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NFL Draft History by college program

College programs that have produced the most NFL LB draft picks since 1980, with round and career filters.

Draft picks
12,927
Colleges
446
First-rounders
1,427
Hall of Famers
102
Pro Bowlers
1,326
Drafts covered
47
Clear filters
Round
All rounds Round 1 Day 2 (Rd 2–3) Day 3 (Rd 4+)
Conference
All SEC 2,760 Big Ten 2,705 ACC 2,192 Big 12 1,365 Mountain West 558 American 366 FBS Ind. 278 MAC 225 Sun Belt 211 Conference USA 199 SWAC 176 Pac-12 168
Position
All positions Quarterback Running back Wide receiver Tight end Offensive line Defensive line Linebacker Defensive back Special teams

Showing LB first-round picks · 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.

Sort by
Total picks First-rounders Pro Bowls Hall of Famers Last 10 drafts
  1. 1 Alabama SEC 13picks 13 Rd 1 · 6 Pro Bowlers · 1 HOF Alabama team hub
  2. 2 Georgia SEC 8picks 8 Rd 1 · 2 Pro Bowlers Georgia team hub
  3. 3 Ohio State Big Ten 8picks 8 Rd 1 · 2 Pro Bowlers Ohio State team hub
# School Picks Rd 1 Pro Bowlers HOF Last 10
4 Florida State ACC · last pick 2022 7 7 457% 1 1
5 USC Big Ten · last pick 2009 7 7 571% 1 0
6 Clemson ACC · last pick 2020 5 5 120% 0 1
7 Florida SEC · last pick 2017 5 5 120% 0 1
8 Miami ACC · last pick 2007 5 5 480% 1 0
9 Michigan State Big Ten · last pick 2000 5 5 240% 0 0
10 Tennessee SEC · last pick 2008 5 5 240% 0 0
11 LSU SEC · last pick 2020 4 4 250% 0 2
12 Nebraska Big Ten · last pick 1994 4 4 00% 0 0
13 Texas A&M SEC · last pick 2011 4 4 125% 0 0
14 Auburn SEC · last pick 2014 3 3 267% 0 0
15 Kentucky SEC · last pick 2021 3 3 133% 0 2
16 Michigan Big Ten · last pick 2019 3 3 133% 0 2
17 Oklahoma SEC · last pick 2020 3 3 00% 0 1
18 Penn State Big Ten · last pick 2021 3 3 3100% 0 1
19 Texas Tech Big 12 · last pick 2026 3 3 00% 0 3
20 UCLA Big Ten · last pick 2014 3 3 267% 0 0
21 Washington Big Ten · last pick 2021 3 3 00% 0 1
22 Arizona Big 12 · last pick 1990 2 2 00% 0 0
23 BYU Big 12 · last pick 2000 2 2 00% 0 0
24 Iowa Big Ten · last pick 2023 2 2 2100% 0 1
25 Louisville ACC · last pick 2014 2 2 150% 0 0

Draft pick explorer

Showing 51–100 of 152 picks · filtered.

