The first pick of the 2012 NFL draft is…
Whether you watch the draft live or wait to read about it after, one thing is certain, it is the moment dreams become reality. Successful college football players have the opportunity to make their dreams come true if their called upon during one of the seven rounds.
Beginning on April 26, all 32 NFL teams have the opportunity to add new talent to their roster. What players did during their college careers is irrelevant; it’s all about how they perform from this point forward.
As the 2012 NFL draft quickly approaches one question is asked: What colleges have generated the most draft selections?
Draftmetrics.com analyzes the number of draftees from top 25 colleges and the total number of games started by those players between 1992 and 2011.
1. Ohio State University: (117) The Buckeyes have produced 117 draftees that started a total of 3,958 games. Since their first year of football in 1890, the Buckeye’s football program has produced five Lombardi Award winners and six Hall of Fame inductees. Currently, OSU alumni play for 20 different NFL teams, including the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants.
2. Miami (FL): (114) The Hurricanes have produced 114 draftees that started a total of 4,687 games. In 11 of the last 12 NFL seasons, UM alumni have played in the Super Bowl and the most Hurricanes to play in a single Super Bowl was nine during Super Bowl XXVIII. This game included Coach Jimmy Johnson and Jim Kelly. UM alumni make up four Hall of Fame inductees and 48 current NFL players. These players include Baltimore Raven Ray Lewis and Denver Bronco Willis McGahee.
3. Florida State: (112) The Seminoles have produced 112 draftees that started a total of 4,499 games. Since 1984 at least one FSU player has been chosen in the NFL Draft and at least three Seminoles were represented in the Pro Bowl between 2007 and 2009. The Wall Street Journal selected FSU as the top school for producing the best NFL players. Currently, 31 Seminole alumni play throughout the NFL. These players include New York Jet Antonio Cromartie and Baltimore Raven Anquan Boldin.
4. University of Southern California: (111) The Trojans have produced 111 draftees that started a total of 3,048 games. USC players are on the rosters of 26 of the NFL’s 32 teams. Some of which include Quarterback Mark Sanchez and Pittsburgh Steeler Troy Polomalu. A Trojan has appeared in all but 3 Super Bowls and there are 11 Trojan alumni in the Hall of Fame and three Ex-Assistant coaches. In 2012, Lindy’s Sports listed USC as the “football factory” for quarterbacks, running backs and offensive linemen.
5. Tennessee: (109) The Vols have produced 109 draftees that started a total of 3,760 games. Tennessee has produced 329 NFL draftees since establishing their football program, which is the most in the SEC. A total of 26 Vols performed in the Super Bowl since 2000, meaning at least one has played in 19 of the last 20 games. UT also has six players in the top 100; the most of any school in the SEC. Currently, 39 former Vols are on a NFL roster. Included are Quarterback Payton Manning and Dallas Cowboy Jason Witten.
The NFL draft has also given conferences a chance to secure bragging rights. The SEC, with 38 in 2011, has consistently produced the most NFL players. How do the other conferences compare in 2011?
2. ACC: 35
3. Pac-10: 31
4. Big 12: 30
5. Big Ten: 29
6. Big East: 21
7. WAC: 16
8. MWC: 16
9. Conference USA: 5
10. MAC: 3
11. Non-FBS: 25
Of the top five schools mentioned above, only Tennessee is part of the SEC.
While we have looked at the top five schools that create NFL talent, which states produce this talent?
The top six states generating NFL talent are California (656), Texas (585), Florida (533), Georgia (263), Ohio (221) and Louisiana (205). These six states account for 50 percent of the players drafted into the NFL. Of these, southern states tend to generate more defensive linemen, while Midwestern and Mid-Atlantic generate more offensive linemen.
Whether you use your body to spell out Ohio with your friends on a Fall Saturday or Gator Chomp in the face of your Florida State rivals, one thing is certain: Great talent generates from great football programs.
2 Responses to “Who’s Number One… in Producing NFL Players?”