Which State Has Produced The Most NFL Players?

A breakdown of which states have produced the most NFL players over the years.

NFL Players by State

The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league. The NFL was founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season. As of 2019, there are 32 teams in the NFL (with more on the way), divided into two conferences: the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC).

California

Did you know that California has produced more NFL players than any other state? In fact, California has produced nearly twice as many NFL players as Texas, the second most fertile state for professional football players.

Why is California such a hotbed for NFL talent? There are a few reasons. For one, the state has a huge population, so there are more potential athletes to choose from. Secondly, California has a long tradition of success in high school and college football, so there are more experienced and skilled players to choose from. Finally, the warm weather in California means that kids can play football year-round, which gives them a big advantage over kids in other states.

Whatever the reasons, there’s no denying that California is a powerhouse when it comes to producing NFL talent. So if you’re looking to start your own NFL team, you might want to consider recruiting some Californians!

Florida

According to a study done by the National Football League Players Association, Florida produces more NFL players per capita than any other state. The Sunshine State has churned out NFL talent at a rate of one player for every 18,826 residents, almost twice the national average.

This isn’t surprising when you consider that Florida is one of the most populous states in the country, with over 20 million residents. It’s also home to some of the nation’s top college football programs, like the University of Florida and Florida State University.

Interestingly, California is not far behind Florida in terms of NFL players per capita. The Golden State has produced one NFL player for every 21,299 residents, which is still well above the national average.

So if you’re looking to increase your chances of making it to the NFL, you might want to consider moving to Florida or California. But don’t forget about Texas, which is right behind those two states in terms of players per capita.

Texas

Texas has produced the most NFL players of any state, with California and Florida following close behind. While there are many reasons for this, one of the primary factors is that Texas has the second-highest number of high school football teams in the country (behind only California). This gives more opportunities for players to be scouted and recruited by colleges.

In addition, Texas is a large state with a diverse population. This means that there are more athletes to choose from when colleges are looking to recruit players. While many states produce a high number of NFL players per capita, Texas’ sheer size means that it will always top the list in absolute numbers.

Here is a list of the top 10 states in terms of NFL players produced:

1. Texas – 486
2. California – 333
3. Florida – 320
4. Georgia – 246
5. Ohio – 244
6. Pennsylvania – 237
7. Alabama – 231
8. Michigan – 230
9. Louisiana – 226
10. Virginia – 217

NFL Players by College

In the National Football League, the majority of players come from just a handful of colleges. While the SEC has the most players in the NFL, there are plenty of other schools that have produced a significant number of professional football players. Let’s take a look at the colleges that have produced the most NFL players.

USC

Since 1932, many athletes have made the decision to attend the University of Southern California with the hope of one day playing in the National Football League. Currently, there are 79 NFL players that attended USC, which is the second most of any school. Interestingly, more than 30% of USC’s NFL Players are from California.

The complete list of USC NFL players is below:

Anthony Barr – OLB – Minnesota Vikings
Rob Havenstein – RT – Los Angeles Rams
Nelson Agholor – WR – Philadelphia Eagles
Marquise Lee- WR – Jacksonville Jaguars
Nickell Robey-Coleman – CB – Los Angeles Rams
Brian Cushing – ILB – Houston Texans
Ryan Kalil – C – Carolina Panthers

Miami

The University of Miami has been one of the top producers of NFL talent over the past few decades, and this does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. With a total of 53 NFL players, Miami sits at the top of the list for colleges with the most NFL players. The state of Florida is second overall with a total of 52 NFL players.

Alabama

Alabama has produced more NFL players than any other state, with 532 players coming from the Crimson Tide State. Florida is second on the list, with 492 NFL players hailing from the Sunshine State.

NFL Players by Position

The following table shows the NFL players by position and the state where they were born.

Quarterbacks

The state of California has produced the most NFL quarterbacks with 148, followed by Texas with 89, Pennsylvania with 74, and Florida with 65.

Running Backs

Running backs are the offensive heartbeat of any football team. They run with the football, catch passes out of the backfield, and sometimes even throw the ball. Every team needs a good running back, and these are the states that have produced the most NFL running backs.

-California – This state has produced more NFL running backs than any other, with over 200 players coming from California colleges and universities. Notable California running backs include O.J. Simpson, Marcus Allen, Marshawn Lynch, and Jim Brown.

-Texas – Texas is second on the list, with just over 190 NFL running backs hailing from the Lone Star State. Some of the most famous Texas running backs include Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson, LaDanian Tomlinson, and Adrian Peterson.

-Florida – Rounding out the top three is Florida, which has produced over 160 NFL running backs. Notable players from Florida include Emmitt Smith, Warrick Dunn, Clinton Portis, and Fred Taylor.

Wide Receivers

As of the 2019 NFL season, there have been a total of 1,562 wide receivers who have played in at least one regular season game. Of those 1,562 receivers, a total of 1,370 have come from the United States. The state of Florida has produced the most wide receivers in the NFL with a total of 163.

NFL Players by Draft Round

NFL players are drafted from all over the country, but some states have produced more NFL talent than others. In this article, we’ll take a look at which states have produced the most NFL players by draft round. You might be surprised to see which states are at the top of the list.

First Round

In the NFL Draft, each round conveys a different level of skill and potential. First-round picks are considered the cream of the crop, and teams use them on players they believe will be franchise cornerstones for years to come.

There have been 1,224 first-round picks in NFL history, and those players have gone on to achieve great things. Hall of Famers like Barry Sanders, Jerry Rice and Tom Brady were all first-round picks, as were active stars like Aaron Rodgers, J.J. Watt and Odell Beckham Jr.

But where do these first-rounders come from? In terms of colleges, the SEC has produced the most first-round picks in NFL history with 196. The Big Ten is second with 193 First Rounders, while the Pac-12 is third with 136. As for high schools, Miami Northwestern in Florida has produced the most first-rounders in NFL history with 13.

Second Round

image
Some of the greatest NFL players have been drafted in the second round. In fact, many Hall of Famers were drafted in the second round or later. This list includes some of the best NFL players of all time.

1. Emmitt Smith – RB – Texas (drafted 17th overall in 1990)
2. Jerry Rice – WR – Mississippi Valley State (drafted 16th overall in 1985)
3. Reggie White – DE – Tennessee (drafted 4th overall in 1984)
4. Walter Payton – RB – Jackson State (drafted 5th overall in 1975)
5. Deacon Jones – DE – Mississippi Valley State (drafted 14th overall in 1961)

Third Round

Since the inception of the NFL Draft in 1936, there have been 1,440 third round selections. Of those 1,440 third round picks, a total of 405 players have come from the state of Ohio. Ohio’s 405 third round picks are the most by any state. Behind Ohio is Pennsylvania with 391 third round picks and California with 374 third round selections.