Colleges with most NFL draft picks by position

1 / 8

Quarterbacks -- USC (17)

Just missed: Florida State and Stanford (15 apiece); Washington (13); LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Purdue and Tennessee (11 apiece)
Number of first-rounders from USC: 4
USC's highest selection at position: No. 1 overall, Carson Palmer (2003 NFL Draft, Cincinnati Bengals). Palmer helps give USC an NFL-high four quarterbacks currently on rosters.
Notable: Vince Evans was a sixth-round (No. 140 overall) selection by the Chicago Bears in the 1977 NFL Draft. He went on to a 15-year NFL career, playing for the Bears and Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders. Evans would have spent more seasons in the NFL if it weren't for two seasons in the USFL playing for the Chicago Blitz and Denver Gold. Evans remains the only quarterback in Bears history to post a perfect passer rating, doing so against the Green Bay Packers in 1980.

Associated Press

2 / 8

Running backs -- Nebraska (40)

Just missed: USC (39), Oklahoma and Penn State (36 apiece); Ohio State (34); Michigan (33); Arizona State and Auburn (32 apiece); Miami (31); Alabama (29)
Number of first-rounders from Nebraska: 2
Nebraska's highest selection at position: No. 6 overall, Lawrence Phillips (1996 NFL Draft, St. Louis Rams). Phillips played just two seasons in St. Louis and is considered one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history.
Notable: Roger Craig was a second-round (No. 49 overall) selection by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1983 NFL Draft. He was a vital part of three Super Bowl-winning 49ers teams. In 1985, Craig became the first player in league history to post a 1,000-yard rushing and receiving season in the same year. Ahman Green was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks, but went on to become the Green Bay Packers' all-time leading rusher.

Associated Press

3 / 8

Wide receivers -- Miami and USC (tie, 40)

Just missed: Florida and Tennessee (37 apiece); Ohio State (35); San Diego State (33); LSU (32); Florida State (31); Michigan (28); Michigan State (27)
Number of first-rounders from Miami: 8 | USC: 8
Miami's highest selection at position: No. 3 overall, Andre Johnson (2003 NFL Draft, Houston Texans)
USC's highest selection at position: No. 1 overall, Keyshawn Johnson (1996 NFL Draft, New York Jets)
Notables: Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin came out of Miami as a first-round pick in 1988 and was a part of three Super Bowl-winning Dallas Cowboys teams. USC's Lynn Swann was part of four Super Bowl-winning Pittsburgh Steelers teams and is also a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Associated Press

4 / 8

Tight ends -- Notre Dame (21)

Just missed: USC (20); Penn State (19); Miami (17); Nebraska (15); Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin (14 apiece); Oklahoma (13); Colorado, LSU, Stanford and UCLA (12 apiece)
Number of first-rounders from Notre Dame: 4
Notre Dame's highest selection at position: No. 13 overall, Tony Hunter (1983 NFL Draft, Buffalo Bills). Hunter played just four NFL seasons, two for the Bills and then two for the Rams. His best season being 1985 for the Rams, when he had 562 yards and four touchdowns receiving.
Notable: Dave Casper was a second-round (No. 45 overall) selection by the Oakland Raiders in the 1974 NFL Draft. He went on to have a Pro Football Hall of Fame career, and was a member of the team's Super Bowl XI-winning team. Mark Bavaro, a fourth-round (No. 100 overall) pick by the New York Giants in the 1985 NFL Draft, was a member of two Super Bowl-winning Giants teams.

Associated Press

5 / 8

Offensive linemen -- Notre Dame (63)

Just missed: USC (58); Nebraska and Penn State (57 apiece); Michigan (50); Boston College (48); Oklahoma (46); Ohio State (45); Iowa (44); Wisconsin (43)
Number of first-rounders from Notre Dame: 7
Notre Dame's highest selection at position: No. 2 overall, George Kunz (1969 NFL Draft, Atlanta Falcons). Kunz was one of the top offensive linemen of his time, going to eight Pro Bowls representing the Falcons and Baltimore Colts.
Notable: Bob Kuechenberg was a fourth-round (No. 80 overall) selection by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1969 NFL Draft, but he never played a down for Philly. Instead, he spent 14 seasons with the Miami Dolphins, earned six Pro Bowl nods, played in four Super Bowls, winning two -- including the Dolphins' unbeaten 1972 season.

Associated Press

6 / 8

Defensive linemen -- Miami (49)

Just missed: LSU (45); USC (44); Nebraska (43); Florida and Florida State (42 apiece); Alabama (40); Notre Dame and Oklahoma (39 apiece); Texas (37)
Number of first-rounders from Miami: 13
Miami's highest selection at position: No. 1 overall, Russell Maryland (1991 NFL Draft, Dallas Cowboys). Maryland was a part of three Super Bowl-winning teams while with the Cowboys.
Notable: Cortez Kennedy and Warren Sapp are each enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A strong case can be made for Vince Wilfork -- a three-time Super Bowl winner with the Patriots -- to be enshrined once his career is complete.

Associated Press

7 / 8

Linebackers -- Penn State (58)

Just missed: USC (55); Ohio State (50); Nebraska and Notre Dame (41 apiece); Oklahoma and Tennessee (39 apiece); Miami (37); Alabama and Michigan (36 apiece)
Number of first-rounders from Penn State: 3
Penn State's highest selection at position: No. 2 overall, LaVar Arrington (2000 NFL Draft, Washington Redskins). Arrington's college teammate -- defensive end Courtney Brown -- went No. 1 overall in 2000 to the Cleveland Browns. This is the only time that Penn State players went 1-2 in the NFL draft.
Notable: Matt Millen was a second-round (No. 43 overall) selection by the Oakland Raiders in the 1980 NFL Draft. Millen played 12 seasons in the NFL, winning four Super Bowl rings (two with Raiders, one with 49ers and one with Redskins).

Associated Press

8 / 8

Defensive backs -- Ohio State (53)

Just missed: USC (51); Notre Dame (49); Nebraska (48); Texas (46); Oklahoma (45); Colorado (44); Florida State and Miami (42 apiece); LSU (39)
Number of first-rounders from Ohio State: 12
Ohio State's highest selection at position: No. 3 overall, Shawn Springs (1997 NFL Draft, Seattle Seahawks). Springs played 13 seasons in the NFL, seven with the Seahawks, five with the Washington Redskins and one for the New England Patriots. He earned his lone Pro Bowl nod in 1998 after registering a career-high seven interceptions, including two he returned for touchdowns.
Notable: Jack Tatum was a first-round (No. 19 overall) selection by the Oakland Raiders in the 1971 NFL Draft. "The Assassin" was one of the most-feared tacklers in NFL history, and one of the faces of the rebelious Raiders of the romping-stomping 1970s.

Associated Press