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 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
17picks
Ohio State team hub
-
2
Michigan
Big Ten
6picks
Michigan team hub
-
3
USC
Big Ten
6picks
USC team hub
| # | School | Picks | Rd 1 | Pro Bowlers | HOF | Last 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 |
Nebraska
Big Ten · last pick 2011
|
4 | 4 | 00% | 0 | 0 |
| 5 |
UCLA
Big Ten · last pick 1998
|
4 | 4 | 250% | 1 | 0 |
| 6 |
Washington
Big Ten · last pick 2022
|
4 | 4 | 250% | 0 | 1 |
| 7 |
Maryland
Big Ten · last pick 2023
|
3 | 3 | 00% | 0 | 2 |
| 8 |
Oregon
Big Ten · last pick 2026
|
3 | 3 | 133% | 0 | 2 |
| 9 |
Wisconsin
Big Ten · last pick 2001
|
3 | 3 | 133% | 0 | 0 |
| 10 |
Michigan State
Big Ten · last pick 2015
|
2 | 2 | 00% | 0 | 0 |
| 11 |
Iowa
Big Ten · last pick 1997
|
1 | 1 | 00% | 0 | 0 |
| 12 |
Minnesota
Big Ten · last pick 2001
|
1 | 1 | 00% | 0 | 0 |
| 13 |
Northwestern
Big Ten · last pick 2021
|
1 | 1 | 00% | 0 | 1 |
| 14 |
Purdue
Big Ten · last pick 1987
|
1 | 1 | 1100% | 1 | 0 |
| 15 |
Rutgers
Big Ten · last pick 2010
|
1 | 1 | 1100% | 0 | 0 |
Draft pick explorer
Showing 1–50 of 57 picks · filtered.
| Pick | Player | College | Pos | NFL team | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 |
Caleb Downs
Hoschton, GA
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
S | DAL Dallas Cowboys | Awaiting debut |
| 2026 |
Dillon Thieneman
Westfield, IN
|
Oregon
Big Ten
|
S | CHI Chicago Bears | Awaiting debut |
| 2023 |
Christian Gonzalez
1× Pro Bowl
|
Oregon
Big Ten
|
DB | NE New England Patriots | 34 games · 2 yrs as starter 19 career AV |
| 2023 |
Deonte Banks
Edgewood, MD
|
Maryland
Big Ten
|
DB | NYG New York Giants | 45 games · 2 yrs as starter 12 career AV |
| 2022 |
Trent McDuffie
1× All-Pro
|
Washington
Big Ten
|
CB | KC Kansas City Chiefs | 56 games · 4 yrs as starter 33 career AV |
| 2022 |
Daxton Hill
Tulsa, OK
|
Michigan
Big Ten
|
DB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 54 games · 2 yrs as starter 13 career AV |
| 2021 |
Greg Newsome II
Chicago, IL
|
Northwestern
Big Ten
|
DB | CLE Cleveland Browns | 71 games · 4 yrs as starter 19 career AV |
| 2020 |
Jeff Okudah
Grand Prairie, TX
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
CB | DET Detroit Lions | 50 games · 2 yrs as starter 11 career AV |
| 2020 |
Damon Arnette
Fort Lauderdale, FL
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
CB | LV Las Vegas Raiders | 15 games 2 career AV |
| 2019 |
Darnell Savage Jr.
