The 9 College Football Teams That Produced The Most First Round Picks In A Single NFL Draft

Some college teams succeed because they have good coaching; others because they have an easy schedule. But every once in a while a team comes around that just happens to be loaded with NFL talent, including some that saw a bunch of players go in the first round of the draft in the same year.

These are the college football teams that produced the most first-round picks in a single edition of the NFL draft

Some of these college teams accounted for nearly 20% of the first round, meaning almost one in five players picked were teammates.

The record is six players, tied by two schools, and there is a four-way tie for second place with five, but we’ll break each tie by favoring the team with the most total players in the class.

Also, for clarity, college teams have had more than five future first-rounders on the field at the same time. But this refers to an NFL draft class dominated by a single school.

Alabama: 6 (2021 NFL Draft)

In 2021, 10 Alabama players were selected; six were first-rounders, and three went in the top 10.

Two of the three top-10 picks were receivers: Jaylen Waddle (6) and DeVonta Smith (10). The other was the 2024 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Pat Surtain II, who went 9th overall.

Mac Jones followed them, going 15th, and two picks later the Raiders selected Alex Leatherwood. The last of the bunch was Najee Harris, who went to the Steelers at pick number 24.

Miami: 6 (2004)

The early 2000s Miami Hurricanes were so dominant, and this isn’t their only entry on the list. This year’s class had more than half of its players drafted in the first round, with six of the nine players going on the first day.

Sean Taylor was the first selected and only top-five pick, going 5th to Washington. Tight end Kellen Winslow immediately followed at number 6.

Jonathan Vilma went 12th to the Jets, and then the Canes went every other pick from 17-21. DJ Williams at 17, Vernon Carey at 19, and Vince Wilfork at 21.

Georgia: 5 (2022)

The Georgia Bulldogs set the record for the most players drafted from a single school in 2022. Five players were selected in the first round from UGA and 15 overall.

Defensive end Travon Walker went first overall; he is admittedly one of the more forgettable first-overall picks, but he has carved out a nice career in Jacksonville. Defensive tackle Jordan Davis is the other standout from the class and went on to win a Super Bowl with Philadelphia.

The Green Bay Packers swooped up the next two Bulldogs in Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt, and Lewis Cine bookended the first round, going 32nd to Minnesota.

LSU: 5 (2020)

The historic season the LSU Tigers had in 2019 culminated in them absolutely dominating the draft board. Five first-rounders and 14 overall picks is good enough for second all time in terms of drafted players.

Calling these guys first-rounders doesn’t do them justice. The Tigers produced some studs from the 2020 draft class, highlighted by first overall pick quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who went 22nd.

Two linebackers went in the 20s with K’lavon Chaisson (20) and Patrick Queen (28). Like the aforementioned UGA squad, the Tigers started and ended with the first round, as running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire went 32nd to the Chiefs.

Ohio State: 5 (2016)

Again, with five players going in the first round, the Ohio State Buckeyes join the list. They had 12 total, but did not feature the number one overall pick.

They did have the third overall pick, Joey Bosa, the fourth overall pick, Ezekiel Elliott, and the 10th overall pick, Eli Apple, making them and Alabama in 2021 the only teams on the list with three players in the top 10.

All the Buckeyes who went in the first round were top-20 picks; Taylor Decker went 16th to Detroit, and Darron Lee went 20th overall to the Jets.

Miami: 5 (2002)

For the second time, the early-2000s Miami Hurricanes are featured. This time they had five go in the first round and 11 overall.

The first Hurricane to go was offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, selected 7th overall by the Vikings.

Tight end Jeremy Shockey went 14th overall, but the draft’s highlight was a steal by the Baltimore Ravens, who took safety Ed Reed 24th.

Two corners sandwiched Reed at 17 and 24, respectively: Phillip Buchanon to Oakland and Mike Rumph to San Francisco.

Ohio State: 4 (2025)

The first team on the list to only feature four first-rounders, but they still tied LSU for second all time in total players drafted with 14.

The Buckeyes didn’t see a first-rounder until the 19th overall pick, receiver Emeka Egbuka. They then capped the first round when the Chiefs took Josh Simmons with the 32nd pick to beef up their O-line.

Offensive guard Donovan Jackson went to Minnesota with the 24th pick, and Tyleik Williams went to the Lions with the 28th.

Alabama: 4 (2018)

The second Alabama team on the list had four first-rounders in this draft and 12 overall.

The first two taken would go on to be Pro Bowlers: safety Minkah Fitzpatrick went 11th, followed almost immediately by defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne at 13.

Next up was Rashaan Evans to the Titans, and Calvin Ridley went 26th to the Atlanta Falcons, ending the run of Bama players in the first round.

Florida State: 4 (1997)

Florida State finds itself in elite company here with four first-round picks in 1997, but all four were top-15 picks. Only three other Seminoles would get taken the rest of the way, bringing their total to seven overall.

They were featured in two top-six picks, with Peter Boulware going fourth overall and Walter Jones going sixth.

Running back Warrick Dunn went 12th to the Buccaneers.  Then Reinard Wilson went 14th to the Bengals, who would be the last FSU player taken until the 100th overall pick, Linebacker Henri Crockett.