1988 NFL Draft broken down by the college programs that produced each pick — first-rounders, conference totals, and the full board.
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College Football
NFL Draft History by college program
1988 NFL Draft broken down by the college programs that produced each pick — first-rounders, conference totals, and the full board.
- Draft picks
- 12,927
- Colleges
- 446
- First-rounders
- 1,427
- Hall of Famers
- 102
- Pro Bowlers
- 1,326
- Drafts covered
- 47
Showing picks from the 1988 draft 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
UCLA
Big Ten
10picks
UCLA team hub
-
2
Ohio State
Big Ten
8picks
Ohio State team hub
-
3
Nebraska
Big Ten
7picks
Nebraska team hub
| # | School | Picks | Rd 1 | Pro Bowlers | HOF | Last 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 |
Maryland
Big Ten · last pick 1988
|
5 | 0 | 120% | 0 | 0 |
| 5 |
Michigan State
Big Ten · last pick 1988
|
5 | 1 | 240% | 0 | 0 |
| 6 |
Minnesota
Big Ten · last pick 1988
|
5 | 0 | 120% | 0 | 0 |
| 7 |
Washington
Big Ten · last pick 1988
|
5 | 0 | 120% | 0 | 0 |
| 8 |
Indiana
Big Ten · last pick 1988
|
4 | 1 | 00% | 0 | 0 |
| 9 |
Iowa
Big Ten · last pick 1988
|
4 | 0 | 00% | 0 | 0 |
| 10 |
Penn State
Big Ten · last pick 1988
|
4 | 0 | 00% | 0 | 0 |
| 11 |
Wisconsin
Big Ten · last pick 1988
|
4 | 1 | 00% | 0 | 0 |
| 12 |
Michigan
Big Ten · last pick 1988
|
3 | 0 | 133% | 0 | 0 |
| 13 |
Oregon
Big Ten · last pick 1988
|
3 | 0 | 00% | 0 | 0 |
| 14 |
Purdue
Big Ten · last pick 1988
|
2 | 0 | 150% | 0 | 0 |
| 15 |
USC
Big Ten · last pick 1988
|
2 | 1 | 00% | 0 | 0 |
Draft pick explorer
Showing 1–50 of 71 picks · filtered.
| Pick | Player | College | Pos | NFL team | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 1988 | Marcus Cotton |
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 44 games 5 career AV |
| 1988 | Chris Spielman 1× All-Pro 4× Pro Bowl |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
LB | DET Detroit Lions | 148 games · 10 yrs as starter 74 career AV |
| 1988 | Anthony Newman |
Oregon
Big Ten
|
DB | LAR Los Angeles Rams | 178 games · 7 yrs as starter 40 career AV |
| 1988 | Jumbo Elliott 1× Pro Bowl |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
T | NYG New York Giants | 197 games · 10 yrs as starter 62 career AV |
| 1988 | Ken Norton Jr. 1× All-Pro 3× Pro Bowl |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
LB | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 191 games · 12 yrs as starter 81 career AV |
| 1988 | Flipper Anderson |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
WR | LAR Los Angeles Rams | 114 games · 6 yrs as starter 42 career AV |
| 1988 | Fred Strickland |
Purdue
Big Ten
|
LB | LAR Los Angeles Rams | 161 games · 8 yrs as starter 46 career AV |
| 1988 | Chip Lohmiller 1× Pro Bowl |
Minnesota
Big Ten
|
K | WAS Washington Commanders | 135 games 19 career AV |
| 1988 | Alex Higdon |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
TE | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 3 games |
| 1988 | Kevin Walker |
Maryland
Big Ten
|
LB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 44 games · 1 yrs as starter 9 career AV |
| 1988 | Ray Roundtree |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
WR | DET Detroit Lions | 4 games |
| 1988 | Quinn Early |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
WR | LAC San Diego Chargers | 179 games · 8 yrs as starter 46 career AV |
| 1988 | Tom Tupa 1× All-Pro 1× Pro Bowl |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
QB | ARI Phoenix Cardinals | 220 games · 1 yrs as starter 29 career AV |
| 1988 | Greg Montgomery 1× All-Pro 1× Pro Bowl |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
P | TEN Houston Oilers | 142 games 19 career AV |
| 1988 | Ferrell Edmunds 2× Pro Bowl |
Maryland
Big Ten
|
TE | MIA Miami Dolphins | 89 games · 4 yrs as starter 15 career AV |
| 1988 | Chris Chandler 2× Pro Bowl |
Washington
Big Ten
|
QB | IND Indianapolis Colts | 180 games · 9 yrs as starter 77 career AV |
| 1988 | Van Waiters |
Indiana
Big Ten
|
LB | CLE Cleveland Browns | 80 games · 1 yrs as starter 13 career AV |
| 1988 | William White |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | DET Detroit Lions | 170 games · 8 yrs as starter 46 career AV |
| 1988 | Rollin Putzier |
Oregon
Big Ten
|
DT | GB Green Bay Packers | 16 games 1 career AV |
| 1988 | Tim Rother |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
DT | LV Los Angeles Raiders | 20 games 1 career AV |
| 1988 | David Richards |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
G | LAC San Diego Chargers | 135 games · 8 yrs as starter 49 career AV |
| 1988 | Kevin Harmon |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
RB | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 9 games |
| 1988 | Monte Robbins |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
P | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | Jamie Morris |
Michigan
Big Ten
|
RB | WAS Washington Commanders | 33 games 5 career AV |
| 1988 | Herb Wester |
Iowa
Big Ten
|
T | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | Troy Wolkow |
Minnesota
Big Ten
|
G | NE New England Patriots | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | Cris Dishman 1× All-Pro 2× Pro Bowl |
Purdue
Big Ten
|
DB | TEN Houston Oilers | 199 games · 11 yrs as starter 78 career AV |
| 1988 | Dennis Price |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
DB | LV Los Angeles Raiders | 31 games 3 career AV |
| 1988 | James Washington |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
DB | LAR Los Angeles Rams | 114 games · 5 yrs as starter 32 career AV |
| 1988 | David Houle |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
G | NYG New York Giants | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | Keith Jones |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
RB | LAR Los Angeles Rams | 16 games 2 career AV |
| 1988 | George Cooper |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
RB | MIA Miami Dolphins | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | Ernie Jones |
Indiana
Big Ten
|
WR | ARI Phoenix Cardinals | 83 games · 3 yrs as starter 26 career AV |
| 1988 | Ray Jackson |
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DB | SEA Seattle Seahawks | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | Gary Hadd |
Minnesota
Big Ten
|
DT | DET Detroit Lions | 15 games 2 career AV |
| 1988 | Mike Alexander |
Penn State
Big Ten
|
WR | LV Los Angeles Raiders | 19 games 3 career AV |
| 1988 | Darryl Franklin |
Washington
Big Ten
|
WR | LAR Los Angeles Rams | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | Keith Neubert |
Nebraska
Big Ten
|
TE | NYJ New York Jets | 17 games · 1 yrs as starter 2 career AV |
| 1988 | Tim Moore |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
LB | ARI Phoenix Cardinals | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | Mark Nichols |
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
DT | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | J.J. Birden |
Oregon
Big Ten
|
WR | CLE Cleveland Browns | 93 games · 5 yrs as starter 30 career AV |
| 1988 | Glenn Derby |
Wisconsin
Big Ten
|
T | NO New Orleans Saints | 7 games |
| 1988 | James Primus |
UCLA
Big Ten
|
RB | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 21 games 1 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: UCLA — 10
- 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?
UCLA leads FantasyHQ’s archive with 10 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.