Pick Player College Pos NFL team Career
2012 #25 · Rd 1 Dont'a Hightower 2× Pro Bowl Alabama SEC LB NE New England Patriots 117 games · 8 yrs as starter 65 career AV
2011 #2 · Rd 1 Von Miller 3× All-Pro 8× Pro Bowl Texas A&M SEC LB DEN Denver Broncos 203 games · 10 yrs as starter 105 career AV
2010 #8 · Rd 1 Rolando McClain Decatur, AL Alabama SEC LB LV Oakland Raiders 65 games · 5 yrs as starter 25 career AV
2010 #19 · Rd 1 Sean Weatherspoon Jasper, TX Missouri SEC LB ATL Atlanta Falcons 67 games · 2 yrs as starter 22 career AV
2009 #4 · Rd 1 Aaron Curry Wake Forest ACC LB SEA Seattle Seahawks 48 games · 3 yrs as starter 16 career AV
2009 #13 · Rd 1 Brian Orakpo 4× Pro Bowl Texas SEC LB WAS Washington Commanders 132 games · 8 yrs as starter 58 career AV
2009 #15 · Rd 1 Brian Cushing 1× Pro Bowl USC Big Ten LB HOU Houston Texans 104 games · 7 yrs as starter 52 career AV
2009 #16 · Rd 1 Larry English Northern Illinois MAC LB LAC San Diego Chargers 64 games · 1 yrs as starter 7 career AV
2009 #26 · Rd 1 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 #9 · Rd 1 Keith Rivers USC Big Ten LB CIN Cincinnati Bengals 74 games · 4 yrs as starter 24 career AV
2008 #10 · Rd 1 Jerod Mayo 1× All-Pro 2× Pro Bowl Tennessee SEC LB NE New England Patriots 103 games · 7 yrs as starter 51 career AV
2007 #11 · Rd 1 Patrick Willis HOF 5× All-Pro 7× Pro Bowl Ole Miss SEC LB SF San Francisco 49ers 112 games · 7 yrs as starter 93 career AV
2007 #15 · Rd 1 Lawrence Timmons 1× Pro Bowl Florida State ACC LB PIT Pittsburgh Steelers 172 games · 9 yrs as starter 72 career AV
2007 #25 · Rd 1 Jon Beason 1× All-Pro 3× Pro Bowl Miami ACC LB CAR Carolina Panthers 93 games · 5 yrs as starter 55 career AV
2006 #5 · Rd 1 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 #9 · Rd 1 Ernie Sims Florida State ACC LB DET Detroit Lions 109 games · 4 yrs as starter 29 career AV
2006 #17 · Rd 1 Chad Greenway 2× Pro Bowl Iowa Big Ten LB MIN Minnesota Vikings 156 games · 10 yrs as starter 66 career AV
2006 #18 · Rd 1 Bobby Carpenter Ohio State Big Ten LB DAL Dallas Cowboys 93 games 11 career AV
2005 #11 · Rd 1 DeMarcus Ware HOF 4× All-Pro 9× Pro Bowl Troy Sun Belt LB DAL Dallas Cowboys 178 games · 11 yrs as starter 100 career AV
2005 #12 · Rd 1 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
2005 #14 · Rd 1 Thomas Davis 1× All-Pro 3× Pro Bowl Georgia SEC LB CAR Carolina Panthers 199 games · 12 yrs as starter 80 career AV
2005 #15 · Rd 1 Derrick Johnson 1× All-Pro 4× Pro Bowl Texas SEC LB KC Kansas City Chiefs 188 games · 11 yrs as starter 80 career AV
2005 #17 · Rd 1 David Pollack Georgia SEC LB CIN Cincinnati Bengals 16 games 3 career AV
2004 #12 · Rd 1 Jonathan Vilma 3× Pro Bowl Miami ACC LB NYJ New York Jets 125 games · 8 yrs as starter 56 career AV
2004 #17 · Rd 1 D.J. Williams Miami ACC LB DEN Denver Broncos 145 games · 9 yrs as starter 48 career AV
2004 #27 · Rd 1 Jason Babin 2× Pro Bowl Western Michigan MAC LB HOU Houston Texans 148 games · 5 yrs as starter 46 career AV
2003 #10 · Rd 1 Terrell Suggs 1× All-Pro 7× Pro Bowl Arizona State Big 12 LB BAL Baltimore Ravens 244 games · 15 yrs as starter 110 career AV
2003 #29 · Rd 1 Nick Barnett Oregon State Pac-12 LB GB Green Bay Packers 153 games · 9 yrs as starter 60 career AV
2002 #23 · Rd 1 Napoleon Harris Northwestern Big Ten LB LV Oakland Raiders 100 games · 6 yrs as starter 33 career AV
