career AV |
| 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 |
| 1986 | Jim Everett 1× Pro Bowl |
Purdue
Big Ten
|
QB | TEN Houston Oilers | 158 games · 10 yrs as starter 87 career AV |
| 1986 | Anthony Bell |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
LB | ARI St. Louis Cardinals | 102 games · 4 yrs as starter 28 career AV |
| 1986 | Keith Byars 1× Pro Bowl |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
RB | PHI Philadelphia Eagles | 189 games · 12 yrs as starter 60 career AV |
| 1986 | Joe Kelly |
Washington
Big Ten
|
LB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 156 games · 7 yrs as starter 43 career AV |
| 1986 | Chuck Long |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
QB | DET Detroit Lions | 27 games · 1 yrs as starter 11 career AV |
| 1986 | James FitzPatrick |
USC
Big Ten
|
T | LAC San Diego Chargers | 65 games · 1 yrs as starter 10 career AV |
| 1986 | Ronnie Harmon 1× Pro Bowl |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
RB | BUF Buffalo Bills | 181 games · 1 yrs as starter 64 career AV |
| 1986 | Mike Sherrard |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
WR | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 105 games · 2 yrs as starter 33 career AV |
| 1986 | Mike Haight |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
G | NYJ New York Jets | 63 games · 3 yrs as starter 20 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 | Ken Ruettgers |
USC
Big Ten
|
T | GB Green Bay Packers | 156 games · 9 yrs as starter 55 career AV |
| 1985 | Ron Holmes |
Washington
Big Ten
|
DE | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 102 games · 6 yrs as starter 31 career AV |
| 1985 | Kevin Allen |
Indiana
Big Ten
|
T | PHI Philadelphia Eagles | 16 games 2 career AV |
| 1985 | Al Toon 1× All-Pro 3× Pro Bowl |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
WR | NYJ New York Jets | 107 games · 8 yrs as starter 56 career AV |
| 1985 | Richard Johnson |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
DB | TEN Houston Oilers | 98 games · 2 yrs as starter 19 career AV |
| 1985 | Jim Lachey 3× All-Pro 3× Pro Bowl |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
T | LAC San Diego Chargers | 131 games · 9 yrs as starter 77 career AV |
| 1985 | Kevin Brooks |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
DT | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 69 games · 3 yrs as starter 21 career AV |
| 1985 | Darryl Sims |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
DE | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 58 games 9 career AV |
| 1984 | Irving Fryar 5× Pro Bowl |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
WR | NE New England Patriots | 255 games · 13 yrs as starter 80 career AV |
| 1984 | Dean Steinkuhler |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
T | TEN Houston Oilers | 100 games · 5 yrs as starter 36 career AV |
| 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 | Kenny Jackson |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
WR | PHI Philadelphia Eagles | 102 games · 4 yrs as starter 15 career AV |
| 1984 | Pete Koch |
Maryland
Big Ten
|
NT | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 58 games · 1 yrs as starter 11 career AV |
| 1984 | Don Rogers |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
DB | CLE Cleveland Browns | 31 games · 2 yrs as starter 13 career AV |
| 1984 | Ron Solt 1× Pro Bowl |
Maryland
Big Ten
|
G | IND Indianapolis Colts | 116 games · 8 yrs as starter 43 career AV |
| 1984 | John Alt 2× Pro Bowl |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
T | KC Kansas City Chiefs | 179 games · 10 yrs as starter 68 career AV |
| 1984 | William Roberts 1× Pro Bowl |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
G | NYG New York Giants | 195 games · 11 yrs as starter 65 career AV |
| 1983 | Curt Warner 3× Pro Bowl |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
RB | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 100 games · 6 yrs as starter 60 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.