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 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.
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1
Ohio State
Big Ten
8picks
Ohio State team hub
-
2
USC
Big Ten
7picks
USC team hub
-
3
Michigan State
Big Ten
5picks
Michigan State team hub
| # | School | Picks | Rd 1 | Pro Bowlers | HOF | Last 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 |
Nebraska
Big Ten · last pick 1994
|
4 | 4 | 00% | 0 | 0 |
| 5 |
Michigan
Big Ten · last pick 2019
|
3 | 3 | 133% | 0 | 2 |
| 6 |
Penn State
Big Ten · last pick 2021
|
3 | 3 | 3100% | 0 | 1 |
| 7 |
UCLA
Big Ten · last pick 2014
|
3 | 3 | 267% | 0 | 0 |
| 8 |
Washington
Big Ten · last pick 2021
|
3 | 3 | 00% | 0 | 1 |
| 9 |
Iowa
Big Ten · last pick 2023
|
2 | 2 | 2100% | 0 | 1 |
| 10 |
Maryland
Big Ten · last pick 2005
|
1 | 1 | 1100% | 0 | 0 |
| 11 |
Northwestern
Big Ten · last pick 2002
|
1 | 1 | 00% | 0 | 0 |
| 12 |
Wisconsin
Big Ten · last pick 2017
|
1 | 1 | 1100% | 0 | 1 |
Draft pick explorer
Showing 1–41 of 41 picks · filtered.
| Pick | Player | College | Pos | NFL team | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 |
Arvell Reese
Cleveland, OH
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | NYG New York Giants | Awaiting debut |
| 2026 |
Sonny Styles
Pickerington, OH
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | WAS Washington Commanders | Awaiting debut |
| 2023 |
Jack Campbell
1× All-Pro
1× Pro Bowl
|
Iowa
Big Ten
|
LB | DET Detroit Lions | 51 games · 3 yrs as starter 26 career AV |
| 2021 |
Micah Parsons
3× All-Pro
5× Pro Bowl
|
Penn State
Big Ten
|
LB | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 77 games · 4 yrs as starter 67 career AV |
| 2021 |
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Renton, WA
|
Washington
Big Ten
|
OLB | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 82 games · 3 yrs as starter 23 career AV |
| 2019 |
Devin Bush Jr.
Pembroke Pines, FL
|
Michigan
Big Ten
|
LB | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 98 games · 4 yrs as starter 37 career AV |
| 2019 |
Rashan Gary
1× Pro Bowl
|
Michigan
Big Ten
|
LB | GB Green Bay Packers | 106 games · 5 yrs as starter 36 career AV |
| 2017 |
T.J. Watt
4× All-Pro
8× Pro Bowl
|
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
OLB | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 135 games · 9 yrs as starter 96 career AV |
| 2016 |
Darron Lee
New Albany, OH
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
OLB | NYJ New York Jets | 58 games · 3 yrs as starter 19 career AV |
| 2015 |
Shaq Thompson
Sacramento, CA
|
Washington
Big Ten
|
OLB | CAR Carolina Panthers | 135 games · 8 yrs as starter 43 career AV |
| 2014 |
Anthony Barr
4× Pro Bowl
|
UCLA
Big Ten
|
LB | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 116 games · 7 yrs as starter 56 career AV |
| 2014 |
Ryan Shazier
2× Pro Bowl
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 46 games · 3 yrs as starter 27 career AV |
| 2009 |
Brian Cushing
1× Pro Bowl
|
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | HOU Houston Texans | 104 games · 7 yrs as starter 52 career AV |
| 2009 |
Clay Matthews
1× All-Pro
6× Pro Bowl
|
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | GB Green Bay Packers | 156 games · 10 yrs as starter 77 career AV |
| 2008 |
Keith Rivers
|
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 74 games · 4 yrs as starter 24 career AV |
| 2006 |
A.J. Hawk
1× Pro Bowl
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | GB Green Bay Packers | 159 games · 10 yrs as starter 55 career AV |
| 2006 |
Chad Greenway
2× Pro Bowl
|
Iowa
Big Ten
|
LB | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 156 games · 10 yrs as starter 66 career AV |
| 2006 |
Bobby Carpenter
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 93 games 11 career AV |
| 2005 |
Shawne Merriman
1× All-Pro
3× Pro Bowl
|
Maryland
Big Ten
|
LB | LAC San Diego Chargers | 75 games · 4 yrs as starter 40 career AV |
| 2002 | Napoleon Harris |
Northwestern
Big Ten
|
LB | LV Oakland Raiders | 100 games · 6 yrs as starter 33 career AV |
| 2002 | Robert Thomas |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
LB | LAR St. Louis Rams | 84 games · 5 yrs as starter 21 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 | 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 |
| 1999 | Chris Claiborne |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | DET Detroit Lions | 105 games · 7 yrs as starter 34 career AV |
| 1999 | Andy Katzenmoyer |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | NE New England Patriots | 24 games · 1 yrs as starter 8 career AV |
| 1995 | Craig Powell |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | CLE Cleveland Browns | 14 games |
| 1994 | Trev Alberts |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
LB | IND Indianapolis Colts | 29 games 4 career AV |
| 1994 | Jamir Miller 1× All-Pro 1× Pro Bowl |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
LB | ARI Arizona Cardinals | 121 games · 7 yrs as starter 44 career AV |
| 1994 | Rob Fredrickson |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
LB | LV Los Angeles Raiders | 128 games · 9 yrs as starter 42 career AV |
| 1991 | Mike Croel |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
LB | DEN Denver Broncos | 102 games · 6 yrs as starter 34 career AV |
| 1990 | Junior Seau HOF 6× All-Pro 12× Pro Bowl |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | LAC San Diego Chargers | 268 games · 16 yrs as starter 133 career AV |
| 1990 | Percy Snow |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
LB | KC Kansas City Chiefs | 40 games · 1 yrs as starter 10 career AV |
| 1989 | Broderick Thomas |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
LB | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 144 games · 6 yrs as starter 40 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 |
| 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 |
| 1985 | Duane Bickett 1× Pro Bowl |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | IND Indianapolis Colts | 175 games · 9 yrs as starter 64 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 |
| 1982 | Chip Banks 1× All-Pro 4× Pro Bowl |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | CLE Cleveland Browns | 138 games · 10 yrs as starter 73 career AV |
| 1982 | Jimmy Williams |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
LB | DET Detroit Lions | 152 games · 10 yrs as starter 49 career AV |
| 1981 | Mel Owens |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
LB | LAR Los Angeles Rams | 122 games · 6 yrs as starter 42 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 — 8
- 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 8 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.