Newark, DE
|
Maryland
Big Ten
|
S | GB Green Bay Packers | 97 games · 6 yrs as starter 24 career AV |
| 2018 |
Denzel Ward
5× Pro Bowl
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
CB | CLE Cleveland Browns | 110 games · 8 yrs as starter 49 career AV |
| 2017 |
Marshon Lattimore
4× Pro Bowl
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
CB | NO New Orleans Saints | 108 games · 7 yrs as starter 43 career AV |
| 2017 |
Malik Hooker
New Castle, PA
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
S | IND Indianapolis Colts | 112 games · 6 yrs as starter 26 career AV |
| 2017 |
Adoree' Jackson
Belleville, IL
|
USC
Big Ten
|
CB | TEN Tennessee Titans | 111 games · 7 yrs as starter 30 career AV |
| 2017 |
Gareon Conley
Massillon, OH
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
CB | LV Oakland Raiders | 31 games · 1 yrs as starter 9 career AV |
| 2017 |
Jabrill Peppers
East Orange, NJ
|
Michigan
Big Ten
|
S | CLE Cleveland Browns | 113 games · 5 yrs as starter 32 career AV |
| 2016 |
Eli Apple
Voorhees, NJ
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
CB | NYG New York Giants | 104 games · 5 yrs as starter 28 career AV |
| 2015 |
Trae Waynes
Kenosha, WI
|
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
CB | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 79 games · 3 yrs as starter 18 career AV |
| 2015 |
Marcus Peters
2× All-Pro
3× Pro Bowl
|
Washington
Big Ten
|
CB | KC Kansas City Chiefs | 116 games · 7 yrs as starter 63 career AV |
| 2014 |
Darqueze Dennard
Dry Branch, GA
|
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
DB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 87 games 13 career AV |
| 2014 |
Bradley Roby
Suwanee, GA
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | DEN Denver Broncos | 135 games · 4 yrs as starter 26 career AV |
| 2013 |
Desmond Trufant
1× Pro Bowl
|
Washington
Big Ten
|
DB | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 113 games · 8 yrs as starter 37 career AV |
| 2011 |
Prince Amukamara
Glendale, AZ
|
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DB | NYG New York Giants | 113 games · 8 yrs as starter 36 career AV |
| 2010 |
Devin McCourty
2× Pro Bowl
|
Rutgers
Big Ten
|
DB | NE New England Patriots | 205 games · 13 yrs as starter 71 career AV |
| 2009 |
Malcolm Jenkins
3× Pro Bowl
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | NO New Orleans Saints | 199 games · 12 yrs as starter 68 career AV |
| 2007 |
Leon Hall
|
Michigan
Big Ten
|
DB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 152 games · 6 yrs as starter 51 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 |
| 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 |
| 2004 |
Chris Gamble
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | CAR Carolina Panthers | 123 games · 8 yrs as starter 44 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 |
| 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 | Jamar Fletcher |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
DB | MIA Miami Dolphins | 105 games 9 career AV |
| 2000 | Ahmed Plummer |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | SF San Francisco 49ers | 70 games · 5 yrs as starter 24 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 |
| 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 | Shaun Williams |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
DB | NYG New York Giants | 104 games · 5 yrs as starter 31 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 |
| 1996 | Alex Molden |
Oregon
Big Ten
|
DB | NO New Orleans Saints | 98 games · 3 yrs as starter 24 career AV |
| 1995 | Ty Law HOF 2× All-Pro 5× Pro Bowl |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
DB | NE New England Patriots | 203 games · 12 yrs as starter 88 career AV |
| 1992 | Troy Vincent 1× All-Pro 5× Pro Bowl |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
DB | MIA Miami Dolphins | 207 games · 13 yrs as starter 90 career AV |
| 1992 | Dana Hall |
Washington
Big Ten
|
DB | SF San Francisco 49ers | 91 games · 2 yrs as starter 19 career AV |
| 1991 | Eric Turner 1× All-Pro 2× Pro Bowl |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
DB | CLE Cleveland Browns | 109 games · 7 yrs as starter 49 career AV |
| 1991 | Bruce Pickens |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DB | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 48 games 4 career AV |
| 1991 | Vinnie Clark |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | GB Green Bay Packers | 83 games · 3 yrs as starter 21 career AV |
| 1990 | Mark Carrier 3× Pro Bowl |
USC
Big Ten
|
DB | CHI Chicago Bears | 168 games · 11 yrs as starter 66 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 — 17
- 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 17 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.