What College Produces The Best NFL Players?

We all know that college football is a big deal. But which colleges produce the best NFL players? This is a question that we decided to investigate.

Clemson

If you’re looking at sheer numbers, Clemson comes out on top. Seventy-five Clemson alumni have played in the NFL, and there are 11 currently on NFL rosters. That includes some of the league’s biggest names, like DeAndre Hopkins, Deshaun Watson, Vic Beasley, and Corey Coleman. What’s the school’s secret?

Deshaun Watson

Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is the best NFL draft prospect in the country, according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.

In his first mock draft of the 2017 season, Kiper has Watson going No. 1 overall to the Cleveland Browns.

“I think he’s special,” Kiper said of Watson on a conference call with reporters Thursday. “I think he has all the intangible qualities you look for, in addition to being a great leader and a winner.”

Watson, a junior, led Clemson to a national championship last season with a come-from-behind victory over Alabama in the title game. He threw for 4,104 yards and 36 touchdowns with 15 interceptions while also rushing for 987 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Sammy Watkins

Watkins was the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. He played college football at Clemson and was considered one of the best wide receivers in the country. In his three years at Clemson, he had 102 receptions for 1,464 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Ohio State

Ezekiel Elliott

Ezekiel Elliott (born July 22, 1995) is an American football running back for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State, where he earned second-team All-America honors in 2015. He was drafted by the Cowboys fourth overall in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Since entering the league, Elliott has led the NFL in rushing yards in 2016 and 2018. In his first professional season, he helped the Cowboys to an NFC-best 13–3 record and was selected to the Pro Bowl. The following year, he led them to a division title and was named First Team All-Pro after leading the league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

Joey Bosa

As the 2016 NFL Draft approaches, there is much discussion about which schools produce the best NFL talent. Joey Bosa, a defensive end from Ohio State, is projected to be a top pick in this year’s draft. He is just one example of the many great players to come out of Ohio State.

Ohio State has a long history of sending players to the NFL. In fact, they have had more players drafted in the first round than any other school. Ohio State has also had more total draft picks than any other school since 2010.

Players like Joey Bosa help make Ohio State one of the best schools for producing NFL talent. If you are a fan of the Buckeyes, or if you are just interested in seeing which college produces the most NFL talent, be sure to keep an eye on Joey Bosa and other Ohio State players in this year’s draft.

Alabama

In the past 10 years, Alabama has had 42 players drafted into the NFL. That is the most of any college during that time period. They have also had the most first-round picks with 15. Alabama has had at least one player drafted in the first round in each of the past eight years. That is the longest streak of any school in the history of the NFL draft.

Amari Cooper

Amari Cooper is a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Alabama, where he was the Crimson Tide’s all-time leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns. He was drafted by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Derrick Henry

Derrick Henry (born January 4, 1994) is an American football running back for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Titans.

Henry was born in Yulee, Florida. He attended Yulee High School, where he played football and ran track. As a senior, he was the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year, MaxPreps Male Athlete of the Year, and USA Today High School Offensive Player of the Year. He committed to play college football at Alabama over offers from Clemson and Florida State.