2008 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
2008 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 2008 draft · 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
USC
Big Ten
10picks
USC team hub
-
2
Virginia Tech
ACC
8picks
Virginia Tech team hub
-
3
LSU
SEC
7picks
LSU team hub
Draft pick explorer
Showing 1–50 of 252 picks · filtered.
| Pick | Player | College | Pos | NFL team | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 |
Jake Long
1× All-Pro
4× Pro Bowl
|
Michigan
Big Ten
|
T | MIA Miami Dolphins | 104 games · 6 yrs as starter 54 career AV |
| 2008 |
Chris Long
|
Virginia
ACC
|
DE | LAR St. Louis Rams | 162 games · 6 yrs as starter 48 career AV |
| 2008 |
Matt Ryan
1× All-Pro
4× Pro Bowl
|
Boston College
ACC
|
QB | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 234 games · 15 yrs as starter 146 career AV |
| 2008 |
Darren McFadden
|
Arkansas
SEC
|
RB | LV Oakland Raiders | 103 games · 4 yrs as starter 39 career AV |
| 2008 |
Glenn Dorsey
|
LSU
SEC
|
DT | KC Kansas City Chiefs | 104 games · 7 yrs as starter 37 career AV |
| 2008 |
Vernon Gholston
|
Ohio State
Big Ten
|
DE | NYJ New York Jets | 45 games 6 career AV |
| 2008 |
Sedrick Ellis
|
USC
Big Ten
|
DT | NO New Orleans Saints | 70 games · 5 yrs as starter 26 career AV |
| 2008 |
Derrick Harvey
|
Florida
SEC
|
DE | JAX Jacksonville Jaguars | 52 games · 1 yrs as starter 14 career AV |
| 2008 |
Keith Rivers
|
USC
Big Ten
|
LB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 74 games · 4 yrs as starter 24 career AV |
| 2008 |
Jerod Mayo
1× All-Pro
2× Pro Bowl
|
Tennessee
SEC
|
LB | NE New England Patriots | 103 games · 7 yrs as starter 51 career AV |
| 2008 |
Leodis McKelvin
|
Troy
Sun Belt
|
DB | BUF Buffalo Bills | 111 games · 4 yrs as starter 29 career AV |
| 2008 |
Ryan Clady
2× All-Pro
4× Pro Bowl
|
Boise State
Mountain West
|
T | DEN Denver Broncos | 107 games · 7 yrs as starter 65 career AV |
| 2008 |
Jonathan Stewart
1× Pro Bowl
|
Oregon
Big Ten
|
RB | CAR Carolina Panthers | 134 games · 5 yrs as starter 48 career AV |
| 2008 |
Chris Williams
|
Vanderbilt
SEC
|
T | CHI Chicago Bears | 72 games · 4 yrs as starter 25 career AV |
| 2008 |
Branden Albert
2× Pro Bowl
|
Virginia
ACC
|
G | KC Kansas City Chiefs | 120 games · 9 yrs as starter 41 career AV |
| 2008 |
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
2× Pro Bowl
|
Tennessee State
OVC-Big South
|
DB | ARI Arizona Cardinals | 162 games · 7 yrs as starter 53 career AV |
| 2008 |
Gosder Cherilus
|
Boston College
ACC
|
T | DET Detroit Lions | 132 games · 8 yrs as starter 48 career AV |
| 2008 |
Joe Flacco
1× Pro Bowl
|
Delaware
Conference USA
|
QB | BAL Baltimore Ravens | 209 games · 12 yrs as starter 97 career AV |
| 2008 |
Jeff Otah
|
Pittsburgh
ACC
|
T | CAR Carolina Panthers | 29 games · 2 yrs as starter 14 career AV |
| 2008 |
Aqib Talib
1× All-Pro
5× Pro Bowl
|
Kansas
Big 12
|
DB | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 148 games · 9 yrs as starter 68 career AV |
| 2008 |
Sam Baker
|
USC
Big Ten
|
T | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 70 games · 3 yrs as starter 32 career AV |
| 2008 |
Felix Jones
|
Arkansas
SEC
|
RB | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 80 games · 1 yrs as starter 27 career AV |
| 2008 |
Rashard Mendenhall
|
Illinois College
Midwest
|
RB | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 72 games · 4 yrs as starter 29 career AV |
| 2008 |
Chris Johnson
1× All-Pro
