As the 2022 NFL Draft approaches, over 200 young athletes will soon have their dreams come true and years of hard work realized when they are selected by an NFL team. Becoming an NFL draft pick requires skill, experience, and an element of good fortune – though there are a few decisions players can make that make an NFL career more likely.
Over the years, many aspiring NFL players have followed the well-worn path of others before them by choosing to play college football at a school with a track record of producing NFL players. Several top NCAA football programs have seen more than 200 of their players drafted in the last few decades.
To determine the colleges that produce the most NFL players, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data from the Draft Finder tool on Pro Football Reference. Colleges were ranked based on the number of players drafted since 1970, when the AFL and NFL merged.
The colleges that produce the most NFL players are located all across the country. The top 30 schools are in 23 states from coast to coast. Most are larger state schools, though a handful of private institutions have also made the list.
It should come as no surprise that the colleges that produce the most NFL players also tend to be among the most successful in college football. Nearly all of the teams near the top of the list have won at least one national championship recently. These teams, buoyed by success, have passionate fan bases and have built up considerable financial resources through TV deals, ticket sales, and donations. These are the most valuable teams in college football.
Click here to see the colleges that produce the most NFL players
30. California
> Draftees since 1970: 157
> Best player drafted: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers
> Total first overall picks: 2
> First picks: Quarterback Steve Bartkowski: Atlanta Falcons, 1975; Quarterback Jared Goff: Los Angeles Rams, 2016
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29. Arkansas
> Draftees since 1970: 160
> Best player drafted: Defensive end Dan Hampton
> Total first overall picks: 0
> First picks: N/A
28. North Carolina
> Draftees since 1970: 165
> Best player drafted: Linebacker Lawrence Taylor
> Total first overall picks: 0
> First picks: N/A
27. Iowa
> Draftees since 1970: 167
> Best player drafted: Tackle Marshal Yanda
> Total first overall picks: 0
> First picks: N/A
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26. Wisconsin
> Draftees since 1970: 177
> Best player drafted: Quarterback Russell Wilson
> Total first overall picks: 0
> First picks: N/A
25. Pittsburgh
> Draftees since 1970: 178
> Best player drafted: Quarterback Dan Marino
> Total first overall picks: 0
> First picks: N/A
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24. Michigan State
> Draftees since 1970: 179
> Best player drafted: Guard Joe DeLamielleure
> Total first overall picks: 0
> First picks: N/A
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23. Stanford
> Draftees since 1970: 182
> Best player drafted: Quarterback John Elway
> Total first overall picks: 3
> First picks: Quarterback John Elway: Baltimore Colts, 1983; Quarterback Jim Plunkett: New England Patriots, 1971; Quarterback Andrew Luck: Indianapolis Colts, 2012
22. Arizona State
> Draftees since 1970: 189
> Best player drafted: Guard Randall McDaniel
> Total first overall picks: 0
> First picks: N/A
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21. Auburn
> Draftees since 1970: 191
> Best player drafted: Quarterback Cam Newton
> Total first overall picks: 3
> First picks: Quarterback Cam Newton: Carolina Panthers, 2011; Linebacker Aundray Bruce: Atlanta Falcons, 1988; Running back Bo Jackson: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1986
20. Colorado
> Draftees since 1970: 194
> Best player drafted: Wide receiver Cliff Branch
> Total first overall picks: 0
> First picks: N/A
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19. Clemson
> Draftees since 1970: 196
> Best player drafted: Defensive back Brian Dawkins
> Total first overall picks: 1
> First picks: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence: Jacksonville Jaguars, 2021
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18. Washington
> Draftees since 1970: 204
