Which college football program leads the SEC in players drafted -- all-time -- in the first round of the NFL draft?
The answer is - it's a tie!
There's been a long-standing, friendly, competition between Florida and Tennessee over which school has had the most #1 draft picks sent to the NFL.
Coming into the 2008 NFL draft, the Vols and Gators led the SEC in all-time NFL #1 draft picks. Historically, each had 37 players selected all-time in the first round of the NFL draft - before the 2008 NFL draft.
After 2008 - each had 38.
And guess, what? Same thing happened in 2009. Each had 1 more player picked in the first round. In 2009, Tennessee 's (LB) Robert Ayers was taken with the 18th pick by the Broncos. Florida 's (WR) Percy Harvin was taken as the 22nd overall pick by the Vikings. By the way, Georgia's QB Matt Stafford was taken #1 overall by the Lions. Georgia had 2 players picked in the first round; Ole Miss also had 2. Overall, the SEC led all conferences (again) with 8 players taken in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft.
So, the great SEC-East rivalry between UF and UT rages on for another year in yet another venue.
Wondering which SEC school has the most players in the NFL? Wonder no longer. The answer is -- Georgia.
According to NFL statistics, 2008 opening day rosters of NFL teams showed 36 former UGA players; 35 former LSU Tigers; 34 Tennessee Volunteers; 30 Florida Gators; and, 27 Auburn Tigers. Of course the SEC, with 259 total players in the NFL led all NCAA conferences -- again.
Below is a list of the players each Southeastern Conference football program has had selected in the first round of the NFL draft (through the 2008 draft). This list only includes first round NFL and AFL (1961-65) picks (no no USFL, CFL, WFL #1s). An asterisk next to a players' name indicates he was the very first player taken in the draft that year (so #1 overall).
You'll see that the great Alabama-Auburn rivalry also continues here -- amazing -- ranked right on top of each other!
The Ole Miss - Miss. State Rivalry also continues here.
Gotta love SEC football rivalries!!
Also -- check out LSU!! What's amazing about the Tigers is you'll see they had 4 players drafted in the 1st round of the 2007 NFL draft. Then, of course, LSU followed that up by winning college football's 2008 BCS National Championship game -- without those 4 players. Amazing!!
Looking for more info about the history of overall #1 NFL draft picks? Check out Top NFL Draft Choice History.
Thanks to Tex Noel for the info that went into these charts. The charts will tell you the name and year of every SEC player ever drafted in the first round of the NFL draft.
Also, you can find out which conference has had the most players drafted by the NFL at NFL Draft College Conference History.
Yr Draft-Player-School Yr Draft-Player-School Yr Draft-Player-School Yr Draft-Player-School Yr Draft-Player-School Yr Draft-Player-School Yr Draft-Player-School |
Yr Draft-Player-School Yr Draft-Player-School Yr Draft-Player-School Yr Draft-Player-School Yr Draft-Player-School Yr Draft-Player-School Yr Draft-Player-School |
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