3× Pro Bowl
|
East Carolina
American
|
RB | TEN Tennessee Titans | 130 games · 7 yrs as starter 70 career AV |
| 2008 |
Mike Jenkins
1× Pro Bowl
|
South Florida
American
|
DB | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 101 games · 4 yrs as starter 27 career AV |
| 2008 |
Duane Brown
1× All-Pro
5× Pro Bowl
|
Virginia Tech
ACC
|
T | HOU Houston Texans | 220 games · 15 yrs as starter 91 career AV |
| 2008 |
Antoine Cason
|
Arizona
Big 12
|
DB | LAC San Diego Chargers | 110 games · 4 yrs as starter 27 career AV |
| 2008 |
Lawrence Jackson
|
USC
Big Ten
|
DE | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 69 games · 2 yrs as starter 15 career AV |
| 2008 |
Kentwan Balmer
|
North Carolina
ACC
|
DT | SF San Francisco 49ers | 46 games · 1 yrs as starter 7 career AV |
| 2008 |
Dustin Keller
|
Purdue
Big Ten
|
TE | NYJ New York Jets | 72 games · 3 yrs as starter 22 career AV |
| 2008 |
Kenny Phillips
|
Miami
ACC
|
DB | NYG New York Giants | 59 games · 2 yrs as starter 16 career AV |
| 2008 |
Phillip Merling
|
Clemson
ACC
|
DE | MIA Miami Dolphins | 53 games 6 career AV |
| 2008 |
Donnie Avery
|
Houston
Big 12
|
WR | LAR St. Louis Rams | 77 games · 4 yrs as starter 21 career AV |
| 2008 |
Devin Thomas
|
Michigan State
Big Ten
|
WR | WAS Washington Commanders | 55 games · 1 yrs as starter 4 career AV |
| 2008 |
Brandon Flowers
1× Pro Bowl
|
Virginia Tech
ACC
|
DB | KC Kansas City Chiefs | 119 games · 9 yrs as starter 42 career AV |
| 2008 |
Jordy Nelson
1× Pro Bowl
|
Kansas State
Big 12
|
WR | GB Green Bay Packers | 151 games · 7 yrs as starter 73 career AV |
| 2008 |
Curtis Lofton
|
Oklahoma
SEC
|
LB | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 128 games · 8 yrs as starter 49 career AV |
| 2008 |
John Carlson
|
Notre Dame
FBS Ind.
|
TE | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 90 games · 4 yrs as starter 16 career AV |
| 2008 |
Chilo Rachal
|
USC
Big Ten
|
G | SF San Francisco 49ers | 64 games · 3 yrs as starter 20 career AV |
| 2008 |
Tracy Porter
|
Indiana
Big Ten
|
DB | NO New Orleans Saints | 98 games · 6 yrs as starter 31 career AV |
| 2008 |
James Hardy
|
Indiana
Big Ten
|
WR | BUF Buffalo Bills | 16 games 1 career AV |
| 2008 |
Eddie Royal
|
Virginia Tech
ACC
|
WR | DEN Denver Broncos | 116 games · 6 yrs as starter 35 career AV |
| 2008 |
Tyrell Johnson
|
Arkansas State
Sun Belt
|
DB | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 53 games · 1 yrs as starter 10 career AV |
| 2008 |
Matt Forte
2× Pro Bowl
|
Tulane
American
|
RB | CHI Chicago Bears | 146 games · 9 yrs as starter 84 career AV |
| 2008 |
Jordon Dizon
|
Colorado College
|
LB | DET Detroit Lions | 28 games 2 career AV |
| 2008 |
Jerome Simpson
|
Coastal Carolina
Sun Belt
|
WR | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 63 games · 3 yrs as starter 18 career AV |
| 2008 |
Trevor Laws
|
Notre Dame
FBS Ind.
|
DT | PHI Philadelphia Eagles | 56 games 7 career AV |
| 2008 |
Fred Davis
|
USC
Big Ten
|
TE | WAS Washington Commanders | 72 games · 3 yrs as starter 14 career AV |
| 2008 |
DeSean Jackson
3× Pro Bowl
|
California
ACC
|
WR | PHI Philadelphia Eagles | 183 games · 11 yrs as starter 75 career AV |
| 2008 |
Calais Campbell
1× All-Pro
6× Pro Bowl
|
Miami
ACC
|
DE | ARI Arizona Cardinals | 278 games · 17 yrs as starter 113 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: USC — 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?
USC 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.