> Best player drafted: Quarterback Mark Brunell
> Total first overall picks: 1
> First picks: Defensive end Steve Emtman: Indianapolis Colts, 1992
16. Texas
> Draftees since 1970: 209
> Best player drafted: Defensive tackle Steve McMichael
> Total first overall picks: 2
> First picks: Running back Earl Campbell: Houston Oilers, 1978; Defensive end Kenneth Sims: New England Patriots, 1982
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16. Texas A&M
> Draftees since 1970: 209
> Best player drafted: Tackle Richmond Webb
> Total first overall picks: 1
> First picks: Defensive end Myles Garrett: Cleveland Browns, 2017
15. UCLA
> Draftees since 1970: 221
> Best player drafted: Quarterback Troy Aikman
> Total first overall picks: 1
> First picks: Quarterback Troy Aikman: Dallas Cowboys, 1989
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14. Georgia
> Draftees since 1970: 228
> Best player drafted: Defensive back Champ Bailey
> Total first overall picks:
> First picks: N/A
13. Tennessee
> Draftees since 1970: 235
> Best player drafted: Quarterback Peyton Manning
> Total first overall picks: 1
> First picks: Quarterback Peyton Manning: Indianapolis Colts, 1998
12. Florida State
> Draftees since 1970: 239
> Best player drafted: Linebacker Derrick Brooks
> Total first overall picks: 1
> First picks: Quarterback Jameis Winston: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2015
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11. LSU
> Draftees since 1970: 240
> Best player drafted: Guard Alan Faneca
> Total first overall picks: 2
> First picks: Quarterback Joe Burrow: Cincinnati Bengals, 2020; Quarterback JaMarcus Russell: 2007
10. Alabama
> Draftees since 1970: 254
> Best player drafted: Guard John Hannah
> Total first overall picks: 0
> First picks: N/A
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9. Florida
> Draftees since 1970: 264
> Best player drafted: Running back Emmitt Smith
> Total first overall picks: 0
> First picks: N/A
8. Michigan
> Draftees since 1970: 265
> Best player drafted: Quarterback Tom Brady
> Total first overall picks: 1
> First picks: Tackle Jake Long: Miami Dolphins, 2008
7. Oklahoma
> Draftees since 1970: 267
> Best player drafted: Running back Adrian Peterson
> Total first overall picks: 5
> First picks: Lee Roy Selmon: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1976; Billy Sims: Detroit Lions, 1980; Sam Bradford: St. Louis Rams, 2010; Baker Mayfield: Cleveland Browns, 2018; Kyler Murray: Arizona Cardinals, 2019
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6. Nebraska
> Draftees since 1970: 275
> Best player drafted: Guard Will Shields
> Total first overall picks: 1
> First picks: Wide receiver Irving Fryar
4. Miami (FL)
> Draftees since 1970: 278
> Best player drafted: Linebacker Ray Lewis
> Total first overall picks: 2
> First picks: Defensive tackle Russell Maryland: Dallas Cowboys, 1991; Quarterback Vinny Testaverde: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1987
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4. Penn State
> Draftees since 1970: 278
> Best player drafted: Linebacker Jack Ham
> Total first overall picks: 2
> First picks: Defensive end Courtney Brown: Cleveland Browns, 2000; Running back Ki-Jana Carter: Cincinnati Bengals, 1995
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3. Notre Dame
> Draftees since 1970: 279
> Best player drafted: Quarterback Joe Montana
> Total first overall picks: 1
> First picks: Defensive end Walt Patulski: Buffalo Bills, 1972
2. Ohio State
> Draftees since 1970: 318
> Best player drafted: Tackle Orlando Pace
> Total first overall picks: 3
> First picks: Tackle Orlando Pace: St. Louis Rams, 1997; Defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson: Cincinnati Bengals, 1994; Linebacker Tom Cousineau: Buffalo Bills, 1979
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1. USC
> Draftees since 1970: 325
> Best player drafted: Tackle Anthony Munoz
> Total first overall picks: 3
> First picks: Quarterback Carson Palmer: Cincinnati Bengals, 2003; Wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson: New York Jets, 1996; Running back Ricky Bell: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1977
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