2002 #31 · Rd 1 Robert Thomas UCLA Big Ten LB LAR St. Louis Rams 84 games · 5 yrs as starter 21 career AV
2001 #11 · Rd 1 Dan Morgan 1× Pro Bowl Miami ACC LB CAR Carolina Panthers 59 games · 5 yrs as starter 30 career AV
2000 #2 · Rd 1 LaVar Arrington 3× Pro Bowl Penn State Big Ten LB WAS Washington Commanders 85 games · 5 yrs as starter 46 career AV
2000 #9 · Rd 1 Brian Urlacher HOF 4× All-Pro 8× Pro Bowl New Mexico Mountain West LB CHI Chicago Bears 182 games · 12 yrs as starter 119 career AV
2000 #16 · Rd 1 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
2000 #28 · Rd 1 Rob Morris BYU Big 12 LB IND Indianapolis Colts 99 games · 4 yrs as starter 24 career AV
2000 #30 · Rd 1 Keith Bulluck 1× All-Pro 1× Pro Bowl Syracuse ACC LB TEN Tennessee Titans 170 games · 9 yrs as starter 74 career AV
1999 #9 · Rd 1 Chris Claiborne USC Big Ten LB DET Detroit Lions 105 games · 7 yrs as starter 34 career AV
1999 #28 · Rd 1 Andy Katzenmoyer Ohio State Big Ten LB NE New England Patriots 24 games · 1 yrs as starter 8 career AV
1999 #31 · Rd 1 Al Wilson 1× All-Pro 5× Pro Bowl Tennessee SEC LB DEN Denver Broncos 125 games · 8 yrs as starter 67 career AV
1998 #12 · Rd 1 Keith Brooking 5× Pro Bowl Georgia Tech ACC LB ATL Atlanta Falcons 225 games · 12 yrs as starter 81 career AV
1998 #13 · Rd 1 Takeo Spikes 1× All-Pro 2× Pro Bowl Auburn SEC LB CIN Cincinnati Bengals 219 games · 14 yrs as starter 83 career AV
1998 #15 · Rd 1 Anthony Simmons Clemson ACC LB SEA Seattle Seahawks 87 games · 4 yrs as starter 34 career AV
1998 #17 · Rd 1 Brian Simmons North Carolina ACC LB CIN Cincinnati Bengals 137 games · 8 yrs as starter 42 career AV
1997 #4 · Rd 1 Peter Boulware 4× Pro Bowl Florida State ACC LB BAL Baltimore Ravens 126 games · 7 yrs as starter 59 career AV
1997 #8 · Rd 1 James Farrior 1× All-Pro 2× Pro Bowl Virginia ACC LB NYJ New York Jets 230 games · 12 yrs as starter 95 career AV
1997 #14 · Rd 1 Reinard Wilson Florida State ACC LB CIN Cincinnati Bengals 93 games · 1 yrs as starter 14 career AV
1997 #20 · Rd 1 Dwayne Rudd Alabama SEC LB MIN Minnesota Vikings 109 games · 5 yrs as starter 40 career AV
1996 #2 · Rd 1 Kevin Hardy 1× All-Pro 1× Pro Bowl Illinois College Midwest LB JAX Jacksonville Jaguars 134 games · 9 yrs as starter 62 career AV
1996 #15 · Rd 1 John Mobley 1× All-Pro Kutztown (PA) LB DEN Denver Broncos 105 games · 6 yrs as starter 52 career AV
1996 #17 · Rd 1 Reggie Brown Texas A&M SEC LB DET Detroit Lions 26 games · 2 yrs as starter 11 career AV

Browse by draft class

Every year from 1980 to 2026 — school counts, conference splits, and the full first round.

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
All 47 draft years
2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980

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: Alabama — 13
  • 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

  1. Start with the school leaderboard — sort by total picks, first-rounders, Pro Bowls, or the last ten drafts.
  2. Use the round, conference, and position chips to isolate a pipeline, like SEC defensive backs in Round 1.
  3. 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.

Continue exploring college football

Frequently asked questions

Which college has produced the most NFL draft picks?

Alabama leads FantasyHQ’s archive with 13 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.