Which colleges have produced the most first overall picks in NFL draft history?
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The NFL draft is an inexact science, as is which schools the best pro players will ultimately come from. This year’s draft epitomizes that uncertainty.
While the school has had a great deal of success in its own right, Miami, which hasn’t won the National Championship Game since 2001, looks poised to produce the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, that being quarterback Cam Ward; previously unheralded Colorado may produce a pair of top-10 picks in two-way star Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders; a college football blueblood, Penn State, may produce a top-three pick in defensive end Abdul Carter.
One of the apparent NFL draft trends, though, is the same handful of schools producing most of the highly selected players.
Here are the colleges that have produced the most first overall picks since the first edition of the NFL Draft in 1936.
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Note: This is an NFL draft list, meaning AFL draft picks and supplemental draft picks aren’t included.
Colleges that have produced the most first overall picks in the NFL draft
- QB Harry Gilmer (1948): drafted by Washington, played from 1948-56, two-time Pro Bowler
- QB Bryce Young (2023): drafted by Panthers, played from 2023-present
- QB Steve Bartkowski (1975): drafted by Falcons, played from 1975-86, two-time Pro Bowler
- QB Jared Goff (2016): drafted by Rams, played from 2016-present, four-time Pro Bowler
T-10. Miami – 2
- QB Vinny Testaverde (1987): drafted by Buccaneers, played from 1987-2007, two-time Pro Bowler
- DT Russell Maryland (1991): drafted by Cowboys, played from 1991-2000, one-time Pro Bowler, three Super Bowl titles
- RB Tom Harmon (1941): drafted by Bears, played from 1946-47
- OT Jake Long (2008): drafted by Dolphins, played from 2008-16, four-time Pro Bowler
- FB Sam Francis (1937): drafted by Eagles, played from 1937-40
- WR Irving Fryar (1984): drafted by Patriots, played from 1984-2000, five-time Pro Bowler
- RB Ki-Jana Carter (1995): drafted by Bengals, played from 1996-2004
- DE Courtney Brown (2000): drafted by Browns, played from 2000-2005
- RB George Rogers (1981): drafted by Saints, played from 1981-87, two-time Pro Bowler
- DE Jadeveon Clowney (2014): drafted by Texans, played from 2014-present, three-time Pro Bowler
- FB George Cafego (1940): drafted by Cardinals, played from 1940-45
- QB Peyton Manning (1998): drafted by Colts, played from 1998-2015, seven-time All-Pro, 14-time Pro Bowler, two Super Bowl titles
- DE Bruce Smith (1985): drafted by Bills, played from 1985-2003, eight-time All-Pro, 11-time Pro Bowler
- QB Michael Vick (2001): drafted by Falcons, played from 2001-2015, four-time Pro Bowler
T-7. Texas – 3
- LB Tommy Nobis (1966): drafted by Falcons, played from 1966-1976, five-time Pro Bowler
- RB Earl Campbell (1978): drafted by Oilers, played from 1978-85, three-time All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowler
- DE Kenneth Sims (1982): drafted by Patriots, played from 1982-89
- LB Tom Cousineau (1979): drafted by Bills, played from 1982-87
- DT Dan Wilkinson (1994): drafted by Bengals, played from 1994-2006
- OT Orlando Pace (1997): drafted by Rams, played from 1996-2006, three-time All-Pro, seven-time Pro Bowler
T-7. LSU – 3
- TE Billy Cannon (1960): drafted by Oilers, played from 1960-70, two-time All-Pro, two-time Pro Bowler
- QB JaMarcus Russell (2007): drafted by Raiders, played from 2007-09
- QB Joe Burrow (2020): drafted by Bengals, played from 2020-present, two-time Pro Bowler
- QB Bobby Garrett (1954): drafted by Browns, played in 1954
- QB Jim Plunkett (1971): drafted by Patriots, played from 1971-86, two Super Bowl titles
- QB John Elway (1983): drafted by Broncos, played from 1983-98, nine-time Pro Bowler selection, two Super Bowl titles
- QB Andrew Luck (2012): drafted by Colts, played from 2012-18, four-time Pro Bowler
- RB Tucker Frederickson (1965): drafted by Giants, played from 1965-71, one-time Pro Bowler
- RB Bo Jackson (1986): drafted by Raiders, played from 1987-90, one-time Pro Bowler
- LB Aundray Bruce (1988): drafted by Falcons, played from 1988-98
- QB Cam Newton (2011): drafted by Panthers, played from 2011-21, three-time Pro Bowler
- DE Lee Roy Selmon (1976): drafted by Buccaneers, played from 1976-84, six-time Pro Bowler
- RB Billy Sims (1980): drafted by Lions, played from 1980-84, three-time Pro Bowler
- QB Sam Bradford (2010): drafted by Rams, played from 2010-18
- QB Baker Mayfield (2018): drafted by Browns, played from 2018-present, two-time Pro Bowler
- QB Kyler Murray (2019): drafted by Cardinals, played from 2019-present, two-time Pro Bowler
- QB Angelo Bertelli (1944): drafted by Boston Yanks, played from 1946-48
- QB Boley Dancewicz (1946): drafted by Boston Yanks, played from 1946-48
- E Leon Hart (1950): drafted by Lions, played from 1950-57, one-time All-Pro, three NFL championship titles
- RB Paul Hornung (1957): drafted by Packers, played from 1957-66, two-time All-Pro, two-time Pro Bowler, five combined NFL championship titles
- DE Walt Patulski (1972): drafted by Bills, played from 1972-77
- B Frankie Sinkwich (1943): drafted by Lions, played from 1943-47, one-time All-Pro
- RB Charley Trippi (1945): drafted by Cardinals, played from 1947-55, two-time Pro Bowler, one NFL championship title
- E Harry Babcock (1953): drafted by 49ers, played from 1953-55
- QB Matthew Stafford (2009): drafted by Lions, played from 2009-present, two-time Pro Bowler, one Super Bowl title
- DE Travon Walker (2022): drafted by Jaguars, played from 2022-present
1. USC – 6
- OT Ron Yary (1968): drafted by Vikings, played from 1968-82, six-time All-Pro, seven-time Pro Bowler, one NFL Championship title
- RB O.J. Simpson (1969): drafted by Bills, played from 1969-79, five-time All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowler
- RB Ricky Bell (1977): drafted by Buccaneers, played from 1977-1982
- WR Keyshawn Johnson (1996): drafted by Jets, played from 1996-2006, three-time Pro Bowler, one Super Bowl title
- QB Carson Palmer (2003): drafted by Bengals, played from 2004-17, three-time Pro Bowler
- QB Caleb Williams (2024): drafted by Bears, played from 2024-present
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